How Crowded Is Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in May?

May runs about 1.1× Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees roughly 6,100 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.2×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 47/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 48/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 65°F and an overnight low around 29°F, with about 1.6" of precipitation and roughly 4" of snow.

That average of about 47°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 49% of annual visitors, choosing May instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 14.1 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 63,680 recreation visits, down 10.9% from 71,499 in 2024.