Fort Donelson National Battlefield in May
May at Fort Donelson National Battlefield averages a daytime high near 77°F and an overnight low around 57°F, with about 6" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.2× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 57°F
- Average high
- 77°F
Range across the year: 27°F to 88°F
- Precipitation
- 6.0 in
- Daylight
- 13.9 hours
Roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 22,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 2nd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the September peak (1.4×) and the December low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 54/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is April: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 67°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.2 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 27% 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 13.9 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.5-hour midwinter low and the 14.5-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 151,151 recreation visits, down 9% from 166,026 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 24.8%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 70°F / 47°F | 1.1× Average | 52 Fair |
| May | 77°F / 57°F | 1.2× Busy | 54 Fair |
| June | 84°F / 66°F | 1.1× Average | 55 Fair |
All twelve months at Fort Donelson, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Fort Donelson in May
The National Park Service tags 6 Fort Donelson activities for spring. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Fort Donelson NB Autotour Route · 30-60 minutes
- Fort Donelson: Then and Now · 30-90 minutes
- Hike the Trails at Fort Donelson NB · 45-90 minutes
- Quilt Trail · 30-180 minutes
- Stop by the Fort Donelson NB Visitor Center · 15-45 minutes
- Want to Become a Junior Ranger? · 30-90 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 77°F and an overnight low around 57°F at Fort Donelson National Battlefield, with about 6 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Fort Donelson National Battlefield (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 54/100. Our recommended month is April.
The busiest month is September and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 22,000 recreation visits at Fort Donelson National Battlefield, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fort Donelson in May
Booking a May trip to Fort Donelson National Battlefield? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fort Donelson
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.