Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in May
May at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 58°F, with about 3.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.4× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 58°F
- Average high
- 76°F
Range across the year: 30°F to 90°F
- Precipitation
- 3.4 in
- Daylight
- 14.2 hours
Roughly 12% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 56,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 1st-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.4×) and the January low (0.3×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 51/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
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 2 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 14.2 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.2-hour midwinter low and the 14.8-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 394,175 recreation visits, down 8.3% from 429,967 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 47.4%, 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 | 67°F / 48°F | 1.3× Busy | 43 Poor |
| May | 76°F / 58°F | 1.4× Busy | 51 Fair |
| June | 85°F / 68°F | 1.4× Busy | 43 Poor |
All twelve months at Fort McHenry, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Fort McHenry in May
The National Park Service tags 16 Fort McHenry activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Battle of Baltimore · 45-60 minutes
- Flag Change Programs · 10-15 minutes
- Flag Talk · 20-30 minutes
- Ranger's Choice Programs · 25-45 minutes
- War in the Chesapeake · 30-45 minutes
- Become a Fort McHenry Jr. Ranger · 1 hour
- Fort McHenry Audio Tours · 45-90 minutes
- Ride Your Bike at Fort McHenry
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 58°F at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, with about 3.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (about 1.4× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 51/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.4× the park's average, or 12% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 56,000 recreation visits at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fort McHenry in May
Booking a May trip to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fort McHenry
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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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.