Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in May
May at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site averages a daytime high near 68°F and an overnight low around 48°F, with about 2.5" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.4× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 48°F
- Average high
- 68°F
Range across the year: 34°F to 82°F
- Precipitation
- 2.5 in
- Daylight
- 14.7 hours
Roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 111,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 3rd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.8×) and the December low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 56/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 58°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 0.4 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 38% 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 14.7 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.5-hour midwinter low and the 15.5-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,071,161 recreation visits, up 6.3% from 1,007,756 in 2024.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 61°F / 42°F | 1.0× Average | 58 Fair |
| May | 68°F / 48°F | 1.4× Busy | 56 Fair |
| June | 74°F / 53°F | 1.5× Busy | 62 Good |
All twelve months at Fort Vancouver, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Fort Vancouver in May
The National Park Service tags 20 Fort Vancouver activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Picnicking at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site · 1-2 hours
- Become a Junior Ranger at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
- Birdwatching at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
- Level 1 Trails at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site · 0-40 minutes
- Play at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
- The Park Prescription Program at Fort Vancouver · 15-90 minutes
- Visit the Fort Vancouver Garden · 5-30 minutes
- Watch a Blacksmith Work at Fort Vancouver · 5-30 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 68°F and an overnight low around 48°F at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, with about 2.5 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 0.4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (about 1.4× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 56/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.4× the park's average, or 11% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 111,000 recreation visits at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fort Vancouver in May
Booking a May trip to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fort Vancouver
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.