How Crowded Is Fossil Butte National Monument in May?

May runs about 1.2× Fossil Butte National Monument's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees roughly 2,000 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 (2.8×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 53/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 56/100 — 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 63°F and an overnight low around 30°F, with about 1.5" of precipitation.

That average of about 46°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 61% 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 14.4 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9-hour midwinter low and the 15-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 20,626 recreation visits, down 4% from 21,491 in 2024.