Gateway National Recreation Area in May
May at Gateway National Recreation Area averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 54°F, with about 4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes May an average month here.
- Average low
- 54°F
- Average high
- 71°F
Range across the year: 28°F to 85°F
- Precipitation
- 4.0 in
- Daylight
- 14.3 hours
Roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 762,000 recreation visits in a typical year, 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 (1.6×) and the February low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 67/100 ("Good"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 62°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 3.9 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 37% 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 14.3 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.1-hour midwinter low and the 14.9-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 7,696,939 recreation visits, down 13.8% from 8,929,035 in 2024.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 61°F / 45°F | 0.8× Quiet | 67 Good |
| May | 71°F / 54°F | 1.0× Average | 67 Good |
| June | 79°F / 64°F | 1.4× Busy | 56 Fair |
All twelve months at Gateway, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Gateway in May
The National Park Service tags 3 Gateway activities for spring. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Birdwatching at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge · 1-3 hours
- Fishing at Gateway · 1-8 hours
- Sandy Hook Multi Use Path · 1-2 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 54°F at Gateway National Recreation Area, with about 4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 3.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is average at Gateway National Recreation Area (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 67/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is February. May sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 762,000 recreation visits at Gateway National Recreation Area, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Gateway in May
Booking a May trip to Gateway National Recreation Area? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Gateway
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.