How Crowded Is General Grant National Memorial in May?
May runs about 1.1× General Grant National Memorial's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.
In a typical May the park sees roughly 8,600 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 69/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated October at 58/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 55°F, with about 4" of precipitation.
That average of about 63°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.
Because June, July and August together draw about 39% 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, 2024 drew 110,602 recreation visits, up 31.4% from 84,153 in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is average at General Grant National Memorial (about 1.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is October.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.1× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 9,000 recreation visits at General Grant National Memorial, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near General Grant in May
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Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.