George Washington Memorial Parkway in May
May at George Washington Memorial Parkway averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 54°F, with about 4.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.2× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 54°F
- Average high
- 76°F
Range across the year: 26°F to 88°F
- Precipitation
- 4.4 in
- Daylight
- 14.1 hours
Roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 732,000 recreation visits in a typical year, 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 August peak (1.4×) and the January low (0.4×).
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 65°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 2.6 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 34% 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 14.1 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 6,732,932 recreation visits, down 0.7% from 6,782,717 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 9.7%, 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 | 68°F / 44°F | 1.1× Average | 48 Fair |
| May | 76°F / 54°F | 1.2× Busy | 56 Fair |
| June | 84°F / 63°F | 1.2× Busy | 54 Fair |
All twelve months at George Washington, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at George Washington in May
The National Park Service tags 10 George Washington activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Blue Line - DC Metro · 1-2 days
- Cast Your Gaze Across the City Skyline from the Netherlands Carillon · 1-2 hours
- Clara Barton National Historic Site · 15-60 minutes
- Drive on the George Washington Memorial Parkway · 15-120 minutes
- Multi-Park Loop
- Panoramic Views at the US Marine Corps War Memorial · 1-2 hours
- Retreat to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove · 1-2 hours
- Silver Line - DC Metro · 1-2 days
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 54°F at George Washington Memorial Parkway, with about 4.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2.6 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at George Washington Memorial Parkway (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 56/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is August and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 732,000 recreation visits at George Washington Memorial Parkway, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near George Washington in May
Booking a May trip to George Washington Memorial Parkway? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near George Washington
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.