Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in May
May at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area averages a daytime high near 81°F and an overnight low around 54°F, with about 0.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.3× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 54°F
- Average high
- 81°F
Range across the year: 26°F to 97°F
- Precipitation
- 0.4 in
- Daylight
- 14.0 hours
Roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 408,000 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 July peak (2×) and the January low (0.3×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 71/100 ("Good"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 67°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 2.3 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 45% 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 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.5-hour midwinter low and the 14.5-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 3,729,502 recreation visits, down 21.1% from 4,725,610 in 2024.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 71°F / 44°F | 1.1× Average | 63 Good |
| May | 81°F / 54°F | 1.3× Busy | 71 Good |
| June | 92°F / 63°F | 1.9× Very busy | 31 Poor |
All twelve months at Glen Canyon, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Glen Canyon in May
The National Park Service tags 12 Glen Canyon activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Swimming in Lake Powell
- Contemplate Your Place in the Landscape At The Big Map · 1-120 minutes
- Day Trip or Backpack Hike to Coyote Gulch · 1-14 days · reservation required
- Driving the Hole in the Rock Road · 1-14 days
- Driving to Alstrom Point · 4-48 hours
- Lake Powell Shoreline Primitive Camping · 1-14 days
- Lonely Dell Ranch Historic Site · 1-8 hours
- Scramble down Cathedral Wash Trail · 3-4 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 81°F and an overnight low around 54°F at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, with about 0.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2.3 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (about 1.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 71/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.3× the park's average, or 11% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 408,000 recreation visits at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Glen Canyon in May
Booking a May trip to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Glen Canyon
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.