Grand Canyon National Park in May
May at Grand Canyon National Park averages a daytime high near 70°F and an overnight low around 36°F, with about 0.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.2× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 36°F
- Average high
- 70°F
Range across the year: 18°F to 85°F
- Precipitation
- 0.4 in
- Daylight
- 13.9 hours
Roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 552,000 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 (1.5×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 48/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 53°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 4 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 13.9 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.6-hour midwinter low and the 14.4-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 4,430,653 recreation visits, down 9.9% from 4,919,163 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 22.4%, 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 | 61°F / 29°F | 1.1× Average | 37 Poor |
| May | 70°F / 36°F | 1.2× Busy | 48 Fair |
| June | 82°F / 43°F | 1.3× Busy | 57 Fair |
All twelve months at Grand Canyon, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Grand Canyon in May
The National Park Service tags 3 Grand Canyon activities for spring. Each links to the park's own page for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 70°F and an overnight low around 36°F at Grand Canyon National Park, with about 0.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Grand Canyon National Park (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 48/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July 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 552,000 recreation visits at Grand Canyon National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Grand Canyon in May
Booking a May trip to Grand Canyon National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Grand 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.