Grand Portage National Monument in May
May at Grand Portage National Monument averages a daytime high near 58°F and an overnight low around 37°F, with about 3.1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.7× the park's average month, which makes May a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 37°F
- Average high
- 58°F
Range across the year: 1°F to 74°F
- Precipitation
- 3.1 in
- Daylight
- 15.0 hours
Roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: roughly 5,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the August peak (3.1×) and the January low (0.2×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 65/100 ("Good"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 47°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 3.4 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 64% 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 15 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.2-hour midwinter low and the 15.8-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 85,734 recreation visits, down 3.6% from 88,931 in 2024.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 45°F / 26°F | 0.2× Very quiet | 50 Fair |
| May | 58°F / 37°F | 0.7× Quiet | 65 Good |
| June | 68°F / 46°F | 1.7× Very busy | 61 Good |
All twelve months at Grand Portage, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Grand Portage in May
The National Park Service tags 16 Grand Portage activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Participate in a Ranger Walk or Talk · 30-60 minutes
- Visit the Reconstructed North West Company Depot · 1-3 hours
- Activities for a Full Day or More · 1-3 days · reservation required
- Browse the Bookstore
- Explore Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) Culture · 30-60 minutes
- Hike Grand Portage Trails
- Investigate Archeology at the Heritage Center · 30-60 minutes · reservation required
- Stamp Your Passport During Your Visit · 2-5 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 58°F and an overnight low around 37°F at Grand Portage National Monument, with about 3.1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 3.4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is quiet at Grand Portage National Monument (about 0.7× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 65/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is August and the quietest is January. May sits at about 0.7× the park's average, or 6% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 5,000 recreation visits at Grand Portage National Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Grand Portage in May
Booking a May trip to Grand Portage National Monument? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Grand Portage
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.