Great Basin National Park in May
May at Great Basin National Park averages a daytime high near 64°F and an overnight low around 40°F, with about 1.3" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.2× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 40°F
- Average high
- 64°F
Range across the year: 20°F to 85°F
- Precipitation
- 1.3 in
- Daylight
- 14.1 hours
Roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 15,000 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 July peak (2.2×) and the December low (0.1×).
May is our recommended month at Great Basin: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 52°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 4.6 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 48% 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 161,210 recreation visits, up 6% from 152,068 in 2024.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 55°F / 32°F | 0.7× Quiet | 44 Poor |
| May | 64°F / 40°F | 1.2× Busy | 56 Fair |
| June | 76°F / 49°F | 1.9× Very busy | 55 Fair |
All twelve months at Great Basin, with the best time to visit.
Seasonal closures in May 2027
The National Park Service lists these Great Basin facilities as closed during May 2027. The dates are the park's own, read on October 11, 2026. A facility that is not listed here may still be closed, so confirm on the park's site before you go.
- Wheeler Peak Campground (campground): closed all month (September 30, 2026 to May 31, 2027)
- Dump Station (campground): closed until May 28, 2027
- Snake Creek Primitive Campgrounds (campground): closed until May 1, 2027
- Grey Cliffs Campground (campground): closed until May 15, 2027
- Baker Creek Campground (campground): closed until May 21, 2027
Things to do at Great Basin in May
The National Park Service tags 26 Great Basin activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Astronomy Ranger Program · 60-120 minutes
- Driving the Park · 60 minutes
- Hike the Serviceberry Trail · 90-150 minutes
- Hike the Shoshone ADA Trail · 10-20 minutes
- Hike to Baker Lake · 5-10 hours · reservation required
- Hike to Dead Lake · 2-5 hours
- Hike to the Glacier · 2-4 hours
- Hike to the Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Grove · 1-3 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 64°F and an overnight low around 40°F at Great Basin National Park, with about 1.3 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.6 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Great Basin National Park (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 56/100. May is our recommended month for this park.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 15,000 recreation visits at Great Basin National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Great Basin in May
Booking a May trip to Great Basin National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Great Basin
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.