How Crowded Is Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument in May?

May runs about 1.3× Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees roughly 2,900 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1995 to 2025.

That makes May the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.3×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 63/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated September at 65/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 72°F and an overnight low around 44°F, with about 1" of precipitation.

That average of about 58°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 53% 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 14.4 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.9-hour midwinter low and the 15.1-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 36,667 recreation visits, down 6.2% from 39,104 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 17.4%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.