Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument in May
May at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument averages a daytime high near 72°F and an overnight low around 44°F, with about 1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.3× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 44°F
- Average high
- 72°F
Range across the year: 22°F to 92°F
- Precipitation
- 1.0 in
- Daylight
- 14.4 hours
Roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: roughly 2,900 recreation visits in a typical year, 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 64/100 ("Good"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 58°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 1.8 miles from the park.
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.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 62°F / 35°F | 0.8× Quiet | 61 Good |
| May | 72°F / 44°F | 1.3× Busy | 64 Good |
| June | 82°F / 50°F | 2.1× Very busy | 58 Fair |
All twelve months at Hagerman Fossil Beds, with the best time to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 72°F and an overnight low around 44°F at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, with about 1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 1.8 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (about 1.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 64/100. Our recommended month is September.
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 3,000 recreation visits at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1995–2025.
Where to stay near Hagerman Fossil Beds in May
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Top-rated places to stay near Hagerman Fossil Beds
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1995–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.