Horseshoe Bend National Military Park in May
May at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park averages a daytime high near 83°F and an overnight low around 55°F. Visitation runs about 1.3× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 55°F
- Average high
- 83°F
Range across the year: 29°F to 91°F
- Daylight
- 13.7 hours
Roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: roughly 6,500 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 3rd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.4×) and the December low (0.5×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 58/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is November: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 69°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 11.5 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 32% 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 13.7 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.8-hour midwinter low and the 14.2-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 50,738 recreation visits, down 20.8% from 64,063 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 12%, 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 | 76°F / 45°F | 1.1× Average | 60 Good |
| May | 83°F / 55°F | 1.3× Busy | 58 Fair |
| June | 89°F / 62°F | 1.3× Busy | 42 Poor |
All twelve months at Horseshoe Bend, with the best time to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 83°F and an overnight low around 55°F at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 11.5 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (about 1.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 58/100. Our recommended month is November.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.3× the park's average, or 11% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 7,000 recreation visits at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Horseshoe Bend in May
Booking a May trip to Horseshoe Bend National Military Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Horseshoe Bend
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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.