How Crowded Is John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in May?

May runs about 1.6× John Day Fossil Beds National Monument's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 13% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees about 23,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes May the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2×) and the January low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 46/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated July at 57/100 — 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 65°F and an overnight low around 39°F, with about 1.9" of precipitation.

That average of about 52°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 47% 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 14.6 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.6-hour midwinter low and the 15.4-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 131,119 recreation visits, up 7% from 122,529 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 28%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.