Kenai Fjords National Park in May
May at Kenai Fjords National Park averages a daytime high near 57°F and an overnight low around 31°F. Visitation runs about 0.9× the park's average month, which makes May an average month here.
- Average low
- 31°F
- Average high
- 57°F
Range across the year: 7°F to 67°F
- Daylight
- 16.8 hours
Roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 26,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982 to 2025.
That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (3.8×) and the November low (0×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 73/100 ("Good"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 44°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 30.5 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 81% 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 16.8 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 5.6-hour midwinter low and the 18.4-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 425,369 recreation visits, up 1.4% from 419,468 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 40.8%, 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 | 46°F / 24°F | 0.0× Very quiet | 20 Poor |
| May | 57°F / 31°F | 0.9× Average | 73 Good |
| June | 65°F / 38°F | 2.9× Very busy | 53 Fair |
All twelve months at Kenai Fjords, with the best time to visit.
Seasonal closures in May 2027
The National Park Service lists these Kenai Fjords 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.
- Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center (visitor center): closed until May 28, 2027
- Exit Glacier Nature Center (visitor center): closed until May 28, 2027
- Exit Glacier Campground (campground): closed from May 22, 2027 to July 21, 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 57°F and an overnight low around 31°F at Kenai Fjords National Park. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 30.5 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is average at Kenai Fjords National Park (about 0.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 73/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is November. May sits at about 0.9× the park's average, or 7% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 26,000 recreation visits at Kenai Fjords National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982–2025.
Where to stay near Kenai Fjords in May
Booking a May trip to Kenai Fjords National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Kenai Fjords
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.