Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in May
May at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site averages a daytime high near 65°F and an overnight low around 42°F. Visitation runs about 1.4× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 42°F
- Average high
- 65°F
Range across the year: 3°F to 81°F
- Daylight
- 14.9 hours
Roughly 12% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: roughly 1,200 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1981 to 2025.
That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.9×) and the January low (0.1×).
May is our recommended month at Knife River Indian Villages: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 54°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 10 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 61% 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 14.9 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.3-hour midwinter low and the 15.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 9,048 recreation visits, down 16.7% from 10,867 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 7.2%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 52°F / 31°F | 0.3× Very quiet | 63 Good |
| May | 65°F / 42°F | 1.4× Busy | 63 Good |
| June | 74°F / 53°F | 2.0× Very busy | 68 Good |
All twelve months at Knife River Indian Villages, with the best time to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 65°F and an overnight low around 42°F at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 10 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (about 1.4× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 63/100. May is our recommended month for this park.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.4× the park's average, or 12% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 1,000 recreation visits at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1981–2025.
Where to stay near Knife River Indian Villages in May
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Top-rated places to stay near Knife River Indian Villages
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1981–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.