How Crowded Is Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in May?
May runs about 1.1× Lewis and Clark National Historical Park's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% 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 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.9×) and the December low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 59/100 ("Fair") — the single best-rated month at Lewis and Clark, balancing crowds against weather and daylight.
Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 61°F and an overnight low around 46°F, with about 3.4" of precipitation.
That average of about 53°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.
Because June, July and August together draw about 44% 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 14.8 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.4-hour midwinter low and the 15.6-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 244,195 recreation visits, down 8.6% from 267,118 in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is average at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (about 1.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is May.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.1× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 23,000 recreation visits at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Lewis and Clark in May
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Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.