Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in May
May at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park averages a daytime high near 81°F and an overnight low around 58°F, with about 3.6" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes May an average month here.
- Average low
- 58°F
- Average high
- 81°F
Range across the year: 34°F to 90°F
- Precipitation
- 3.6 in
- Daylight
- 13.8 hours
Roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 48,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1983 to 2025.
That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (1.4×) and the October low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 69/100 ("Good"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 70°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 8.9 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 33% 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 13.8 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 647,349 recreation visits, down 44.2% from 1,159,438 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 19.7%, 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 | 74°F / 50°F | 0.9× Average | 69 Good |
| May | 81°F / 58°F | 1.0× Average | 69 Good |
| June | 87°F / 67°F | 1.4× Busy | 37 Poor |
All twelve months at Martin Luther King, Jr., with the best time to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 81°F and an overnight low around 58°F at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, with about 3.6 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 8.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is average at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 69/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is June and the quietest is October. May sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 48,000 recreation visits at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1983–2025.
Where to stay near Martin Luther King, Jr. in May
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Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1983–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.