Mount Rainier National Park in May
May at Mount Rainier National Park averages a daytime high near 48°F and an overnight low around 33°F, with about 5.1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.7× the park's average month, which makes May a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 33°F
- Average high
- 48°F
Range across the year: 22°F to 64°F
- Precipitation
- 5.1 in
- Daylight
- 14.8 hours
Roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 84,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (3×) and the February low (0.1×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 53/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 41°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.4 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 62% 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 8.3-hour midwinter low and the 15.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,635,342 recreation visits, up 0.9% from 1,620,006 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 18.2%, 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 | 40°F / 26°F | 0.2× Very quiet | 50 Fair |
| May | 48°F / 33°F | 0.7× Quiet | 53 Fair |
| June | 54°F / 37°F | 1.6× Very busy | 48 Fair |
All twelve months at Mount Rainier, with the best time to visit.
Seasonal closures in May 2027
The National Park Service lists these Mount Rainier 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.
- Paradise Wilderness Information Center (visitor center): closed until May 21, 2027
- Sunrise Visitor Center (visitor center): closed all month (September 15, 2026 to July 3, 2027)
- Ohanapecosh Visitor Center (visitor center): closed all month (September 16, 2026 to June 16, 2027)
- White River Campground (campground): closed all month (September 21, 2026 to June 20, 2027)
- Cougar Rock Campground (campground): closed until May 23, 2027
- Longmire Wilderness Information Center (visitor center): closed until May 2, 2027
- Ohanapecosh Campground (campground): closed all month (October 12, 2026 to June 13, 2027)
- White River Wilderness Information Center (visitor center): closed until May 21, 2027
Things to do at Mount Rainier in May
The National Park Service tags 23 Mount Rainier activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Spring Recreation
- Beginner's Guide to Snowshoeing · 1-6 hours
- Climbing Mount Rainier · 3-4 days
- A Day In Paradise · 2-8 hours
- Day Hiking at Mount Rainier National Park · 2-8 hours
- Hike to Gobblers Knob Fire Lookout · 6-7 hours
- Hike to Silver Falls · 2 hours
- Stargazing in Paradise & Stevens Canyon · 1-6 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 48°F and an overnight low around 33°F at Mount Rainier National Park, with about 5.1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is quiet at Mount Rainier National Park (about 0.7× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 53/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is February. May sits at about 0.7× the park's average, or 6% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 84,000 recreation visits at Mount Rainier National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Mount Rainier in May
Booking a May trip to Mount Rainier National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Mount Rainier
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.