Mount Rushmore National Memorial in May
May at Mount Rushmore National Memorial averages a daytime high near 60°F and an overnight low around 42°F, with about 4.8" of precipitation and roughly 2" of snow. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes May an average month here.
- Average low
- 42°F
- Average high
- 60°F
Range across the year: 18°F to 79°F
- Precipitation
- 4.8 in
- Snowfall
- 2 in
- Daylight
- 14.5 hours
Roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 183,000 recreation visits in a typical year, 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 (3×) and the January low (0.1×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 57/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 51°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 0.4 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 63% 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 14.5 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.7-hour midwinter low and the 15.3-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,905,649 recreation visits, up 3% from 1,850,329 in 2024.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 50°F / 32°F | 0.3× Very quiet | 49 Fair |
| May | 60°F / 42°F | 1.0× Average | 57 Fair |
| June | 71°F / 52°F | 2.2× Very busy | 58 Fair |
All twelve months at Mount Rushmore, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Mount Rushmore in May
The National Park Service tags 3 Mount Rushmore activities for spring. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Walk the Presidential Trail · 20-45 minutes
- Hiking The Blackberry Trail · 30-60 minutes
- Visit The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center · 30-60 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 60°F and an overnight low around 42°F at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with about 4.8 inches of precipitation and roughly 2 inches of snow. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 0.4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is average at Mount Rushmore National Memorial (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 57/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 183,000 recreation visits at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Mount Rushmore in May
Booking a May trip to Mount Rushmore National Memorial? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Mount Rushmore
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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.