How Crowded Is Pennsylvania Avenue in May?
May runs about 1.2× Pennsylvania Avenue's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.
In a typical May the park sees about 21,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1986 to 2025.
That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.5×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 40/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated January at 78/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 36% 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 14.1 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 141,840 recreation visits, up 2.7% from 138,108 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 38.8%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is busy at Pennsylvania Avenue (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor". The single best month overall is January.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 21,000 recreation visits at Pennsylvania Avenue, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1986–2025.
Where to stay near Pennsylvania Avenue in May
Booking a May trip to Pennsylvania Avenue? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Pennsylvania Avenue
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Pennsylvania Avenue in May?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Pennsylvania Avenue by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1986–2025). Updated 2026-07-14.