Petrified Forest National Park in May
May at Petrified Forest National Park averages a daytime high near 78°F and an overnight low around 44°F, with about 0.5" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.3× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 44°F
- Average high
- 78°F
Range across the year: 22°F to 92°F
- Precipitation
- 0.5 in
- Daylight
- 13.8 hours
Roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 70,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 3rd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (1.7×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 58/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 61°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 5.8 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 37% 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 9.7-hour midwinter low and the 14.3-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 559,254 recreation visits, up 7.4% from 520,491 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 20.5%, 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 | 68°F / 35°F | 1.0× Average | 57 Fair |
| May | 78°F / 44°F | 1.3× Busy | 58 Fair |
| June | 89°F / 53°F | 1.7× Very busy | 45 Fair |
All twelve months at Petrified Forest, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Petrified Forest in May
The National Park Service tags 15 Petrified Forest activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Become a BARK Ranger!
- Collect Your Cancellation Stamps · 2-10 minutes
- Explore at the Paleo Exhibits at Rainbow Forest Museum · 30-60 minutes
- Go Geocaching · 60 minutes
- Take a Self-Guided Tour of Giant Logs · 30-60 minutes
- Walk Crystal Forest Trail · 20-120 minutes
- Walk Puerco Pueblo Trail · 10-60 minutes
- Walk the Tawa Trail · 30 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 78°F and an overnight low around 44°F at Petrified Forest National Park, with about 0.5 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.8 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Petrified Forest National Park (about 1.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 58/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is June and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.3× the park's average, or 11% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 70,000 recreation visits at Petrified Forest National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Petrified Forest in May
Booking a May trip to Petrified Forest National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Petrified Forest
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Petrified Forest in May?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Petrified Forest 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 (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.