How Crowded Is Santa Monica Mountains in May?
May is a busy month at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, running about 1.3× the park's average month — roughly 11% of the year's visitors come in May. It is in fact the busiest month of the year here, so expect full parking lots, busy trails and booked-out campgrounds. If crowds bother you, December (the quietest month) or the recommended December are easier. You'll get about 13.8 hours of daylight to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is busy at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (about 1.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor". The single best month overall is December.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.3× the park's average, or 11% of annual visitation.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025). Updated 2026-06-20.