How Crowded Is Scotts Bluff National Monument in May?

May runs about 1.3× Scotts Bluff National Monument's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees about 19,000 recreation visits, 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 (2.1×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 53/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated June at 60/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 70°F and an overnight low around 43°F, with about 2.9" of precipitation and roughly 1" of snow.

That average of about 56°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 47% 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 14.4 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9-hour midwinter low and the 15-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 182,392 recreation visits, down 0.8% from 183,915 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 17.7%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.