How Crowded Is Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River in May?

May runs about 1.1× Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees about 26,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1980 to 2025.

That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.9×) and the December low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 67/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated June at 69/100 — 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 71°F and an overnight low around 45°F, with about 3.8" of precipitation.

That average of about 58°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 59% 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 14.3 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9-hour midwinter low and the 15-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 380,245 recreation visits, up 0.8% from 377,061 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 34.9%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.