Voyageurs National Park in May
May at Voyageurs National Park averages a daytime high near 64°F and an overnight low around 37°F, with about 3.3" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.5× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 37°F
- Average high
- 64°F
Range across the year: -8°F to 78°F
- Precipitation
- 3.3 in
- Daylight
- 15.0 hours
Roughly 13% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 28,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the August peak (2.6×) and the December low (0×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 52/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 50°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 10.9 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 64% 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 15 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.1-hour midwinter low and the 15.9-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 206,326 recreation visits, up 3.7% from 199,030 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 8.4%, 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 | 49°F / 23°F | 0.0× Very quiet | 17 Poor |
| May | 64°F / 37°F | 1.5× Busy | 52 Fair |
| June | 73°F / 48°F | 2.5× Very busy | 48 Fair |
All twelve months at Voyageurs, with the best time to visit.
Seasonal closures in May 2027
The National Park Service lists these Voyageurs facilities as closed during May 2027. The dates are the park's own, read on October 11, 2026. A facility that is not listed here may still be closed, so confirm on the park's site before you go.
- Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center (visitor center): closed until May 28, 2027
- Ash River Visitor Center (visitor center): closed until May 28, 2027
- Crane Lake Visitor Center (visitor center): closed until May 28, 2027
- Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center (visitor center): closed until May 28, 2027
- Rainy Lake Visitor Center (visitor center): closed until May 28, 2027
Things to do at Voyageurs in May
The National Park Service tags 21 Voyageurs activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Hike the Mukooda Trail · 2-3 hours
- Hike Anderson Bay Loop · 90-150 minutes
- Hike Kabetogama Lake Overlook Trail · 10-30 minutes
- Hike the Cruiser Lake Trail · 4-8 hours
- Hike the Locator Lake Trail · 2-5 hours
- Hike Voyageurs Forest Overlook Trail · 10-30 minutes
- Paddle through Blind Ash Bay · 1-2 hours
- Visit Little American Island
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 64°F and an overnight low around 37°F at Voyageurs National Park, with about 3.3 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 10.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Voyageurs National Park (about 1.5× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 52/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is August and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.5× the park's average, or 13% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 28,000 recreation visits at Voyageurs National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Voyageurs in May
Booking a May trip to Voyageurs National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Voyageurs
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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.