Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve in May
May at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve averages a daytime high near 62°F and an overnight low around 31°F, with about 0.9" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.7× the park's average month, which makes May a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 31°F
- Average high
- 62°F
Range across the year: -9°F to 71°F
- Precipitation
- 0.9 in
- Daylight
- 17.2 hours
Roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: roughly 3,900 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982 to 2025.
That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (3.9×) and the January low (0×).
May is our recommended month at Wrangell - St Elias: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 47°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 13 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 83% 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 17.2 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 5-hour midwinter low and the 19-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 108,840 recreation visits, up 33.3% from 81,670 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 20.8%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 48°F / 22°F | 0.1× Very quiet | 14 Poor |
| May | 62°F / 31°F | 0.7× Quiet | 75 Excellent |
| June | 70°F / 39°F | 2.7× Very busy | 57 Fair |
All twelve months at Wrangell - St Elias, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Wrangell - St Elias in May
The National Park Service tags 6 Wrangell - St Elias activities for spring. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Ghost Towns · 6-8 hours · reservation required
- Backpacking in Wrangell-St Elias
- Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias · 1-8 hours
- Front country Hiking Trails · 2-4 hours
- Virtual Tours
- Webcams
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 62°F and an overnight low around 31°F at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, with about 0.9 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 13 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is quiet at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve (about 0.7× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Excellent" at 75/100. May is our recommended month for this park.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 0.7× the park's average, or 6% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 4,000 recreation visits at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982–2025.
Where to stay near Wrangell - St Elias in May
Booking a May trip to Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Wrangell - St Elias
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.