How Crowded Is Wupatki National Monument in May?
May runs about 1× Wupatki National Monument'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 18,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 7th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.5×) and the January low (0.3×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 68/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated October at 56/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 80°F and an overnight low around 52°F, with about 0.4" of precipitation.
That average of about 66°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.
Because June, July and August together draw about 36% 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 13.9 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.6-hour midwinter low and the 14.4-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 220,205 recreation visits, up 2.1% from 215,703 in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is average at Wupatki National Monument (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is October.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 18,000 recreation visits at Wupatki National Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Wupatki in May
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Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.