Wupatki National Monument in May
May at Wupatki National Monument averages a daytime high near 80°F and an overnight low around 52°F, with about 0.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes May an average month here.
- Average low
- 52°F
- Average high
- 80°F
Range across the year: 25°F to 94°F
- Precipitation
- 0.4 in
- Daylight
- 13.9 hours
Roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 18,000 recreation visits in a typical year, 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"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 66°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 2.9 miles from the park.
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.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 71°F / 43°F | 1.2× Busy | 52 Fair |
| May | 80°F / 52°F | 1.0× Average | 68 Good |
| June | 92°F / 62°F | 1.5× Busy | 32 Poor |
All twelve months at Wupatki, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Wupatki in May
The National Park Service tags 9 Wupatki activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Crack-In-Rock Ranger-Led Hike · 6-8 hours · reservation required
- Antelope House Ranger-Led Hike · reservation required
- East Mesa Ranger-Led Hike · 2-4 hours · reservation required
- Kaibab House Ranger-Led Hike · 3-5 hours · reservation required
- Become a Junior Ranger at Wupatki · 30 minutes
- Visit Citadel and Nalakihu Pueblos · 5-20 minutes
- Visit Lomaki and Box Canyon Pueblos · 10-30 minutes
- Visit Wukoki Pueblo · 5-15 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 80°F and an overnight low around 52°F at Wupatki National Monument, with about 0.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is average at Wupatki National Monument (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 68/100. Our recommended month 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
Booking a May trip to Wupatki National Monument? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Wupatki
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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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.