These are the Best National Parks to Visit This May

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Sarah McDonagh
Destinations, Travel
Dry Tortugas National Park in May

May is a fantastic month to explore many of the United States’ national parks due to the generally mild weather, the vibrant spring blooms, and the start of wildlife emerging from the winter months. But where should you go? There are 429 national park sites across the United States. This means you have plenty of options to choose from, depending on where you want to go!

While you may want to avoid the Memorial Day crowds, the rest of the month is a fantastic time at the following parks! Maybe it’s time for a road trip or a weekend trip to one of these stunning parks.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, Maine, featuring a landscape rich with fir trees, other types of trees, and small rocks. In the background, the vast expanse of the ocean adds to the scenic beauty of the park.
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I grew up going to this park, and May was always the time of year we liked to go up and camp to kick off the summer season early. During this month, the park is coming to life with blooming wildflowers and budding trees, and the weather is turning warmer. It can get busy, but nowhere near the crowds of the summer months, making it a very peaceful experience. 

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho

Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, as seen from the Fairy Falls Trail in a horizontal perspective. In the center of the scene is the round spring, showcasing its vibrant colors and distinct layers of mineral deposits.
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In May you have a great chance at seeing a range of wildlife, including bears, that begin to emerge from hibernation. The park is less crowded than in summer, and the geysers and hot springs are impressive as ever during this time of year. 

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, showcasing its unique geological formations known as hoodoos. The landscape is characterized by intricate rock formations in various shades of red, orange, and white.
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May is a great time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park as it provides cool to mild temperatures for hiking and the chance to see the park’s famous hoodoos without the snow and cold of winter or the tourist crowds and heat of summer. If you can manage to visit on a weekday, you may find the park is still relatively quiet, and you can enjoy some views to yourself. 

Cuyahoga National Park, Ohio

Brandywine Falls, located along Brandywine Creek, a tributary of the Cuyahoga River, within Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Sagamore Hills Township, Ohio. A wooden viewing platform is visible in the foreground, providing a vantage point for observing the waterfall.
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Spring blooms and waterfalls are at their best in May here, and the weather is ideal for hiking and enjoying the scenic train rides through the park.

The weather in Ohio during the month of May is quite nice, as it hasn’t hit some of the hottest parts of the summer. That makes it the perfect time to visit this National Park, especially if you haven’t been there before. You can visit the charming Ohio small town of Peninsula, Ohio, while you’re in the area.

Arches National Park, Utah

Delicate Arch, an iconic natural rock formation located in Arches National Park, eastern Utah, USA.
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This is another park that sees extremely high temperatures in the summer, making May is a great time to catch the end of the cooler days and allow for more ample hiking excursions. I highly recommend doing the hike out to the infamous Delicate Arch at night. It’s absolutely incredible for stargazing, and if you go during a full moon, you won’t even need a headlamp! 

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Chaos Crags and Lassen Peak reflected in Reflection Lake, situated in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California. In the foreground, the lake's calm waters mirror the rugged beauty of the volcanic peaks. Beyond the lake, a dense forest provides a natural backdrop to the scene. Further in the distance, rocky mountains rise, completing the panoramic view of the park's diverse terrain.
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May is when the winter snow starts to melt in the mountains in California, revealing the park’s hiking trails and volcanic landscapes. It’s a quiet month before the summer tourist season kicks in, and it is an absolute must-visit at some point in your life, as it is truly unlike any other park in the country. 

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California

trail in the General Sherman Tree area within Sequoia National Park, USA. The trail meanders through a dense forest of towering sequoia trees.
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These sister parks in the Sierra Nevadas are awe-inspiring in May as the snow begins to melt, revealing accessible hiking trails and the majestic giant sequoias. The number of visitors are still lower than in summer, allowing for a more peaceful experience and an escape from the “May Grey” that sometimes takes over the usually sunny beaches of the coast. 

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, featuring an ocean in the foreground and a park forest with a rocky shore in the background. The composition captures the natural beauty and diverse landscapes of the park, highlighting its coastal and wooded areas.
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Opening in April after the winter closure, May is one of the best times to visit this remote island park in Lake Superior. The ferry services are running, and the weather is ideal for hiking and wildlife observation without the mosquitoes that appear later in the summer.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, USA, showcasing rock caves with various curved formations.
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In May, the moderate temperatures make it a perfect time to explore the caverns below and the desert landscape above. The most extraordinary reason for visiting during this month is for the bat flights that begin in late May, where you can watch hundreds of thousands of bats exit the cave at dusk.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

The image features a wide view of high sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado, USA. The landscape showcases vast stretches of sandy terrain, sculpted by natural forces over time. The dunes rise to impressive heights.
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Late spring is one of the best times to visit this park, as the sand can get extremely hot in the summer, making it uncomfortable to explore at times. The Medano Creek also experiences its highest flow in May, providing a unique beach-like atmosphere at the base of the sand dunes. 

Crater Lakes National Park, Oregon

At the center of the lake is a hill adorned with greenery, providing a natural focal point. Surrounding the lake, rugged rocks frame the water.
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This park is great in any of the summer months, but May is a particularly fantastic time to visit as the heavy snows of winter begin to melt, providing a dramatic contrast between the deep blue lake and the white snowy cliffs.

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

The fort stands prominently amidst the ocean, highlighting its strategic coastal location. The composition emphasizes the architectural details of the coal structure, showcasing its historical significance within the park. Surrounding the fort is the vast expanse of the ocean.
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Located in the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas is ideal in May before the hurricane season and extreme heat. Dry Tortugas is located near Key West, in one of the more family-friendly vacation areas of Florida. Snorkeling and bird watching are fantastic during this time due to clearer waters and significant bird migrations.

Redwood National Park, California

Redwood National Park in California, known for its vast groves of very tall sequoias. The towering trees dominate the landscape, highlighting the park's iconic natural feature.
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May is a great time to see the coastal redwoods in moist, foggy conditions that really highlight the ethereal quality of these tallest trees on Earth. It makes for some of the coolest photos and the weather is also generally more comfortable for hiking. 

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

El Capitan at Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Western Texas, USA. The mountain features a high rock formation, characteristic of the rugged terrain in the region. The sky is clear, devoid of clouds, emphasizing the vastness of the landscape.
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May is a fantastic time to enjoy this lesser-known gem. The weather is ideal for hiking to Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, and for exploring the park’s extensive fossil reef from the Permian era.

White Sands National Park, New Mexico

White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, USA, known for its distinctive white gypsum sand dunes. The desert terrain creates a surreal and otherworldly atmosphere. The white dunes stretch across the landscape, creating a stark contrast against the clear blue sky.
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The stark white gypsum sand dunes are stunning in May, with moderate temperatures that allow for all kinds of daytime activities like sledding down the dunes, hiking, and sunset tours before the summer heat peaks.

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Stella Lake at Great Basin National Park in Nevada. In the foreground, the lake is prominently featured, reflecting the surrounding landscape. Behind the lake, mountain cliffs rise, adorned with pine trees that add to the natural scenery. The clear sky and sunlight illuminate the lake and mountains, creating a picturesque setting.
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With a range of elevations, May is a month when you can still potentially ski in the higher areas while enjoying wildflower hikes at lower altitudes. The park’s ancient bristlecone pines and the Lehman Caves add to the variety of accessible adventures.

Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska

Kobuk Valley National Park located in the Arctic region of Alaska. The scene captures the vastness and rugged beauty of the park, characterized by long winding rivers that traverse the pristine wilderness.
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May might still be cold in this remote Alaskan park, but it’s a unique time to see the sand dunes covered partially in snow — a rare sight. The Kobuk River is bustling with life as migratory birds return and caribou herds pass through the area.