Yellowstone in May: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack
Best window · VisitWhen score 74/100 · #2 of 12 months
May is one of the best months of the year to visit Yellowstone National Park: crowds run 55% of the July peak (508,111 average visits). Weather: highs average 51°F and lows 26°F, with 2.4″ of precipitation and 14.8 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.
Planning Yellowstone? Pack a guidebook: Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton on Amazon. · affiliate link, VisitWhen earns from qualifying purchases
Bring for Yellowstone in May
- Insulated jacket, beanie and glovesSee it on AmazonWhy: nights average 26°F, below freezing.
- Packable rain jacketSee it on AmazonWhy: 2.4″ of precipitation is normal this month.
- Bear spraySee it on AmazonWhy: recommended by the park in grizzly country (check current park regulations before you carry).
Affiliate links: VisitWhen earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Prices can change; Amazon shows the current one.
Yellowstone in May: what the park service says
May is Yellowstone's reopening month. For 2027 the park service projects the East Entrance over Sylvan Pass and Canyon Village to Bridge Bay to open May 7, the South Entrance, Craig Pass and the road to Lake Village and Tower Fall on May 14, and the high Dunraven Pass between Canyon and Tower Fall, together with the Beartooth Highway outside the Northeast Entrance, on May 28. Until those dates, plan your route around the western loop, which opens in mid-April.
Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.
Crowds in May
Yellowstone averages 508,111 recreation visits in May — 55% of what July, the peak month, draws. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly.
Weather & daylight
Days are cool (highs average 51°F), and nights drop below freezing (lows average 26°F). Average precipitation is 2.4″ for the month. Mid-month daylight runs 14.8 hours.
NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station YELLOWSTONE LAKE, WY US (6 mi from park coordinates, 7,835 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of May.
What to pack for Yellowstone in May
Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.
- Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 26°F, below freezing
- Packable rain jacket — 2.4″ of precipitation is normal this month
- Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month
- Bear spray — recommended by the park in grizzly country (check current park regulations before you carry)
As an Amazon Associate, VisitWhen earns from qualifying purchases. Gear names above link to Amazon searches or to a specific product — we don't show or set prices; you always see Amazon's current price.
Also at their best in May
Other parks whose computed May verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:
- Lake Clark in May — 7% of peak crowds, highs 59°F, score 96/100
- North Cascades in May — 11% of peak crowds, highs 69°F, score 96/100
- Katmai in May — 1% of peak crowds, highs 52°F, score 95/100
- Gates of the Arctic in May — 12% of peak crowds, highs 56°F, score 94/100
Common questions
Is Yellowstone crowded in May?
Moderately: May runs 55% of the July peak, averaging 508,111 visits (NPS, 2021–2025). See every month at Yellowstone.
What is the weather like in Yellowstone in May?
Average highs of 51°F, lows of 26°F, 2.4″ of precipitation (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, YELLOWSTONE LAKE, WY US station). Compare it with other national parks in May.
What should I pack for Yellowstone in May?
Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves; Packable rain jacket; Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — the full weather-computed list is on this page. Going in June instead? Yellowstone in June has its own list.
See also: the best national parks to visit in May · Last verified 2026-09-24