Gates Of The Arctic · May
Gates Of The Arctic in May
May is one of the best times to visit Gates Of The Arctic — busier than April, quieter than June.
Expect light crowds (2/10) and about 20.3 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
How busy it gets
Well below this park's peak — easy parking, open trails, short lines.
About 13% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Oct 2026 · alerts checked Oct 18, 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
Typical May visits vs. the year
May draws about 4% of Gates Of The Arctic’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Daylight
May daylight
- Sunrise
- 2:01 AM
- Sunset
- 10:21 PM
- Daylight
- 20.3h
What's open
Gates Of The Arctic in May: access
No closed times or seasons for Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. Visitor Center hours vary greatly by location and season. See Visitor Center Hours for more information!
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
Current alerts
- Caution
Food-Conditioned Bear in Arrigetch Peaks
On August 13, 2026 a brown bear entered camps and food caches in the Arrigetch Peaks area, obtaining food from a soft-sided, bag-type Bear Resistant Food Container (BRFC). At this time, we strongly recommend hard-sided BRFCs for all visitors to the Arrigetch Peaks area. Hard-sided BRFCs can be checked out at the Bettles Ranger Station. Backpackers in the area should maintain a high level of bear awareness and continue to follow best practices for camping in bear country.
Details on nps.gov →
Source: NPS Data API
Context
Gates Of The Arctic crowds across the year
Alternatives
Quieter nearby in May
FAQ
Gates Of The Arctic in May
How busy is Gates Of The Arctic in May?
May rates 2/10 for crowds (Quiet) at Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve — about 13% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 521.
How much does it cost to visit Gates Of The Arctic?
Entry to Gates Of The Arctic is free.
When is Gates Of The Arctic least crowded?
Gates Of The Arctic is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
How many hours of daylight does Gates Of The Arctic get in May?
In mid-May, Gates Of The Arctic gets about 20.3 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 2:01 AM and sunset around 10:21 PM.