Katmai · May
Katmai in May
May is one of the best times to visit Katmai — about as busy as April, quieter than June.
Expect light crowds (1/10), highs near 52°F, and about 16.9 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
How busy it gets
Well below this park's peak — easy parking, open trails, short lines.
About 1% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Oct 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
Typical May visits vs. the year
May draws about 0% of Katmai’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
May weather
- Avg high
- 52°F
- Avg low
- 33°F
- Precipitation
- 1.5"
- Sunrise
- 3:50 AM
- Sunset
- 8:43 PM
- Daylight
- 16.9h
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, KING SALMON 42 SE, AK US
What's open
Katmai in May: access
Katmai is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
Current alerts
No current alerts or closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Context
Katmai crowds across the year
FAQ
Katmai in May
How busy is Katmai in May?
May rates 1/10 for crowds (Quiet) at Katmai National Park & Preserve — about 1% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 167.
What is the weather like at Katmai in May?
In May, Katmai averages a high of 52°F and a low of 33°F, with about 1.5 inches of precipitation.
How much does it cost to visit Katmai?
Entry to Katmai is free.
When is Katmai least crowded?
Katmai 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 Katmai get in May?
In mid-May, Katmai gets about 16.9 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 3:50 AM and sunset around 8:43 PM.