Wrangell - St Elias · May
Wrangell - St Elias in May
May is one of the best times to visit Wrangell - St Elias — busier than April, quieter than June.
Expect light crowds (2/10), highs near 62°F, and about 17.6 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
How busy it gets
Well below this park's peak — easy parking, open trails, short lines.
About 17% 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 6% of Wrangell - St Elias’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
- 62°F
- Avg low
- 31°F
- Precipitation
- 0.9"
- Sunrise
- 2:40 AM
- Sunset
- 8:15 PM
- Daylight
- 17.6h
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, MCCARTHY 3 SW, AK US
What's open
Wrangell - St Elias in May: access
The park and public lands are always open but visitor facilities have limited seasons: Open in Summer. Call ahead for hours: Copper Center (907) 822-7250, Slana (907) 822-7401, Chitina (907) 823-7250 and Kennecott (907) 205-7106. CLOSED Mid-September through April.
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
Wrangell - St Elias crowds across the year
Alternatives
Quieter nearby in May
FAQ
Wrangell - St Elias in May
How busy is Wrangell - St Elias in May?
May rates 2/10 for crowds (Quiet) at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve — about 17% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 5,297.
What is the weather like at Wrangell - St Elias in May?
In May, Wrangell - St Elias averages a high of 62°F and a low of 31°F, with about 0.9 inches of precipitation.
How much does it cost to visit Wrangell - St Elias?
Entry to Wrangell - St Elias is free.
When is Wrangell - St Elias least crowded?
Wrangell - St Elias 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 Wrangell - St Elias get in May?
In mid-May, Wrangell - St Elias gets about 17.6 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 2:40 AM and sunset around 8:15 PM.