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Yosemite · May
May is the busiest time to visit Yosemite — busier than April, quieter than June.
Expect peak crowds (9/10), highs near 73°F, and about 14.2 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
The park's busiest time. Reservations, early starts, and patience recommended.
About 85% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Jul 2026 · alerts checked Jul 10, 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
May draws about 11% of Yosemite’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Yosemite Valley
What's open
Open 24 hours; Tioga and Glacier Point roads close in winter; peak-season reservations
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
When the park is very busy, you can get updates on current traffic conditions in Yosemite by texting ynptraffic to 333111.
Source: NPS Data API
Context
Alternatives
FAQ
May rates 9/10 for crowds (Peak) at Yosemite National Park — about 85% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 444,749.
In May, Yosemite averages a high of 73°F and a low of 43°F, with about 1.4 inches of precipitation.
Entrance to Yosemite costs $35 ($35 per private vehicle, valid 7 days).
Yosemite is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
In mid-May, Yosemite gets about 14.2 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 4:47 AM and sunset around 7:01 PM.