BEST TIME TO VISIT · MONTH BY MONTH

Glacier National Park in May

May in Glacier National Park is a shoulder month: highs around 63°F, lows around 38°F. Crowds: quiet — #5 busiest of the park's 12 months. Waterfalls roar; the alpine is still buried. The editorial best window here is July–September.

Glacier National Park in May: verdict, temperatures and crowds
Verdict Shoulder Quiet and rewarding if you accept reduced services or weather.
Temps °F 63° high / 38° low
Crowds quiet · #5 busiest of the park's 12 months
What May is likeWaterfalls roar; the alpine is still buried
Best window (whole year)July–September
Peak crowds (whole year)Jul–Aug

CROWDS: RELATIVE SEASONALITY FROM NPS VISITATION STATISTICS · TEMPS: APPROXIMATE NOAA NORMALS AT MAIN VISITOR ELEVATION — HIGH COUNTRY RUNS 10–20°F COLDER

NEXT MONTH

Glacier National Park in JuneGood, highs around 71°F, crowds: busy (long days; sun road usually opens late june – early july).

QUICK ANSWERS

Frequently asked

Is May a good time to visit Glacier National Park?

Our verdict for May is "Shoulder". Quiet and rewarding if you accept reduced services or weather. Expect highs around 63°F and lows around 38°F, with crowds at the "quiet" level. Temperatures are approximate NOAA normals at the main visitor elevation; crowd levels follow published NPS visitation statistics.

When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?

Across the full 12-month review, the best window is July–September, and the peak-crowd months are Jul–Aug. May itself we rate "Shoulder".

Is June better than May in Glacier National Park?

June we rate "Good" against "Shoulder" for May, with highs around 71°F and crowds at the "busy" level.

NEVER MISS A PERMIT WINDOW

Save this trip

Get a heads-up before timed-entry and lottery windows open — plus new guides for the parks you care about.

FREE · NO SPAM · UNSUBSCRIBE IN ONE TAP