Crowd snapshot.
May averages about 65,000 recreation visits in the five-year mean, roughly 68% of June and a steep climb from April's 43%. Camping gets harder. NPS calls reservations essential at Elk Prairie from May to October and strongly recommends them everywhere in the busy summer months. Fern Canyon parking reservations are limited, and NPS says spots often fill quickly after they're released.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| May recreation visits (5-yr mean) | 64,976 |
| Share of June's peak | 68% |
| Crowd band | high |
| Park's busiest month (5-yr mean) | June |
| Park's quietest month (5-yr mean) | December |
Weather snapshot.
The Klamath station averages a May high near 61.2°F and a low near 46.5°F, with about 3.6 inches of precipitation. NPS's October-through-April storm season is over. NPS says summer on the coast brings cool temperatures and frequent fog, while inland areas are typically warmer with clearer skies. The station's snowfall normal is zero. Layers still help on a gray coastal morning.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Average high (°F) | 61.2 |
| Average low (°F) | 46.5 |
| Precipitation (inches) | 3.59 |
| Snowfall (inches) | 0.0 |
| Weather band | shoulder |
| Station | Klamath, CA at 28 ft |
Access snapshot.
May brings the summer rules. From May 15, the Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon parking reservation is required for each vehicle, online only and never same-day; campers with a Gold Bluffs Beach or Elk Prairie reservation don't need one. Gold Bluffs Beach charges $12 per vehicle, and RVs over 24 feet and trailers aren't permitted on Davison Road. Mill Creek Campground opens in mid-May, and all four campgrounds book on ReserveCalifornia. The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway closes to cars on May's first Saturday. Check the NPS conditions page before you go. Redwood National Park charges no entrance fee.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| May access score (0-100) | 98 |
| Road notes | U.S. 101 and the main park roads have no closing season. The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is often closed for days in winter by fallen trees or ice, and closes to cars on the first Saturday of each month from October to May; NPS's scenic drives page says Cal-Barrel Road is closed to vehicles in winter |
| Verify current road, campground, and permit status | Official NPS Redwood conditions page |
Seasonal events.
May is the start of elk calving season, which NPS puts at late May through June. Cows may be extremely defensive, newborn calves can be hidden in vegetation near trails, and a cow may charge. Give cows with calves a very wide berth. Some years bring a lupine super bloom to the Childs Hill and Williams Ridge grasslands in the Bald Hills, from mid-May through June, lasting 2 to 4 weeks. NPS ties big bloom years to prescribed burns about two years earlier. The gray whale migration's peak runs through May.
Audience verdict.
May suits visitors who want near-summer access with fewer people than June. Book early, since Fern Canyon parking and Elk Prairie campsites get tight. Families should keep kids close around elk, since calving starts late in the month. RV travelers get Mill Creek back, with a 28-foot RV limit, but should still skip Howland Hill Road. If lupine is your goal, know that super blooms come only every few years.
Common questions.
Is May a good time to visit Redwood?
May runs busy at Redwood, about 68% of the June peak, with mild shoulder-season weather (average highs near 61°F). It is one of the busier months, though not always the single peak.
How crowded is Redwood in May?
May averages about 64,976 recreation visits, roughly 68% of Redwood's busiest month (June). That lands it in the middle of Redwood's year for crowds.
How much of Redwood is open in May?
In a typical May, about 98% of Redwood's road network (weighted by how important each route is) is open to wheeled vehicles. Road-opening dates shift year to year, so check the official NPS page for current conditions before you go.
Methodology
Monthly recreation visits come from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025 on NPS IRMA Stats; the statistic shown is Recreation Visits (Redwood National Park), the 5-year mean for 2021-2025. These counts cover Redwood National Park (the NPS-administered lands); the three cooperatively managed California state parks are counted separately, and the 2024-2025 totals reflect an improved NPS counting method rather than real growth, so the reliable timing signal is the month-to-month share of the peak. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Klamath, CA (station USC00044577, 28 ft elevation, coastal lowland). The access score weights how much of the road network is typically drivable that month; Redwood's main roads have no closing season, so the winter dip is our estimate of the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway's winter storm closures and first-Saturday Bike and Hike Days. Seasonal specifics (the Fern Canyon reservation window, Mill Creek Campground's season, visitor center hours) can change; confirm current details on the official NPS Redwood page before booking. Independent site, not affiliated with the National Park Service.
Independent site. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Data comes from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025; editorial analysis is ours. The NPS Arrowhead and other NPS marks are not used.