Redwood National Park weather in May
May in Redwood National Park: cool, a little rain, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#5 of 12 months in Redwood National Park · #408 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 86/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 16°C
- Nights
- 9°C
- Wet days
- 6
- Sun
- 12.1 h
- Humidity
- 80%
- Daylight
- 15 h

Traveller notes on Redwood National Park in May
Other months in Redwood National Park
Redwood-forum threads on a February visit describe windy rain storms as genuinely possible, posters naming sunny days as equally realistic within the same week. Regulars call temperatures genuinely mild, several posters naming the low fifties Fahrenheit as standard alongside a real chance of rain on any given day. Posters call rainfall genuinely variable by location, several regulars naming Crescent City's sixty-five to seventy inches of winter rain as considerably more than Eureka's roughly forty-five. Regulars call snow genuinely rare here, several threads naming it light and brief whenever it does happen. Posters recommend real waterproof layers regardless of which part of the park you visit, several regulars calling this standard given how much rainfall varies even within a short drive. The record: 10.8C days, 4.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 215.7mm across 13 days and 81 percent humidity.
Redwood National Park-forum threads on a March trip from San Francisco describe conditions as genuinely unsettled this time of year, posters calling fog and a real chance of wind along the coast standard for the month. Regulars call real mud likely on most trails regardless of route chosen, a higher-clearance vehicle recommended for anyone planning to explore beyond the main paved roads. Posters recommend pushing as far north as Crescent City rather than stopping at the Avenue of the Giants, several regulars calling the northern sections genuinely the most scenic part of the park. Regulars call Trinidad a solid base for anyone wanting a coastal town rather than staying directly in the park. Posters recommend real waterproof layers regardless of how the morning looks, coastal conditions here shifting fast and often. The record: 11.4C days feeling like 10C, 4.8C nights, an extraordinarily high 246.8mm across over 16 days and 79 percent humidity.
Redwood-forum threads on a November visit describe the park as staying open year-round, posters calling real fog and rain the standing conditions this time of year. Regulars call daytime highs typically mid-fifties Fahrenheit with nights dropping into the low forties, considerably milder than the interior despite the coastal damp. Regulars describe Crescent City as seeing rain across roughly thirteen days in a typical November, several inches of real accumulation over the month. Posters call usable daylight genuinely limited this late in the year, the sun's low angle leaving only a few hours of good light on a clear day. Regulars call the fog curling among the ancient trees a genuinely unforgettable sight for anyone willing to embrace the dampness. Posters recommend real waterproof layers regardless of forecast, crowds here a fraction of the summer peak. The record: 13.5C days feeling like 11C, 7C nights, an extraordinarily high 215.3mm across nearly 13 days and 81 percent humidity.
Redwood-forum threads on planning an August trip are consistent the coast itself stays genuinely cool even at the height of summer, early mornings on the beach capable of feeling raw once fog and wind combine regardless of the calendar. Posters describe daytime highs near the ocean as staying modest, a real contrast to how warm inland spots just a few miles away can run the same afternoon. Regulars recommend real layers, a waterproof shell plus a lightly insulated jacket covering most conditions a visitor is likely to hit across a single day here. Posters call the marine layer a defining feature of summer specifically, often burning off by afternoon inland while the immediate coast stays shrouded longer. Regulars recommend checking which grove is coastal versus inland before dressing for the day. Posters call the ancient trees worth the trip regardless of a gray start. The record: 21.5C days feeling like 20C, 13.3C nights, a low 74 percent humidity and 12.6 hours of sun.
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Redwood National Park climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Redwood National Park in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Shoulder seasonan ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Redwood National Park's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherRedwood National Park's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Redwood National Park in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Rhododendron bloom
1 May – 20 Jun · usuallyWildflowers & bloomsPacific rhododendron flowers pink under the old growth along Howland Hill Road and Prairie Creek for about six weeks in late spring. It is the one time of year the forest floor has colour in it.
Where is Redwood National Park?
Redwood National Park in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Redwood National Park?
- May in Redwood National Park: cool, a little rain, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Redwood National Park on SeasonMap's comfort score (86/100).
- What is the weather like in Redwood National Park in May?
- In May, Redwood National Park averages a daily high of 15.6°C and a low of 8.5°C, with about 58.1 mm of rain over roughly 6.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Redwood National Park in May?
- Redwood National Park has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 36 in May.