What Is Alaska Like in May?

May is one of Alaska's most underrated travel months, but you have to time it right. We've seen visitors show up the first week of May and find many activities closed, then leave thinking Alaska wasn't ready for them. The real window opens around May 15, when most tours launch, roads open, and the state genuinely shifts into summer mode.

What the Weather Is Actually Like

The difference between early and late May could not be more different. As April finishes, the trees are bare, maybe just starting to bud, and temperatures might reach only the upper 40s/low 50s. But just two weeks later, usually by around May 15, the trees have leafed out (or are starting to get there), the temperatures are inching closer to the 60s, and it truly starts to feel like summer in Alaska.

It’s no coincidence that most summer activity companies pick May 15 as their start date. Going early comes with some upsides. First, May is one of the driest months, so you may experience less rain than later in the season. And, because travel to Alaska hasn’t really geared up yet, tours won’t be as crowded as in June or July. Just know that if you come before May 15, many of the tours and activities you want to enjoy aren’t yet available.

What to Wear in May

Our rules for layering certainly apply for May. You'll want a lightweight puffer jacket along with a hat and light gloves, especially for early morning tours or anything on the water or a glacier. Conditions can shift quickly, so don't assume the afternoon warmth means you can skip the layers at departure.

Wildlife in May

Wildlife is one of the best reasons to visit in May. Bears are coming out of hibernation, and moose are dropping their calves and migratory birds are returning in enormous numbers. The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival and Copper River Shorebird Festival both celebrate this migration and are worth planning around if birding is your thing. The other migrants returning to Alaska? Whales! Gray whales arrive in March and April, then orcas and humpbacks in May and into June.

And what about bears? If a fly-in bear viewing tour is high on your list, the earliest trip you’ll be able to take is around the middle of May. That’s when you’ll see these majestic creatures digging for clams, foraging in sedgegrass, and tending to their cubs. (To see bears fishing for salmon, visit in July and August, during the salmon runs.)

Where to Stay

Most hotels in Alaska’s largest cities, like Anchorage and Fairbanks, are open year-round. Accommodations in other areas are often seasonal operations. Some open in early May and offer “shoulder season” discounts; just check that the activities you want to enjoy in that area are also available. Fishing, bear viewing, and wilderness lodges often open toward the end of May or early June.

Tours and Activities

Flightseeing tours operate year-round, so scenic flight tours are definitely an option for an early May visit. Want to do a day cruise? It’s one of the first summer activities available to visitors. And after May 15, most tours are up and running. See a list of Things to Do.

Getting Around & Road Conditions

Most motorcoach and rail transportation options are available by May 15, and it’s a good time to find discounts. If you visit the first or second week of May, opt for a rental car to get around. If you need a map of Alaska, you can order one or view it online.

There are a few roads not maintained during the winter, like the Denali Highway and McCarthy Road. Those are generally declared open by the middle of May. But it’s still worth checking the DOT 511 website on road conditions.

Camping

Most campgrounds are open by Memorial Day weekend – but open dates are really determined by much snow fell over the winter. Alaska State Parks has a page you can check for open statuses. Some private campgrounds and RV parks open sooner.

Alaska Cruises in May

If you want to cruise Alaska via the Inside Passage, tours begin in late April. Just be prepared for cooler weather if you go that early.

Hiking

Mountain trails are likely still covered in snow and/or very slushy and muddy, so opt for south-facing trails or stay at lower elevations. And be extra alert for groggy bears coming out of hibernation. If you want to frolic in the mountains, wait until June or July.

Bugs

In early May, you’ll find very few mosquitos, but the number Increases as the month progresses. Invest in bug spray if you’re hitting the trails, especially if you’re hiking near ponds or standing water.

Fishing

You can take an ocean charter to fish for halibut in May; this is also when king salmon fishing season begins. See our list of recommended charter companies.

Visiting Alaska's National Parks in May

• Denali National Park. To truly experience this iconic park, don’t plan your trip before May 15. That’s the day the visitor center opens, and most hotels are open by then as well. The Park Road is generally open to transit buses and tour buses by the 20th. Up until May 19, your options to see the park are limited to the portion of the road that’s been plowed. (Crews start in April; once they reach Teklanika River (Mile 30), the road remains open to Teklanika, weather permitting.) On May 20, transit buses begin operating on the road, but private vehicles are restricted beyond Savage River (Mile 15). Other Denali tours and activities kick off around the middle of the month.
• Kenai Fjords National Park. Day cruises into the park generally start the second week of May (around the 6th or 7th). Cruises from Seward are available starting in March, but these don’t travel into the park itself; instead, they look for wildlife in Resurrection Bay. (See day cruises.) If you’re driving, the Exit Glacier area is open year-round, though the road is closed to vehicle traffic at Mile 1.3 in winter and often remains closed through early May. (It does stay open for winter recreation like cross-country skiing and dog sledding.) The NPS website posts the current road conditions. The Exit Glacier Nature Center building is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Lake Clark/Katmai. Most bear-viewing tours to these parks don’t begin until around May 15. Brooks Camp (famous for bears fishing for salmon at the falls) opens June 1, with peak viewing in July. See bear-viewing tours.
• Wrangell-St. Ellias. Most lodging in McCarthy/Kennicott opens sometime between May 15 and the end of the month, and tours follow the same schedule. Coming before then can be tricky or impossible: Access is either by air or the McCarthy Road, and the road is not maintained in winter. It’s often cleared of snow and declared open around the middle of the month, though the date varies slightly each year.
• Glacier Bay National Park. Your Alaska Cruise may pass through. Glacier Bay Lodge opens at the end of May.
• Gates of the Arctic/Kobuk: Flyover trips are great throughout May, but the date for landing in the park varies by year, depending on the snow melt. Our friends at Golden Eagle Outfitters recommend visiting the latter half of May; June is even more reliable. Trips are available from Fairbanks and Kotzebue. Northern Alaska Tour Company also offers trips over this park from Fairbanks.

Frequently Asked Questions About May in Alaska

• When do most Alaska tours and activities open in May? Most summer tours and activities launch around May 15. Year-round options like flightseeing and some day cruises are available before then, but if you want full access to the season's lineup, plan your arrival after May 15.
• What's the weather like in Alaska in May? Early May feels like late winter, with temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s and bare trees. By mid-May, temperatures push toward the 60s, trees have leafed out, and it starts to feel like summer. May is also one of Alaska's driest months, so you're less likely to deal with rain than in June or July.
• Is May a good time to see bears in Alaska? Yes. Bears come out of hibernation in May and fly-in bear-viewing tours typically start around May 15. You'll see them digging for clams, foraging in sedgegrass, and caring for cubs. If bear fishing is what you're after, that happens during the salmon runs in July and August.
• Is Alaska less crowded in May? Yes, especially before May 15. Peak tourist season hasn't hit yet, which means shorter lines, less competition for tours, and better deals on lodging and transportation. We see a noticeable difference in how relaxed the experience feels compared to July.
• Can you visit Denali National Park in May? Yes, but we'd recommend arriving no earlier than May 15. That's when the visitor center opens and most hotels are ready. The Park Road opens to transit and tour buses around May 20. Before that, you're limited to plowed sections, which typically reach Teklanika River at Mile 30.
• What should I pack for an Alaska trip in May? Layer everything. A lightweight puffer jacket, hat, and light gloves are essential, particularly for early morning tours or anything on the water. Temperatures can swing significantly in a single day, and on a glacier or boat, it will be colder than it looks on land.