Looking for recommendations for a trip to Utah or Wyoming in May:
Where would you stay?
Outdoor activities preferred: hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, wildlife sightseeing, etc
TIA

Me personally…I'd take Wyoming every time.

I'd always say Jackson Hole, but the airport is going to be closed completely from April-June27.

In Wyoming the best opportunities for what you want to do are in the Greater Yellowstone area which includes the Tetons but in a normal year there's still too much snow in May, even late May. You might get lucky but hard to count on that.

Cody is 50 miles east of YS Park but it's in a different climate zone, only 5,000 ft elevation. Lots of fishing, hiking and rafting or kayaking opportunities and the Buffalo Bill museum is here. The world's largest private collection of firearms and a lot more, you can spend a couple of days there easy. And some years you might be able to get into Yellowstone's east entrance by late May.

I just went to Zion this last august. It was amazing. I will go back for Bryce etc. Wyoming is on my list, but having seen parts already, Utah definitely needs more of my time.

johnrth said:

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I'd always say Jackson Hole, but the airport is going to be closed completely from April-June27.

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Holy crap, I didn't realize that was going on. Idaho Falls will be busy. I still think most of the rental car companies up here are still behind the ball. That's going to be a nightmare for all the Californians.

May is still a little early in the year for some of the things on your list to be at their best, woo mud season

Why Is May the month? Can you go in July?

My in-laws lived in SLC for 30 years and I've camped all over Utah. I like to go places where people aren't. For my Aggie friends check out Windwhistle CG south of Moab. Beautiful rock area that kids can climb. From there you can make day trips to Canyonlands. Also great hiking to the three different arches at Natural Bridges National Monument, great camping also if you can get a site. The monument does not have many campsites. Devil's Canyon CG just south of Monticello, Utah is awesome also and their are lots of campsites. From this campground you could day trip to Natural Bridges, drive down through Monument Valley (one of my favorite places) or even drive over to Cortez, Colorado and tour Mesa Verde NP and the Dolores River area for sightseeing or fishing.

May is all dependent on what part, early is straight mud season here in Jackson with little accessible outdoor activities and much of the area will not be open shops and restaurants etc and as mentioned above the airport will be closed from April through June. If it is late May, parts of Yellowstone and most of Grand Teton will be open if you get here another way but it's still the early time of year.

Better chance at some great fishing and outdoor hikes over the north central part of the state in the Bighorns such as Buffalo or Sheridan, or as mentioned Cody to the west of them.

All, thx for information, very helpful.
Tlfw378, May is wedding anniversary month but trip does not necessarily have to be May. Sounds like avoiding snow melt/mud may be better option in early June

Moab in May

May - Utah. Also, North Rim of the Grand Canyon is fantastic if you haven't been.