Skagway in May
Good time to visit
May marks Skagway's awakening from winter hibernation. The town comes alive again with reasonable weather and reopening attractions, but without summer's crushing crowds.
Weather
May transforms Skagway as spring arrives in earnest with comfortable daytime temperatures and much longer daylight hours. Rain is frequent but snow becomes rare except at higher elevations. Wildflowers start blooming in the valleys.
13°C high5°C low13 rain days
Crowds & Cost
moderate crowds
~$140/day average
Events & Festivals
- •Memorial Day Weekend festivities
- •Spring preparation for tourist season
May Tips
- •Pack layers - mornings can be chilly but afternoons warm up nicely
- •Book the White Pass Railroad early as they resume full operations
- •Many restaurants and shops reopen but hours may still be limited
All Months
Summer is your only real option — May through September, with July and August being peak season. The cruise ships arrive daily from May to September, turning quiet Skagway into a temporary city of 5,000 people. July brings 18-hour days and temperatures in the 60s, perfect for hiking and train rides. August offers the warmest weather but also the biggest crowds and highest prices. June and September mean fewer tourists, lower hotel rates, and shoulder-season charm, though some attractions run limited schedules. Winter in Skagway is beautiful but brutal — most businesses close, temperatures drop below zero, and you'll need serious cold-weather gear. The Northern Lights appear from October through March, but you'll be one of maybe 200 people in town to see them. Spring comes late and muddy; snow often lingers into May on the mountain passes.
Skagway Scores
Solo
7/10
Couples
6/10
Families
8/10
Adventure
9/10
Budget
5/10
Luxury
4/10
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