Things to do in Valle Crucis in May

When is your trip?

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Looking for a different month?

Overview

May is a good time to visit Valle Crucis. The weather is usually mildly cool and breezy, with temperatures ranging from 53—73°F (12—23°C).

Valle Crucis has plenty to offer for visitors of all ages and interests. In this article, we tell you the top things to see and do for your May trip to Valle Crucis. Get inspired by the events, activities, attractions, and experiences unique to May. We’ll let you know where to explore events based on your interests, whether that’s food, culture, art, music, sport or others.

We’ll let you know everything you need to prepare for the weather in Valle Crucis in May. Learn about what to wear and pack for your trip, the average temperatures throughout May, temperature changes from morning to evening and much more.

Visiting Valle Crucis? See our Valle Crucis Trip Planner.
Your itinerary and your map in one view

No more switching between different apps, tabs, and tools to keep track of your travel plans.

Learn more
What users say about the app

Best events and things to do in Valle Crucis in May

Top experiences in May
We couldn't find any experiences in May
Holidays in Valle Crucis in May
May
  • Cinco de Mayo (May 5)
Other notable holidays
Create your ultimate travel itinerary

Plan your itinerary, find lodging, and import reservations — all in one app.

Learn more

Weather in Valle Crucis in May

Temperatures on an average day in Valle Crucis in May

The average temperature in Valle Crucis in May for a typical day ranges from a high of 73°F (23°C) to a low of 53°F (12°C). Some would describe the temperature to be mildly cool. The general area may also feel breezy.

For comparison, the hottest month in Valle Crucis, July, has days with highs of 85°F (29°C) and lows of 64°F (18°C). The coldest month, January has days with highs of 42°F (6°C) and lows of 25°F (-4°C). This graph shows how an average day looks like in Valle Crucis in May based on historical data.

Visiting Valle Crucis? See our Valle Crucis Trip Planner.

Historical temperature average in May
73°F
highs
53°F
lows

General weather summary

Mildly cool, breezy
Feels like
46%
Chance of rain
0.225 in
Amount
10.0 mph
Wind speed
82%
Humidity
14.1 hrs
Daylight length
6:21 AM
Sunrise
8:25 PM
Sunset
44%
Cloud cover
T-shirt
What to wear
What to wear in May
With an average high of 73°F (23°C) and a low of 53°F (12°C), it generally feels mildly cool and breezy. There might also be a small chance of rain. With that in mind, most people would dress in something light like your favorite t-shirt and remember to bring an umbrella
Create your ultimate travel itinerary

Plan your itinerary, find lodging, and import reservations — all in one app.

Learn more

Best attractions for Valle Crucis in May

Besides the array of exciting events and activities Valle Crucis has to offer for travelers in May, we want to remind you of the classic attractions in Valle Crucis that are great to visit at this time of the year as well! You can’t miss these iconic landmarks, local favorites, and places rich with cultural heritage. We hope to give you insights and inspiration into the best things to see and do to make the most of your visit. Here is a list of our top attractions in Valle Crucis for May.
Original Mast General Store
1. Original Mast General Store
4.8
(2325)
General store
Shopping
Retailer selling a broad selection of goods, including food, apparel & outdoor gear, since 1883.
Slide 1 of 8
If you live anywhere in western NC, this is a must! We drove out from Asheville on a beautiful drive and had such a great time. My wife and I bought some drinks and snacks and just had a great day.
Nostalgia! What a great way to spend a couple hours going to both the original and the annex Mast General Stores. Plenty to see and buy. Lots of areas for photo ops. Cold drinks in a bottle and so many candies you cannot decide which to enjoy. We had a blast!
A classic general store still thriving! Great fun to go back in time to remember the 'good old days' and to find current products we can use! Found good thing to eat, coffee to drink, and camp products.
Very cool old store with a wide variety of products. The prices seemed a little high but not unreasonable. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area. The gate for the parking lot, behind the store, does not open until the store is open.
Such a neat store!!! It's a general store and a post office, been in business since 1883. Stepping into a piece of history here! Lots of neat things, souvenirs and interesting jams, sauces, foods and candies. Certainly worth a stop! There is a photo area in the back too!
Nostalgia abounds at the Mast General! I've visited other locations in Boone, Blowing Rock and Asheville, but had never been to the OG in Valle Crucis. I loved the sprawling building, the uneven floors and even the working post office! So many nods to my childhood including the Lip Licking Flavored lip balm selection and Blenheim's ginger ale in both hot and mild. (I was asked by an employee if I was aware I had selected the hot - which I love, but it does pack a pinch!) Super friendly employees, it's with the drive out of the busier towns to explore.
Great old General Store offering candy, fudge, staples, and souvenirs. They provide a military discount - but you need to ask for it.
10/10 recommend. One of the coolest stores you’ll ever shop in. Prices can be a little steep but definitely worth a visit.
Valle Crucis Community Park
2. Valle Crucis Community Park
4.9
(861)
Park
Nature & Parks
Slide 1 of 8
Very nice park with a paved walking trail around it. They are still working on storm clean up but plenty of room to get around the messy areas.
Super cute park. We stopped here to stretch our puppies legs. Park was hard hit from Helene. Bathrooms were absolutely disgusting & backed up. Not sure from use or hurricane but they need closed & cleanned.
Wonderful community park. Small pond, Creek, mountain back drop, walking trails both paved and dirt, basketball courts and a walk to Mast General if you want to grab some candy or shop a bit.
We absolutely love this park and visit whenever we are nearby. The trails, creek, unique playhouses and the playground for the kids are all wonderful and set in a beautifully dramatic landscape. It's also got convenient, clean restrooms and a nice little information center. We actually spent a little over 5 hours there today just playing and exploring. Highly recommend!
Beautiful park near water access, just sucks there are no fish to catch, so don't even bother bringing a rod.
Beautiful place to spend the day! We took the kids tubing and dried off on the playground!! Lots of beautiful wildlife to admire.
Loved this park!! It was huge! Has a large sidewalk for walking or running, 2 playgrounds, and more kids playing areas, several picnic tables, several benches next to the walking trail and by the river. There is also a hiking trail we did not explore. Huge green area. It really is beautifully organized and we will 100% come back!
Love this community park. There are play structures, restrooms, walking trails, wide open green spaces and kid buildings for imagination play. The real gem is the creek that flows along the park. Many people walked along and through the creek. Kids were wading and tubing. It isn’t very deep but it’s fun to play and splash.
Dutch Creek Trails
3. Dutch Creek Trails
4.9
(435)
Horseback riding service
Outdoor Activities
Slide 1 of 8
My husband and I went on a beautiful horseback ride. Stunning scenery. Wonderful horses. From checking in, meeting guides, and final dismounting, we had a totally awesome experience. I am so glad that they have mounting/dismounting steps for less agile people, like me! Thank you for a wonderful ride.
Me and some friends went here for one of my friend’s birthday and loved every bit of it. My horses name was Coal and he was the sweetest most gentle baby I met. Collin, Luke and Carson were the best tour guides as well they were funny and very cool. Recommend 100%
My Fiance and I just completed a private trail ride at Dutch Creek . It was a exciting mountain trail ride . The horses were amazing and handled the mountain terrain with ease. Our guide Steve was very pleasant and professional. We will definitely come here again to ride when in the area.
We had such a wonderful time at the Dutch Creek Trails! Cowboy Keith made sure to make our twin boys 10th birthday super special! Cowboy Kyle and Cowboy Ethan were so patient and friendly, going above and beyond to teach our group about the horses. They let us help get the horse ready for their ride and even gave our boys a private roping lesson! It was a fantastic day!!! Thank you!
Awesome experience!!! Everyone was so nice and Caleb was a wonderful guide. The property is very beautiful. Highly recommend(:
My family had a great time on the horseback riding trail! Booked with the owner who was very friendly. Upon arrival he greeted us and had us complete the necessary liability forms. After we were able to look at the other animals while others arrived. The entire experience was fun, relaxing, and perfect for our family. The tour guides were awesome, friendly, patient, and made sure everyone felt comfortable and confident throughout the ride. The scenery was beautiful, and the horses were well cared for and gentle, which made the experience even better. It was the perfect mix of adventure and peace, and we’d definitely do it again. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a memorable outdoor activity!
Carson and the whole crew did an amazing job. It was our kids first horseback riding experience, and they loved every minute! Thanks guys!
Enjoyed our ride at Dutch Creek Trails. Very friendly staff, the horses are well behaved and cared for. We’ll be back next year!
Jerky Outpost
4. Jerky Outpost
4.8
(334)
Gourmet grocery store
Shopping
Slide 1 of 8
On our way to Valle Crucis, my husband “nearly” slammed the brakes…. This Jerky Outpost is his kind of thing. The proprietor Damon is a nice guy. He offered samples to my husband. He tried local jerky before deciding on Outlaw Heat. I took home a bag of Hatchet Coffee, too. I noticed that they sell some products that would make great gifts. If you are visiting somebody at their mountain retreat, I suggest picking up some truffle oil, as well as coffee & a variety of jerky and other delicious options in the form of a gift basket. We highly recommend this place! Enjoy ❣️ Josephine Local Guide 🧳
Fabulous!!! Stopped here before heading to the Mast store. Got a sample of General Tso jerky. We got the tender version and it was SO good that we ended up getting 2 of their brand of jerky. There's popcorn, hot sauce, cheeses, even a fun coffee pod wall which I thought was a neat touch!! Definitely a must stop if you are a jerky fan!
What a delightful place and proprietor. We got to sample several locally made jerky, and bought a few other things. Damon was informative and helpful as we were figuring out what we wanted. Definitely a fun place to stop!
I waked in behind a couple. The owner assisted them and gave them samples. He completed their order and never acknowledged me. They walked out and I was the only customer in the store. I was never acknowledged and walked out. The jerky business must be lucrative because evidently my money was no good there. Poor customer service! All products were packaged, so you can purchase elsewhere
Stopped on a whim, not disappointed one bit. Samples were all delicious. Huge variety, nice staff. Jerky is fresh, soft, flavorful. A++
I just visited jerky outpost store today and I must say, it was an incredible experience from start to finish. From the moment I walked in, I could immediately sense the freshness in the air. The store had a wide variety of jerky options, making it difficult to choose just one. One aspect that stood out to me was the impeccable packaging of their jerky. Each package was sealed perfectly, ensuring the freshness and quality of the product. It was evident that great care was taken in the packaging process, which made me feel confident in my purchase. The customer service at this jerky store was exceptional. It’s family owned and they were friendly, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to assist me in finding the perfect jerky flavors. They patiently answered all my questions and even offered helpful suggestions based on my preferences. It was refreshing to receive such kind and attentive customer service. Another aspect that impressed me was the cleanliness of the store. The entire premises were well-maintained and organized, creating a pleasant shopping environment. I felt comfortable browsing and exploring the various jerky options without any worries. Lastly, the prices at this jerky store were reasonable, considering the high quality of their products. I was pleasantly surprised by the affordability, especially given the freshness and deliciousness of their jerky offerings. It's great to find a store that offers top-notch jerky without breaking the bank. Also they have rewards program which is buy 9 bags and get the 10th bag free. Overall, I highly recommend this local jerky store to all jerky enthusiasts. The fresh jerky, impressive packaging, kind customer service, clean environment, and reasonable prices make it a standout destination. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
I love this place! The owner makes his own jerkey (and it's delicious) but he's also great at making recommendations for other sellers, too. Really nice broad selection of jerkey that includes unusual meats (e.g. alligator). They also have stuff like hot sauce and popcorn. My boyfriend and I are from out of town but stop by here everytime we drive through. Highly recommend!
Very friendly staff happily answered all my questions and offered suggestions, including accounting for my dietary needs (gluten). I left with three bags of jerky from companies that are new to me and I'm excited to try them. I was told by staff that there were samples available but I neglected to try them as I got carried away looking at all the options. The jerky is certainly not cheap - most was in the $8.99 to $11.99 range. Still, I like trying new jerky varieties and my visit met my expectations.
Rivercross Made in USA
5. Rivercross Made in USA
4.8
(12)
Craft store
Shopping
Slide 1 of 7
Wonderful art of all types and styles! A great place to visit and to support local artisans!
Awesome store! Beautiful pottery, jewelry, and more. Many different types of crafts. Well worth the stop!
Wonderful store!! A must-visit in the area!
Right next door to the Original Mast General Store, a neat little place filled with handmade and Made-in-the-USA items. I spent entirely too much.
Excellent local pottery, art, and other crafts; good customer service.
Lots of unique items. Nice treasures.
Loads of arts and crafts everything you could want

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Valle Crucis?

Get inspired for your trip to Valle Crucis with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

Planning a trip to Valle Crucis?
Save all the best places to visit with WanderlogDownload the travel planning app everyone's been raving about
  • Itinerary + map in one view
  • Live collaboration
  • Auto-import hotels and reservations
  • Optimize your route
  • Offline access on mobile
  • Optimize your route
  • See time and distance between all your places
Learn more
Get the iOS app from the App Store
Get the Android app from Google Play
0 places saved to your trip to Valle Crucis