Month guide · Atlanta · United States
Atlanta in May
What May is really like in Atlanta: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mojnsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Atlanta. Expect average highs of 27°C (81°F), lows of 16°C (61°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.9 hours of daylight. Warm and increasingly humid; patios and the BeltLine are at their busiest.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 27°C (81°F) / 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Atlanta: days average 27°C (81°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 16°C (61°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (23°C (73°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:36
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:31
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
Spring (March–May). Dogwoods and azaleas, outdoor festivals and warm days; expect heavy yellow pine pollen in late March and April.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Atlanta Jazz Festival — free concerts in Piedmont Park (usually Memorial Day weekend)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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Park · Midtown
Piedmont Park
Enter from the BeltLine at the park's north-east corner and walk to the Lake Clara Meer dock for the skyline photo.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
Garden · Midtown
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Next to Piedmont Park, the garden has an orchid house, a children's garden, large plant sculptures and the Kendeda Canopy Walk, a skywalk through the treetops of Storza Woods.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Kids
- Nature
Museum · Poncey-Highland
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
Walk the garden paths after the museum for one of the quieter skyline views in the city.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
Park · Downtown
Centennial Olympic Park
Built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, the park's lawns connect the aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and the civil rights centre.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 27°C, lows near 16°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Atlanta?
One of the best months to visit Atlanta, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April and October–November. Compare every month.
Atlanta in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Atlanta?
It is one of the best months to visit Atlanta. Warm and increasingly humid; patios and the BeltLine are at their busiest.
+How warm is Atlanta in May?
Average highs are around 27°C (81°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Atlanta in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.