Month guide · Fort Lauderdale · United States
Fort Lauderdale in May
What May is really like in Fort Lauderdale: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Riverwalk and Stranahan House, Fort Lauderdale · Photo: Dtobias, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 30°C (86°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 13.4 hours of daylight. Hot, with the rainy season starting late in the month; hotel prices fall after peak season.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 30°C (86°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 13.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Plan a trip to Fort Lauderdale
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Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Fort Lauderdale: days average 30°C (86°F) against a yearly average high of 28°C (82°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with April (28°C (82°F)), May is warmer; by June highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:34
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:59
- Daylight
- About 13.4 hours
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F)
Spring (March–May). Hot sunny days and warm water; March brings spring break and high prices, while May is quieter and better value.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Fort Lauderdale, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Street · Las Olas and Downtown
Las Olas Boulevard
Walk the boulevard in the early evening, then cross to the Isles for sunset over the canals.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- After dark
Experience · New River and Intracoastal
Water Taxi
Yellow hop-on, hop-off boats run along the New River and the Intracoastal Waterway, linking downtown, Las Olas, the beach hotels and, on some routes, Hollywood.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- Photo spot
Experience · Fort Lauderdale Beach
Jungle Queen Riverboat
Choose the shorter sightseeing cruise for children; the evening dinner cruise is longer.
- Time needed
- 1.5–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Views
- Iconic
Historic site · Fort Lauderdale Beach
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
Artist Frederic Clay Bartlett built this colourful plantation-style winter home in 1920 on a barrier-island estate between the ocean and the Intracoastal.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Nature
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
The sea averages 27°C (81°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Fort Lauderdale.
What to pack
For highs near 30°C (86°F), lows near 23°C (73°F) and 10 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Fort Lauderdale?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, November–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Fort Lauderdale in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Fort Lauderdale in May?
At about 19:59 local time in mid-May, with sunrise at about 06:34: roughly 13.4 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Fort Lauderdale in May?
Average highs are around 30°C (86°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Fort Lauderdale in May?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.