Month guide · Houston · United States
Houston in May
What May is really like in Houston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 30°C (86°F), lows of 20°C (68°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.6 hours of daylight. Hot and humid; heavy storms can cause street flooding.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 30°C (86°F) / 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.6 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Houston: days average 30°C (86°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 20°C (68°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (26°C (79°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 33°C (91°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:28
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:07
- Daylight
- About 13.6 hours
Spring (March–May). Warm and green, with the rodeo, azaleas, wildflowers and crawfish; storms become more frequent in May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is March at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in March). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Houston, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Park · Downtown
Discovery Green
Bring children's swimwear in summer for the interactive fountain.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Historic site · La Porte
San Jacinto Monument and Battleground
On the battlefield where Texan forces defeated the Mexican army in 1836 to win Texas independence, a 173-metre column topped by a star rises over the marshes of the Houston Ship Channel.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
Garden · River Oaks
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Spring is the best time to visit, when the azaleas are in bloom.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Park · Memorial
Memorial Park
One of the largest urban parks in the country, Memorial Park has wooded running trails, including a popular loop of about 5 km, mountain-bike trails, sports fields and the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, with land bridges carrying prairie over Memorial Drive.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 30°C, lows near 20°C and 9 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 Houston?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, March–April and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Houston in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Houston?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot and humid; heavy storms can cause street flooding.
+How warm is Houston in May?
Average highs are around 30°C (86°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Houston in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.