Best places to visit in North America in May

North America

United States · 29°C (84°F) · 5 rainy days

Honolulu

Waikīkī surf, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and year-round warm sea. Dry, sunny and quieter than summer, with calm south-shore waters for swimming.

United States · 24°C (75°F) · 1 rainy days

Los Angeles

Beaches, Hollywood history, free museums and serious taco culture. Warm inland but often grey at the beach in the mornings ('May Gray'), usually clearing by afternoon.

United States · 19°C (66°F) · 2 rainy days

San Francisco

Cable cars, steep hills and the Golden Gate Bridge in summer fog. Pleasant spring days as the fog season begins to build; one of the better months for walking and hiking.

Canada · 18°C (64°F) · 11 rainy days

Toronto

Lakefront towers, global food neighbourhoods and Niagara Falls within reach. Mild, green and pleasant, with patios opening and the islands coming back to life after winter.

United States · 19°C (66°F) · 12 rainy days

Boston

Revolutionary history, brownstone streets, harbour seafood and Fenway Park. Mild and green; college graduations from mid-May push hotel prices to their highest, so book early.

United States · 21°C (70°F) · 12 rainy days

Chicago

Skyscraper architecture, lakefront beaches, deep-dish pizza and blues clubs. Pleasant and green, with river cruises in full swing; the lake stays cold, so near-shore areas can feel cooler than inland.

United States · 22°C (72°F) · 11 rainy days

New York City

Skyline views, world-class museums, Broadway and food from every culture. Warm and green — one of the best months for walking, rooftop bars and outdoor dining.

United States · 24°C (75°F) · 11 rainy days

Washington, D.C.

Free Smithsonian museums, monuments on the Mall and historic rowhouse neighbourhoods. Warm and pleasant before the humidity arrives; graduation weekends fill hotels.

United States · 32°C (90°F) · 1 rainy days

Las Vegas

Themed resorts, big shows and the desert parks beyond the Strip. Hot, dry and sunny; peak pool season begins, and a huge electronic music festival fills hotels in May.

United States · 30°C (86°F) · 6 rainy days

Key West

Sunset at Mallory Square, Hemingway's house and reef trips at the end of US-1. Hot and still mostly dry, with warm water and good diving visibility.

United States · 29°C (84°F) · 5 rainy days

Maui

Haleakalā sunrise, the Road to Hāna and winter humpback whales. Sunny and calm, with lower rates; a good month for snorkelling and the Road to Hāna.

United States · 21°C (70°F) · 2 rainy days

San Diego

Year-round mild beaches, Balboa Park's museums and Baja-style tacos. Morning cloud from the marine layer ('May Gray') often burns off by early afternoon; the ocean is still cool.

United States · 27°C (81°F) · 9 rainy days

Atlanta

Civil rights history, the BeltLine, Southern cooking and leafy in-town neighbourhoods. Warm and increasingly humid; patios and the BeltLine are at their busiest.

United States · 26°C (79°F) · 12 rainy days

Nashville

Honky-tonks, the Ryman and Grand Ole Opry, and fiery hot chicken. Warm and pleasant, with the Iroquois Steeplechase horse race and the start of outdoor concert season.

United States · 24°C (75°F) · 11 rainy days

Philadelphia

Independence Hall, Rocky Steps, cheesesteaks and walkable colonial streets. One of the most pleasant months, with warm days and outdoor dining; university graduations fill hotels on some weekends.

United States · 30°C (86°F) · 7 rainy days

Savannah

Live-oak squares, Spanish moss and a walkable riverfront in Georgia's oldest city. Hot by afternoon and good beach weather on Tybee; graduation weekends fill hotels.

United States · 28°C (82°F) · 2 rainy days

Sedona

Red-rock buttes, canyon trails, creekside swims and dark desert skies. Warm to hot; hike early and use Oak Creek for cooling off.

United States · 28°C (82°F) · 8 rainy days

Charleston

Pastel row houses, Lowcountry cooking and harbour forts on a walkable peninsula. Warm beach weather arrives; late May brings the city's biggest arts festival.

Beach, city or budget: May picks by trip type

What's on in May

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

• Honolulu: Lei Day celebrations (1 May)
• San Francisco: Bay to Breakers — costumed footrace across the city (usually the third Sunday of May)
• Toronto: Doors Open Toronto — free access to notable buildings (usually late May)
• Boston: Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum (usually Mother's Day, mid-May)
• Chicago: Chicago beaches open for the season (usually Memorial Day weekend, late May)
• New York City: Five Boro Bike Tour (usually early May)
• Washington, D.C.: Passport DC — embassy open houses (usually May)
• Las Vegas: Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (usually mid-May)
• Key West: Key West Songwriters Festival (usually May)
• Maui: Lei Day celebrations (1 May)
• San Diego: Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Old Town (around 5 May)
• Atlanta: Atlanta Jazz Festival — free concerts in Piedmont Park (usually Memorial Day weekend)

Daylight in May

Day length on these trips ranges from about 13.1 hours in Maui to 14.7 hours in Toronto (sunrise to sunset on 15 May). Longer days mean more sightseeing time; shorter ones favour museums, food and evenings.

May weather compared

Questions travellers ask