Month guide · Palm Springs · United States
Palm Springs in May
What May is really like in Palm Springs: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs · Photo: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 36°C (97°F), lows of 19°C (66°F), almost no rainy days and roughly 13.9 hours of daylight. Very warm and dry; crowds thin after the festivals and resort rates start to fall. Hike only at dawn.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 36°C (97°F) / 19°C (66°F)
- Rainy days
- About 0
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Plan a trip to Palm Springs
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Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Palm Springs: days average 36°C (97°F) against a yearly average high of 32°C (90°F), and nights fall to about 19°C (66°F). Rain falls on roughly 0 of its 31 days. Compared with April (31°C (88°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 41°C (106°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:45
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:40
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
Spring (March–May). Warm, bright days, wildflowers in good years and the big Indio festivals, with temperatures climbing steeply through May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in February). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Palm Springs, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
With intense heat, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Experience · Chino Canyon
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Rotating tram cars climb from the Valley Station in Chino Canyon to the Mountain Station at about 2,600 metres, crossing roughly 4 km of cliffs in around ten minutes while the floor turns slowly so every passenger gets the full view.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms
Mid-century modern homes drive
Palm Springs' modernist houses are best seen on a self-guided drive or bike ride: Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms by E.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
- Iconic
Nature · San Jacinto Mountains
Mount San Jacinto State Park
Pick up the free wilderness permit at the ranger station below the Mountain Station before any hike beyond the short loops, and start the summit trail early.
- Time needed
- 2 hours to a full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Nature · Agua Caliente Reservation
Indian Canyons
On the ancestral lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Palm Canyon holds one of the largest California fan palm oases in the world, with a trail descending from the Trading Post at Hermit's Bench.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- History
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 36°C (97°F), lows near 19°C (66°F) and 0 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Palm Springs?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, February–April and November are better overall. Compare every month.
Palm Springs in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Palm Springs in May?
At about 19:40 local time in mid-May, with sunrise at about 05:45: roughly 13.9 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Palm Springs in May?
Average highs are around 36°C (97°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Palm Springs in May?
Expect rain on about 0 days of the month, so it is usually dry.