Month guide · Pittsburgh · United States
Pittsburgh in May
What May is really like in Pittsburgh: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Popscreenshot, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Pittsburgh. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 14.4 hours of daylight. Mild and green, a good month for the riverfront trails and inclines.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 10°C (50°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 14.4 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Pittsburgh: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 31 days. Compared with April (17°C (63°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:03
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:29
- Daylight
- About 14.4 hours
Spring (March–May). Changeable, from late snow in March to mild green May, with Lent fish fries, baseball's return and the marathon.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Pittsburgh Marathon (usually early May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Architecture · Oakland
Cathedral of Learning
Check the Nationality Rooms tour schedule; some rooms can only be seen with a guide, and December brings holiday decorations.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Garden · Oakland
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
A Victorian glasshouse opened in 1893 at the edge of Schenley Park, Phipps has more than a dozen rooms of palms, orchids, desert plants and a tropical forest, with seasonal flower shows and Chihuly glass.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Couples
- Kids
- Photo spot
Museum · Strip District
Senator John Heinz History Center
Families should head straight for the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood display, including King Friday XIII's castle.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · North Shore
Carnegie Science Center
On the Ohio River next to Acrisure Stadium, this hands-on science museum has a planetarium, a robotics hall, a big miniature railroad and village, and the USS Requin, a Second World War submarine moored outside that you can walk through.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 10°C and 14 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Pittsburgh?
One of the best months to visit Pittsburgh, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are June and September–October. Compare every month.
Pittsburgh in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Pittsburgh?
It is one of the best months to visit Pittsburgh. Mild and green, a good month for the riverfront trails and inclines.
+How warm is Pittsburgh in May?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Pittsburgh in May?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.