Season guide · Pittsburgh · United States
Pittsburgh in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Changeable, from late snow in March to mild green May, with Lent fish fries, baseball's return and the marathon. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 42 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- -1°C (30°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 42
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 10°C (50°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 14 | 11.8 h | 2/5 |
| April | 17°C (63°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 14 | 13.2 h | 2/5 |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 14 | 14.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 16°C (61°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 42 of the year's roughly 152 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: St. Patrick's Day Parade downtown (usually the Saturday before 17 March)
- March: Lenten fish fries across the city (Fridays in Lent)
- April: Pirates baseball season opens at PNC Park (usually early April)
- May: Pittsburgh Marathon (usually early May)
Good choices for spring
Museum · North Shore
Andy Warhol Museum
Seven floors of a former warehouse trace Warhol's life from his Pittsburgh childhood to Factory-era fame, with paintings, films, screen prints and his time-capsule boxes of everyday objects.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Oakland
Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art
Start in Dinosaurs in Their Time, then cross to the Hall of Architecture; allow a full afternoon for both.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Architecture · Oakland
Cathedral of Learning
The University of Pittsburgh's 42-storey Gothic Revival tower is one of the tallest educational buildings in the world.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Garden · Oakland
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Visit during the winter holiday show or the spring flower show for the most impressive displays; on cold days the warm rooms are a welcome break.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Couples
- Kids
- Photo spot
Museum · Strip District
Senator John Heinz History Center
Western Pennsylvania's history museum, a Smithsonian affiliate in a former ice warehouse, covers steel, glass and the Heinz company, and holds set pieces from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, filmed in Pittsburgh.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Day trips in spring
- Fallingwater (About 1.5 hours) — Frank Lloyd Wright's 1930s house cantilevered over a waterfall on Bear Run in the Laurel Highlands is one of the most famous buildings in America.
- Ohiopyle State Park (About 1.5 hours) — The Youghiogheny River gorge is a centre for whitewater rafting, with Ohiopyle Falls, the natural water slides at Meadow Run and the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail passing through the small town.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Pittsburgh?
Yes: May is among the best months. Changeable, from late snow in March to mild green May, with Lent fish fries, baseball's return and the marathon.
+What is the weather like in Pittsburgh in spring?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 42 rainy days over the season.