Month guide · Washington, D.C. · United States
Washington, D.C. in May
What May is really like in Washington, D.C.: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Washington, D.C.. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 14.3 hours of daylight. Warm and pleasant before the humidity arrives; graduation weekends fill hotels.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 14.3 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Washington, D.C.: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with April (20°C (68°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 29°C (84°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:55
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:13
- Daylight
- About 14.3 hours
Spring (March–May). Cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin, mild weather and the busiest crowds of the year, including school groups; book hotels and timed passes early.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Passport DC — embassy open houses (usually May)
- National Memorial Day Parade on Constitution Avenue (Memorial Day)
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 · Capitol Hill
United States Capitol
After the tour, use the tunnel from the Visitor Center to the Library of Congress's Jefferson Building instead of going back through security outside.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Architecture · Capitol Hill
Library of Congress (Jefferson Building)
Opened in 1897, the Thomas Jefferson Building is one of the most ornate interiors in the US: a Great Hall of marble, mosaics and murals, an overlook into the domed Main Reading Room, a Gutenberg Bible and a recreation of Thomas Jefferson's own library.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
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Museum · National Mall
National Air and Space Museum
Pair it with the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport if you want to see the very large aircraft, including Space Shuttle Discovery.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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Museum · National Mall
National Museum of Natural History
Under the rotunda's African bush elephant, the Smithsonian's natural-history museum holds the 45-carat Hope Diamond, the David H.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 14°C and 11 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
One of the best months to visit Washington, D.C., with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are April and September–October. Compare every month.
Washington, D.C. in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
It is one of the best months to visit Washington, D.C.. Warm and pleasant before the humidity arrives; graduation weekends fill hotels.
+How warm is Washington, D.C. in May?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Washington, D.C. in May?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.