United States, North America

Washington, DC in May

Gardens at full strength and long evenings on the Mall. School-trip season is at maximum, so museums are busiest on weekday mornings.

BestWarm, highs near 76F (24C)

Washington Monument over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — Washington, DCPhoto: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0

The straight answer

May is one of the best months of the year to visit Washington, DC. Gardens at full strength and long evenings on the Mall. School-trip season is at maximum, so museums are busiest on weekday mornings.

Weather: Warm, highs near 76F (24C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What May is like in Washington, DC

May is warm and pleasant, with highs near 76F (24C). Gardens are in full bloom and evenings on the Mall are long. This is peak school-trip season, so museums are busiest on weekday mornings. Late May brings Memorial Day weekend, with the National Memorial Day Concert and ceremonies at Arlington, with motorcycles filling Constitution Avenue. Hotel prices are high, so book early.

It suits families, couples, and anyone who wants great outdoor weather. Plan museum visits for afternoons when school groups leave. If you want fewer crowds, September offers similar weather with far fewer groups.

Make the most of May

What is especially good about Washington, DC this month.

Memorial Day weekend

The National Memorial Day Concert and ceremonies at Arlington make late May a moving time to visit.

Long evenings on the Mall

Sunset comes late, so you can see the monuments lit up after dinner without staying out too late.

Gardens in full bloom

The gardens around the Smithsonian museums are at their best, great for a picnic break.

What to pack for May

Light clothes and a light jacket
Sunscreen and a hat
Comfortable walking shoes
A refillable water bottle

Our timing tip

Visit the big Smithsonian museums in the afternoon, after the morning school groups have moved on.

Book Washington, DC for May.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Washington, DC
Opens a hotel search for Washington, DC in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for May
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Vacation rentals in Washington, DC
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
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Tours and tickets in Washington, DC
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Washington, DC for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in May

Memorial Day weekend

Late May

The National Memorial Day Concert, ceremonies at Arlington, and motorcycles filling Constitution Avenue.

Things to do in Washington, DC

Full guide

The National Mall monuments

Do Lincoln, the Vietnam Wall, and the Korean Memorial at sunrise or after dark. Distances are longer than they look; the loop is several miles on foot.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Smithsonian Air and Space and Natural History

The two biggest kid magnets. Free timed passes are required at some Smithsonian museums in busy season; check before you go.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Tidal Basin and the cherry trees

In bloom week, go at sunrise. By 10am it is shoulder to shoulder. Off season it is a lovely, quiet waterside walk.

Tickets and tours →

National Gallery of Art

A world-class collection, free, and usually calmer than the Smithsonian giants. The sculpture garden fountain becomes an ice rink in winter.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The Capitol and Library of Congress

Book Capitol tours ahead through your representative or the visitor center. The Library's Great Hall is the most beautiful room in the city.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Arlington National Cemetery

The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier runs year-round. Give it a half day and wear walking shoes; the grounds are hilly.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

For blossoms without the crush, hit the Tidal Basin at sunrise, or see the same trees with a fraction of the people at the National Arboretum and around East Potomac Park.
School groups dominate weekday mornings from March through early June. Flip your day: monuments and neighborhoods in the morning, museums after 2pm when the buses leave.
September and October give you April's weather with a third of April's people. If bloom is not the point, this is the trade to make.
Do the monuments after dark. They are lit, open 24 hours, cooler in summer, and the tour-bus waves are gone by 9pm.

Know before you go

DC is a genuine year-round city. The Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery are open nearly every day of the year, typically closing only December 25.
The outdoor monuments and memorials never close: they are open 24 hours a day, every day, with rangers on duty at the major sites during the day and evening.
Peak bloom is not schedulable. The trees peak for roughly a week, sometime between late March and mid April depending on the year, and a warm or cold snap can move it. Book refundable rooms if bloom is the whole mission.
A federal government shutdown, when one happens, can shutter the Smithsonian museums, the Archives, and National Park Service sites. It is rare but worth a news check before a big trip.