Washington in May: a seasonal travel plan

Weather at a glance

Daytime high

22.9 °C

Nighttime low

12.8 °C

Monthly precipitation

110.3 mm

Days with at least 1 mm

13.3

Daylight

14.3 h

2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.

Early, middle and late month

What this month is like

Washington, United States. In may, the average daytime high is 22.9 °C and the night-time low is 12.8 °C. Daytime suits a longer city route; keep a break and some flexible time around midday.

There are 13.3 wet days on average, with about 110.3 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

How to plan the day

Daytime suits a longer city route; keep a break and some flexible time around midday.

Average daylight is 14.3 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.

What to pack

Pack light clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for the evening. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

Precipitation and an alternative plan

Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.

What to pack

Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.

Compared with neighbouring months

Average daytime high: previous month — 18.1 °C, May — 22.9 °C, next month — 28.2 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 10.1, 13.3 and 12.5.

Things to do

Washington is built around the National Mall, a wide green strip from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, with free Smithsonian museums along its edges. The city is low and spacious, and almost every major sight sits on a walkable route or a short Metro ride from the next.

The National Mall

Walk the mall from the Lincoln Memorial past the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument. The World War II and Vietnam memorials stand close by, and after dark the lighting makes the same route cooler and quieter.

Smithsonian museums

The National Air and Space Museum holds the Wright brothers' aircraft and a lunar module, while the National Museum of American History covers everyday life in the country. Both stand on the mall and admission is free.

Georgetown and the canal

Follow the cobbled stretch of M Street past eighteenth-century houses and drop down to the C&O Canal, where a towpath runs beside the water. From the waterfront you see the Potomac and the Kennedy Center on the far bank.

Where to stay

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill puts the Capitol, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court within a few minutes of each other. Behind them are quiet residential streets of row houses, and Eastern Market draws the neighbourhood on weekend mornings.

Georgetown

Georgetown suits anyone who wants colonial brick streets, small shops and dinners by the water. The Metro is far from the centre of the district, so it works best for evenings rather than as a base for early starts.

Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle is a calm district of embassies and cafés with good bookshops, and the mall is an easy walk away. Rooms cost more here, but the Metro is on the doorstep and the evening needs no extra trip.

Getting there and around

Reagan National Airport sits on the Potomac, and Blue, Yellow and Silver line trains reach the centre in about fifteen minutes. From Dulles, the Silver Line Express bus runs to Wiehle-Reston East station, where Metro continues into the city. Inside Washington the Metro covers every main district, but the distances along the mall are long, so comfortable shoes matter more than tickets.

Three days in Washington

The western mall

Start at the Lincoln Memorial and follow the Reflecting Pool past the Korean War and Vietnam memorials. Climb to the Washington Monument, then finish at the White House and Lafayette Square, where St John's Church stands.

Capitol and museums

Tour the Capitol and the Library of Congress, then cross to the Air and Space Museum. Stay in the Museum of American History through the afternoon instead of walking in the heat.

Georgetown and Dupont Circle

Buses on M Street connect with Foggy Bottom station, and the walk up to Georgetown starts along the canal towpath. Have lunch there, then move to Dupont Circle for the evening and its bookshops around P Street.

Weather throughout the year

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Frequently asked questions