May in the USA might be the ultimate travel sweet spot. You’ve bypassed April’s mood swings, but are happily avoiding the sweltering humidity that July can bring. Spring is an incredible season to explore as landscapes across the USA wake up with snow melting into thunderous waterfalls, wildflowers blooming and the weather warming up enough for harbor cruises and outdoor fun. Whether you’re chasing the last of the cherry blossoms or the first peach harvests at a farmers market, here are the best places to visit in the USA in May.
Is May a good time to visit the USA?
Absolutely. You skip both the erratic spring snow and high summer humidity. Waterfalls are thundering, flowers are blooming and you’ll avoid the high summer crowds too.
What US state has the best weather in May?
California might take the crown due to its variety. While the coast offers crisp (fog-free!) San Francisco mornings, the Sierras provide cool hiking air and the inland deserts zones won’t (yet) incinerate those who visit. Alternatively, for milder days and lush greenery try South Carolina’s coastal charms – it’s best before the summer humidity arrives.
11 best places to visit in the USA in May
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans gets hawwwwt and humid in the summer months, so May is the ideal sweet spot – and also the season of the Jazz & Heritage Festival. While the French Quarter gets the fame in New Orleans, in May it’s worth skipping out to the coastal Gentilly neighborhood where the air smells like crawfish boils and blooming jasmine. May is peak mudbug season, so see if you can find them at a backyard boil!
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2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (North Rim)
There’s so much to see and explore at the Grand Canyon, and come May the North Rim – which sits 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim – opens up again mid month. After the winter hibernation, you’ll find wildflowers pushing through the Kaibab Plateau and crisp air before the summer heat settles in the basin.
3. Yosemite National Park, California
In May, Yosemite gets LOUD. This is the height of the snowmelt, turning Yosemite Falls into a thundering, misty giant that you can hear from across the valley. Most of the high-country roads are still snow-blocked, but there is still plenty to see. Slow down and admire the valley floor’s vibrant dogwood blossoms and the Merced River’s icy blue rush.
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4. Charleston, South Carolina
South Carolina gets hot, hot, hot in the summer – but in spring the city is essentially a botanical garden. Look for Wisteria draping over wrought-iron gates, chase the first harvest of local peaches at farmers markets, and in late May check out the Spoleto Festival. It brings a programme of world-class opera and theater to Charleston.
5. San Francisco, California
San Francisco is often covered in a blanket of fog, making it tricky to see the Golden Gate bridge in all its glory. Fortunately, May – particularly early in the month – you’ll have a better chance of clear days, with fog likely only in the evenings (though this changes day to day – weather, it’s unpredictable!). Regardless of the fog, you can head to Golden Gate Park to see the rhododendrons in peak form and take the ferry to Alcatraz.
6. Sedona, Arizona
A trip to the desert is gorgeous in may, when the temperatures hover in the low 80s. Yes, that’s warm but you won’t incinerate your hiking boots! May is the ideal window for Arizona’s Devil’s Bridge trek or a Jeep tour through the rugged backcountry. The prickly pear cacti are often in bloom, adding pops of neon pink and yellow against the rust-colored landscape.
7. Washington, D.C.
The cherry blossom crowds have vanished, but the U.S. Botanic Garden is still a riot of spring color, and the National Arboretum’s azaleas will be in full bloom. May is a great month to visit to walk the National Mall without the school-trip swarms too!
8. Holland, Michigan
You don’t need a passport for a Dutch spring in the USA! In early May, this Michigan town takes inspiration from its namesake and explodes with millions of tulips during the Tulip Time Festival. Besides the blooms, expect a show of wooden shoe dancing, Dutch heritage and community pride.
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9. The Oregon Coast
May marks the tail end of the gray whale migration, and it’s the month the rugged coastline is at its most dramatic. The weather on the Oregon Coast is famously unpredictable, so while you’ll definitely need to pack a raincoat, the mist clinging to the Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach just adds to the atmosphere. Go early in the month to catch the end of Dungeness crab season too!
10. Bar Harbor, Maine
Visiting national parks is always a good idea, and in May Acadia National Park’s carriage roads are still largely quiet. By mid-May, the park’s loop road will be open as local lobster shacks shake off the winter dust. Hike the Precipice Trail if you’re keen, or simply drive up and watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain without the bumper-to-bumper summer traffic.
11. Asheville, North Carolina
In May the Blue Ridge Mountains turn a deep, vibrant green and Asheville steps out to enjoy the great outdoors. May is perfect for driving the Parkway with the windows down. Go for a hike to find high-altitude wildflowers like Catawba rhododendrons, then reward yourself with a pub crawl across the city’s craft brewery scene.
That’s our guide to the best places to visit in the USA in May. Anywhere else we should add to our list? Let us know in the comments…