New Orleans, Louisiana Weather in May

May weather

May feels warm, sticky and often showery, so it's a good time to visit but not quite the best. Afternoons reach 28°C and nights stay mild at 22°C. Rain falls on about 11 days, so a sudden shower can cut short a walk through the French Quarter. The weather is warmer than April and cooler than June, which is why May works well for sightseeing. If you can choose, November is still the top month for a trip.

Even so, you'll get long, sunny stretches for exploring Jackson Square or riding a Garden District streetcar. Save longer outdoor walks for earlier in the day, and keep an indoor stop in mind for rainy spells. The humidity can make standing in the sun feel tiring, so build in shade breaks.

Festivals and crowds

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival usually brings big crowds to the Fair Grounds in late April and early May. It's a great draw for music fans, but festival weekends can mean fuller hotels and higher prices. The Bayou Boogaloo, a music festival along Bayou St. John, is another May fixture.

If you prefer quieter streets, aim for weekdays rather than festival weekends. Outside major events, May is generally less crowded than Mardi Gras season and the busy winter months. Memorial Day weekend is the exception, bringing more visitors, especially around the French Quarter and City Park.

Making May work

Rain doesn't have to end your day. Duck into the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park, then rest beneath the park's live oaks once the sky clears. For a change of pace, try a bowl of gumbo at a neighborhood restaurant rather than eating every meal near Bourbon Street.

If you're heading to Jazz Fest, use the festival's shuttle from downtown instead of driving near the Fair Grounds. Traffic and parking can be frustrating on event days, so plan how you'll get back after the music ends.