Washington, D.C., District of Columbia Weather in May

May weather around the Mall

May feels mild and springlike. Afternoons are warm enough for long walks, and evenings cool off nicely. The National Mall, the monuments and Georgetown's leafy streets are all easy to explore on foot. Rain does fall on many days, though, and the humidity can make a damp afternoon feel sticky. If showers settle in, keep indoor stops like the National Gallery of Art in mind.

Compared with April, May is warmer and a little rainier. June is hotter and slightly wetter still. That puts May in the middle of the spring-to-summer run, which is why it rates as a good month rather than a great one. For families, it's a comfortable time to mix monument walks with museum breaks.

Events and holiday crowds

Passport DC brings cultural events and open-house days to embassies around the city. Memorial Day weekend adds a parade downtown and a concert on the Capitol's West Lawn. Both draw big crowds, especially around the Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Those crowds are part of a wider pattern. School groups, graduation visitors and holiday travellers all make May busy. Hotels can cost more than in the quieter winter months, and the spring rush around the cherry blossoms is usually over by then. If you want milder weather with fewer springtime visitors, September and October are the better bet.

A local tip for rainy spells

Use the Smithsonian Metro station for the Mall's museums. When you're heading to the Air and Space Museum or the National Museum of African American History and Culture, consider L'Enfant Plaza instead. It gives you another route into the area when the Mall gets packed.

A wet day doesn't have to derail your plans. The Smithsonian museums offer plenty to see indoors, and many are free. For a warm meal nearby, try a half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street.