San Diego in May
May Gray mornings
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
The short answer
May is a reasonable month in San Diego — with trade-offs.
May often starts gray on the coast, with sun later in the day.
May in detail
What May actually feels like
- Weather
- 16–21°C
- Mild, often cloudy in the morning.
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
- Mid-range rates.
+Mild days.
–Gray mornings on the coast.
My tip for May
Start inland and head to the beach after lunch.
- Parks
- Food
How May compares
Against the other eleven months
4th of 12 overall in San Diego, 7th for weather, 5th for space, 6th for value. The emptiest month is January; the best value is November.
See all twelve months for San DiegoPlan around
What’s on in San Diego in May
- May Gray and June Gloom
- Low cloud often covers the coast in the morning. Plan inland sights first.
May–June
Not set on May?
Even stronger months in San Diego
Weather
Weather in San Diego in May
In May San Diego averages a high of 21°C (70°F) and a low of 16°C (61°F), with about 7 mm of rain or snow over 2 wet days. The warmest month is August (around 25°C) and the coolest is January (around 19°C); the wettest month is February.
- Average high
- 21°C
- 70°F
- Average low
- 16°C
- 61°F
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Wet days
- 2
Climate data: NOAA (San Diego International Airport, 1991–2020). Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
Quick answers
San Diego in May: the questions people ask
- Is May a good time to visit San Diego?
- May is a reasonable month in San Diego — with trade-offs. It ranks 4 of 12 months in San Diego overall (7 for weather, 5 for space, 6 for value). The main upside: Mild days. The main downside: Gray mornings on the coast.
- What is the weather like in San Diego in May?
- Average highs are around 21°C and lows around 16°C. Expect about 7 mm of rain or snow over roughly 2 wet days. Mild, often cloudy in the morning. For comparison, the warmest month is August (around 25°C) and the coolest is January (around 19°C).
- Is San Diego crowded in May?
- Crowds are moderate. Moderate. The quietest month is January.
- How expensive is San Diego in May?
- Prices are at level 3 of 5 ($$$). Mid-range rates. The best-value month is November.
- When is the best time to visit San Diego?
- In the CrowdFreeViews month scores, October is the best month overall (May ranks 4 of 12). The quietest month is January and the best value is November.