Palm Springs Weather in May 2026
“Reliably warm, dry, and generous with light.”
Roughly 1 rainy days across the month, on average.
May turns Palm Springs summery in earnest, with highs of 32.8°C (91°F) and lows of 18.8°C (65.8°F). Rainfall drops to a mere 2mm and sunshine reaches 13.2 hours daily. The Coachella Valley's pool decks stay busy from breakfast through sunset, Joshua Tree's spring bloom lingers into early May, and evening temperatures on the tramway summit offer welcome cool-down.
Cultural life quiets after festival season. Memorial Day weekend brings holiday-crowd surges, gallery openings continue in Uptown Design District, and the Palm Springs Air Museum's weekend flying events draw aviation enthusiasts. Restaurant week programs launch mid-month, and boutique hotels offer shoulder-season rates that make May a strong value pick.
The eleven-year record from 2015 to 2025 shows May highs rising by 1.3°C, with heatwave days above 38°C becoming more frequent. Rainfall stays negligible. Modeling for 2026 leans hot-average with late-month heat spikes possibly reaching 37°C ahead of true summer.
Travelers in 2026 will find rates dropping meaningfully after Memorial Day weekend, and pool-focused resorts running specials through the month. Plan hikes in Joshua Tree for early morning, and reserve tramway rides for pre-noon slots. May 2026 offers Palm Springs' last comfortable pool-and-hike combination before extreme summer heat closes many outdoor windows.
Palm Springs is a city of neighborhoods defined by mid-century architects: Twin Palms is Alexander tract, Movie Colony is where old Hollywood built, and Deepwell has Kaufmann House by Neutra. The Uptown Design District is where locals actually walk; Palm Canyon Drive downtown is for out-of-towners. VillageFest Thursday nights closes the main drag. The Tramway rotating cars are engineering theater and the temperature swing from 45C to 15C in 10 minutes shocks first-timers.
What to pack for Palm Springs in May
May's warm days and cool nights suggest lightweight breathable options:
- Light cotton and linen tops
- Shorts, swimwear, and cover-ups
- Comfortable sandals plus walking shoes
- Light layer for cool evenings and tramway
- Wide-brim sun hat, polarized sunglasses, SPF 50
What to pack for Palm Springs in May
- →Quick-dry travel shirtAmazon · shop this
- →UPF sun hatAmazon · shop this
- →Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50Amazon · shop this
- →Polarized sunglassesAmazon · shop this
- →Universal travel adapterAmazon · shop this
- →Compression packing cubesAmazon · shop this
We may earn a small commission on any purchase — it doesn't change the price you pay.
Where to stay in Palm Springs
We don't review individual hotels — plenty of people do that well. What we do is send you to compare rooms in Palm Springs across trusted platforms.
Compare hotels on Booking.com→Estimated May trip to Palm Springs
Shoulder-season pricing — a balance of price and conditions. Rule-based estimates from a couple based in London — actual prices vary.
We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no cost to you. Estimates use rule-based averages; check partner sites for live pricing.
Plan your Palm Springs trip
Handpicked services from partners we trust. One tab for everything you'll need after the flight is booked.
Compare rooms in Palm Springs on Booking.com.
Skip-the-line tickets, day trips, food walks and guided tours.
Compare fares with cashback on every booking.
Instant data on arrival — no roaming charges, no SIM swap.
Flexible monthly coverage for trips of any length.
Compare 900+ rental brands with free cancellation.
Book a driver in advance — fixed price, no queue.
We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no cost to you.
Things worth doing
Pool days at Ace or Parker, Joshua Tree dawn hikes, Aerial Tramway, Air Museum flying events, Memorial Day BBQs, VillageFest Thursday, restaurant week.
May vs. the rest of the year
How this month compares in Palm Springs. Tap any month to read more.
highlighted months are among the best time to visit.
Best time to visit Palm Springs
While May has its own character in Palm Springs, the data-backed best months to visit Palm Springs are February, March, April, November. These months combine the most favourable temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine across an 11-year climate record (2015–2025).
See the full best-time-to-visit guide for Palm SpringsOther places with a similar climate right now
Palm Springs in May — FAQ
Q01Is May a good month for Palm Springs?
Is May a good month for Palm Springs?
It is a fair time to visit — expect variable conditions and plan flexibility. In May, Palm Springs averages a high of 33°C (91°F) and a low of 19°C (66°F), with 2mm of rainfall across roughly 1 rainy days. Mid-February to early March Modernism Week fills mid-century homes with tours before March desert wildflower super-bloom carpets Anza-Borrego badlands purple.
Q02How warm does Palm Springs get in May?
How warm does Palm Springs get in May?
The average high temperature in Palm Springs during May is 33°C (91°F), with an average low of 19°C (66°F). These figures are averaged from 11 complete years of daily records (2015–2025, Open-Meteo Archive).
Q03Does it rain a lot in Palm Springs in May?
Does it rain a lot in Palm Springs in May?
Palm Springs averages approximately 1 rainy days in May, with a total monthly rainfall of about 2mm. This is based on daily precipitation records where days with 1mm or more of rain are counted as rainy days.
Q04What clothes should I bring to Palm Springs in May?
What clothes should I bring to Palm Springs in May?
For Palm Springs in May, pack light, breathable clothing (cotton or linen), sunscreen and sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes. These recommendations are based on 11 complete years of weather averages for this specific month. A collapsible sun umbrella and cooling neck towel: shade is rare, pool decks hit 60C, and the dry heat evaporates sweat instantly.
Q05Are there many tourists in Palm Springs in May?
Are there many tourists in Palm Springs in May?
Tourist crowds in Palm Springs during May are typically moderate — shoulder season, a sweet spot between crowds and weather. Consider this when planning accommodation — prices track crowd levels closely. Palm Springs is a city of neighborhoods defined by mid-century architects: Twin Palms is Alexander tract, Movie Colony is where old Hollywood built, and Deepwell has Kaufmann House by Neutra. The Uptown Design District is where locals actually walk; Palm Canyon Drive downtown is for out-of-towners. VillageFest Thursday nights closes the main drag. The Tramway rotating cars are engineering theater and the temperature swing from 45C to 15C in 10 minutes shocks first-timers.