Carmel-by-the-Sea - Things to Do in Carmel-by-the-Sea in May

Things to Do in Carmel-by-the-Sea in May

May weather, activities, events & insider tips

Good time to visit Shoulder Season · Good Value

May Weather in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Long-run averages for May

60°F (15°C) High Temp
51°F (10°C) Low Temp
0.9 inches (23 mm) Rainfall
83% Humidity
9 Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Persistent, chilly winds from the Pacific can make exposed coastal areas feel significantly colder than the air temperature. Bring a windbreaker.

What's On in Carmel-by-the-Sea in May

May visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea can attend the Carmel Art Festival from 14 May 2027 to 16 May 2027. Memorial Day falls on Monday 31 May 2027. May has an average high of 15°C, an average low of 10°C, and average rainfall of 23 mm. May is about as warm as April, drier than April, 2°C cooler than June, and wetter than June.

14 May 2027 to 16 May 2027
Carmel Art Festival

Source: seecarmel.com

May Climate Compared

MonthAvg highAvg lowRainfall
April15°C9°C38 mm
May15°C10°C23 mm
June17°C12°C3 mm

May is about as warm as April; drier than April (23 mm vs 38 mm); 2°C cooler than June; wetter than June (23 mm vs 3 mm).

Long-run monthly averages. Source: Open-Meteo.

Daylight in May

Day length: 13 h 40 min on 1 May, 14 h 06 min on 15 May (+61 min compared with mid-April).

Computed from the city's coordinates (sunrise to sunset, standard solar geometry).

Public Holidays and Long Weekends

  • Memorial Day: Monday 31 May 2027 (3-day weekend (Sat–Mon))

Holiday dates: Nager.Date. Long-weekend notes are computed from the weekday.

Notable Places to Visit

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California
Hours (OSM): Mo-Su 09:00-17:00
OSM · Wikidata · Website

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

Spanish mission in Carmel Valley, California
OSM · Wikidata · Website

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Marine protected area in California, USA
OSM · Wikidata · Website

Asilomar Conference Grounds

Conference center at "Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds"
OSM · Wikidata · Website

Garrapata State Park

State park of California, United States
OSM · Wikidata · Website

Old Customhouse

Custom house in Monterey, United States of America
OSM · Wikidata · Website

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Protected area in California
OSM · Wikidata · Website

Monterey Museum of Art

Art museum in Monterey, California
Hours (OSM): Th-Su 11:00-17:00
OSM · Wikidata · Website

Places within 8 km, ordered by Wikipedia coverage. Opening hours as mapped in OpenStreetMap (fetched 2026-10-16); check before you go. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); descriptions from Wikidata (CC0).

Quick Answers

How much rain does Carmel-by-the-Sea get in May?

On average 23 mm in May, wetter than June (23 mm vs 3 mm).

How warm is Carmel-by-the-Sea in May?

Average highs are 15°C and average lows 10°C.

How long are the days in Carmel-by-the-Sea in May?

About 14 h 06 min of daylight on 15 May.

Are there public holidays in Carmel-by-the-Sea in May?

Yes: Memorial Day on Monday 31 May 2027. 1 of them create a long weekend.

What are some notable places to visit in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Asilomar Conference Grounds (from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata).

Public Holidays in May

Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds

Memorial Day

Observed nationwide as a public holiday.

Memorial Day

Observed nationwide as a public holiday.

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