Washington DC · Month comparison
May vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs May at #4. Fall foliage on the Mall, Marine Corps Marathon, crisp air — October rivals April for DC's best.
May
#4 of 12 months
Best match
Post-blossom green and warm — the Mall transforms, outdoor concerts begin.
- ↑Memorial Day weekend (late May): the national commemorations on the Mall and at Arlington Cemetery are genuinely moving
- ↑Outdoor movies, concerts, and food markets across the city from early May
October
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Fall foliage on the Mall, Marine Corps Marathon, crisp air — October rivals April for DC's best.
- ↑Fall foliage across the National Mall, Rock Creek Park, and Georgetown: red and gold that genuinely rivals New England
- ↑Marine Corps Marathon (late October): 30,000 runners through Washington's most scenic monuments — spectacular spectator event
| Factor | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 9 |
| Value score | 5 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 5 |
| Events score | 7 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 24°C | 19°C |
| Monthly rain | 100mm | 80mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8hrs | 6.5hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓May is DC's rainiest spring month at 100mm — afternoon thunderstorms possible
- ↓School field trips at peak: the major Smithsonians swarm with students on weekdays
- ↓Memorial Day weekend causes domestic travel surge and price spikes
October trade-offs
- ↓Moderate tourism continues through October; not the quiet shoulder it once was
- ↓Marine Corps Marathon weekend significantly affects transport and accommodation around the Mall
- ↓Foliage peaks vary year to year — late October to early November is the typical window
Scores compare months within Washington DC. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →