SeasonMapHilton Head Island weather in May
United States
May in Hilton Head Island: hot, rainy, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
#1 of 12 months in Hilton Head Island · #318 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 87/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Hilton Head Island in May
Hilton Head's forum calls late May the sweet spot — warm enough for the beach and pool, genuinely rare to get as hot as July or August, roughly one day in four or five bringing rain, usually late afternoon or evening. Regulars note the ocean is swimmable but not warm, and that May stays noticeably quieter than the June-through-August rush since most schools are still in session.
Add your own note from Hilton Head Island's card on the map.
Hilton Head Island climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 28°C / 82°F | 🥵 hot |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 20°C / 68°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 30°C / 86°F | |
| Sea temperature | 24°C / 74°F | 🙂 pleasant |
| Rainfall | 136 mm / 5.4 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 7 days | |
| Humidity | 74% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 18°C / 65°F | |
| Sunshine | 11.3 h/day | |
| Daylight | 13.8 h | |
| Wind | 21 km/h / 13 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 46 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Hilton Head Island in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Busyone of its best months for weather(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Hilton Head Island's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherHilton Head Island's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
May includes Loggerhead nesting.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Hilton Head Island in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Loggerhead nesting
1 May – 31 OctTurtle nestingA couple of hundred loggerhead nests a season, laid from May and hatching through October. A volunteer patrol walks the twelve miles of beach at first light marking the new ones.
- Rule
Beachfront lights-out rule
1 May – 31 OctAny light visible from the sand has to be shielded or off between 10pm and 6am through nesting season, which is why oceanfront rentals come with blackout blinds and no torches on the beach after dark. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Hilton Head Island — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Hilton Head Island?
- May in Hilton Head Island: hot, rainy, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Hilton Head Island on SeasonMap's comfort score (87/100).
- What is the weather like in Hilton Head Island in May?
- In May, Hilton Head Island averages a daily high of 27.7°C and a low of 20.2°C, with about 136 mm of rain over roughly 7.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Hilton Head Island in May?
- Hilton Head Island has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 46 in May.
Other months in Hilton Head Island
Compare Hilton Head Island in May
Warmer or cooler than Hilton Head Island in May
Similar destinations in North America — May
Within 300 km: Charleston's Spoleto Festival USA on 22 May – 7 Jun, and Jacksonville's Loggerhead nesting on 1 May – 31 Oct.