May in Fresno
The last comfortable stretch before the valley heat.
84°F / 56°F
Warming up. Mid 80s and low 90s by late month. Mornings are still pleasant, but afternoons signal the summer heat to come. Evenings stay comfortable.
May is the last comfortable stretch for daytime outdoor activity in Fresno before summer takes over. Afternoons warm into the 80s and low 90s, so the morning is the time to hike and the evening is the time for everything else. The Sierra rivers are running high with snowmelt, the farmers markets are in full swing, and the Kingsburg Swedish Festival fills a May weekend just south of town. Get the outdoor days in now, because June brings the triple digits.
Get Outside Before the Heat
May is the last month for comfortable daytime hiking near Fresno. The foothills are starting to dry and gold, and the trails get hot by afternoon, so the morning is the window.
San Joaquin River Gorge
About 45 minutes northeast of Fresno near Auberry, the San Joaquin River Gorge drops through oak woodland to the river and a footbridge across it. The hills are turning gold by May and the river is running high with snowmelt. Go in the morning and turn around before the climb out gets hot.
The climb back up is exposed and warms up fast in May. Start early, carry extra water, and stay well back from the fast spring water at the river.
Lewis S. Eaton Trail
The Eaton Trail runs along the bluffs above the San Joaquin River on the north edge of Fresno. It is paved and mostly flat, which makes it the easy choice before work or before the heat. Start near Woodward Park, where the path connects into the wider San Joaquin River Parkway.
Woodward Park
Woodward Park is the big regional park in north Fresno, with shaded paths, a bird sanctuary, and the Shinzen Japanese Garden. The gates open early and the loops are popular with walkers and runners before the day heats up. It is the easy option when you want to be outside without driving out of town.
Rivers and Lakes
May is when the snowmelt comes down and the water draws everyone in. The rivers run high and fast this month, so it is for looking and wading carefully, not for swimming the current.
San Joaquin River at Lost Lake
Lost Lake Recreation Area sits just below Friant Dam, a shaded county park along the San Joaquin River about 30 minutes northeast of Fresno. May is green and pleasant by the water, with picnic spots and river access. The river is high and cold with snowmelt this month, so keep kids back from the fast water.
The shade along the river keeps Lost Lake a few degrees cooler than the open valley. It is a good morning picnic spot before the afternoon warms up.
Millerton Lake
Millerton Lake sits behind Friant Dam about 30 minutes northeast of Fresno, the closest real swimming and boating to town. By May the water is warming and the beaches and boat ramps are open. Weekends fill up fast, so go on a weekday or arrive early and claim shade.
Shaver Lake
Shaver Lake is the classic Fresno mountain escape, about an hour up Highway 168 at around 5,400 feet. In May the lake is cooler than the valley and the season is just getting going, with the town opening up for summer. It is a good day trip when the valley starts to heat up.
Kingsburg Swedish Festival and May Events
The May calendar centers on the Kingsburg Swedish Festival south of town, with graduation, the holidays, and the regular evening events filling in around it.
Kingsburg Swedish Festival
The Kingsburg Swedish Festival runs the third weekend of May in Kingsburg, a Swedish-heritage town about 25 minutes south of Fresno down Highway 99. It features a parade, Swedish dancing and food, a maypole, and craft booths in the small downtown. The town leans into its Swedish roots year round, and this is the weekend it shows most.
Kingsburg is small and the downtown gets crowded for the festival, so arrive early and plan to park a few blocks out and walk in.
Fresno State Commencement
Fresno State holds its commencement ceremonies in May, drawing families from across the Central Valley to the campus at Shaw and Cedar. The week brings crowds and full restaurants around campus. Check the schedule if you are attending or trying to avoid the traffic.
ArtHop
ArtHop is the free art walk held on the first Thursday of every month, centered in the Tower District and downtown. Galleries and studios open in the evening and the Tower restaurants stay busy. May evenings are warm and comfortable once the afternoon heat eases.
Farmers Markets
By May the Fresno area markets are in full swing, with the first stone fruit and the early summer produce coming in from the surrounding farmland.
Vineyard Farmers Market
The Vineyard Farmers Market at Blackstone and Shaw is the largest in the Fresno area and runs year round. By May the tables are full, with the first cherries and stone fruit from the valley coming in. Saturday is the big day, with a smaller weekday market as well.
May is peak cherry season in the valley. Get there early on Saturday for the best fruit before the popular growers sell out.
Old Town Clovis Farmers Market
On Friday evenings the Old Town Clovis Farmers Market closes Pollasky Avenue for produce, food vendors, and live music. The season is usually underway by May, and the warm evening makes it a good way to spend a Friday. It is a Fresno area institution that runs into early fall.
Kingsburg and South Valley Fruit Stands
South of Fresno, the roadside stands around Kingsburg and the county farmland hit their stride in May as stone fruit comes in. A drive down Highway 99 turns up stands selling cherries, apricots, and early peaches. It pairs naturally with a trip to the Swedish Festival.
Family and Mother's Day
May is the last comfortable month for a full day of outdoor family activity, and Mother's Day gives a good reason to plan one before the heat sets in.
Shinzen Garden at Woodward Park
The Shinzen Japanese Garden inside Woodward Park is an easy Mother's Day outing, with ponds, bridges, and shaded paths in north Fresno. May is mild and green, good for a slow walk before the summer heat. Garden hours are seasonal, so check before you go.
Mother's Day weekend is busy at the garden, so go early or pair it with a quieter weekday visit. The rest of Woodward Park has room to spread out for a picnic.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
The zoo in Roeding Park is still comfortable for most of a May day, before the deep summer heat arrives. The African Adventure and Sea Lion Cove are the highlights. Go in the morning on a warm day and plan to leave by the early afternoon.
Forestiere Underground Gardens
The Forestiere Underground Gardens in northwest Fresno is a network of hand-dug rooms and passages built a century ago, and it stays cool underground even on a warm May day. Visits are by guided tour, so check the schedule and book ahead. It is an unusual outing that works when the afternoon gets hot.