Things to Do in Ithaca in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Ithaca
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak gorge season - waterfalls are absolutely roaring from snowmelt and spring rain. Taughannock Falls hits maximum flow in May, dropping 66 m (215 ft) with genuinely impressive volume you won't see in summer
- Campus energy without graduation chaos - Cornell is still in session until mid-May, meaning restaurants and coffee shops have full hours, but you're visiting before the late-May graduation crowds that book out every hotel within 16 km (10 miles)
- Wine country comes alive - Finger Lakes wineries open their patios and outdoor seating in May after winter closures. You'll catch the vines leafing out, fewer tour buses than summer, and winery staff actually have time to talk to you about the vintage
- Wildflower hiking season - trails like Treman's gorge trail and Buttermilk Falls show off trilliums, wild leeks, and spring ephemerals that disappear by June. The forest floor is genuinely spectacular for about three weeks in early May
Considerations
- Unpredictable weather swings - that 11°C (20°F) temperature range between morning and afternoon is real. You might start your gorge hike in a fleece at 9am and be down to a t-shirt by noon. Pack layers or you'll be uncomfortable
- Trails can be muddy and occasionally closed - spring runoff means some lower gorge sections close for safety when water levels spike. Call ahead or check park websites the morning of your visit, especially after rain. Nothing worse than driving 30 minutes to find your planned trail roped off
- Lake swimming is absolutely not happening - Cayuga Lake sits around 10°C (50°F) in May. Locals don't swim until late June. If you're coming for beach days, you're two months early and will be disappointed
Best Activities in May
Gorge Trail Hiking
May is legitimately the best month for Ithaca's famous gorge trails. Taughannock, Buttermilk, and Robert Treman State Parks all show maximum waterfall flow from snowmelt. The spray creates rainbows in afternoon light, and you'll actually feel the mist from 30 m (100 ft) away. Trails are less crowded than summer - you might have stretches to yourself on weekday mornings. That said, lower sections can close after heavy rain when water overtops the trails, so check conditions before driving out. The stone steps get slippery when wet, so proper footwear matters here.
Finger Lakes Wine Tasting Tours
The Cayuga and Seneca Lake wine trails are in that sweet spot between reopening after winter and summer tour bus season. Wineries like those around Seneca Lake open their patios in early May, and you're tasting alongside locals rather than bachelorette parties. The vines are leafing out, which is visually interesting if not as dramatic as fall colors. May weather is variable enough that you'll want a designated driver or tour service - the roads around Seneca Lake are winding and not great for buzzed driving. Riesling is the regional specialty, and most tastings run 5 to 8 dollars for five pours.
Cayuga Lake Scenic Drives and Waterfront Towns
The drive along Route 89 on the western shore of Cayuga Lake is genuinely beautiful in May when everything is that bright spring green. You'll pass farm stands starting to open for the season, small wineries, and access points to the lake. Towns like Trumansburg and Aurora are worth stopping in - Aurora in particular has the Mackenzie-Childs farmhouse and a walkable historic district. The lake views are clearest in May before summer haze sets in, though you'll want a light jacket for walking along the waterfront since wind off the water keeps things cool.
Ithaca Farmers Market and Local Food Scene
The Ithaca Farmers Market opens for the season in late April and hits its stride in May with spring vegetables, plant starts, local cheese, and prepared foods. It runs Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 2pm in the Steamboat Landing pavilion right on the water. May is actually better than summer for the market - less crowded, and vendors have more time to chat about their products. The prepared food stalls serve breakfast and lunch that's genuinely good, not just farmers market novelty food. Bring cash for smaller vendors, though most take cards now.
Cornell Campus and Museum Visits
Cornell's campus is worth visiting in May while students are still around - the energy is different than summer when it's mostly empty. The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is free and has surprisingly strong Asian art collections plus rotating contemporary exhibits. The Cornell Botanic Gardens are in peak spring bloom in May with rhododendrons, azaleas, and the specialty peony collection starting to flower in late May. Campus sits on a hill with views over Cayuga Lake and the town. The gorges that cut through campus - Fall Creek and Cascadilla - have their own waterfalls and are less visited than the state parks.
Moosewood Restaurant and Ithaca Dining Scene
Ithaca has a legitimately strong restaurant scene that punches above its size, driven by Cornell connections and a local food culture. Moosewood Restaurant, which published those vegetarian cookbooks your parents probably owned, is still operating and still good for lunch. The Ithaca Commons downtown has a concentration of restaurants spanning Thai, Korean, Indian, and farm-to-table American. May is actually a decent time to eat out here because Cornell students leave mid-May, so reservations get easier for the second half of the month. The Sunday brunch scene is active but manageable.
May Events & Festivals
Cornell Commencement Weekend
Cornell's graduation happens the last full weekend of May, typically around May 23-24 in 2026. This is worth knowing about even if you're not attending because it absolutely dominates the town. Hotels within 24 km (15 miles) book out months in advance, restaurant waits double, and traffic around campus becomes genuinely difficult. If you're visiting for graduation, book accommodations by February. If you're NOT visiting for graduation, avoid this specific weekend entirely or plan to stay further out in Cortland or Trumansburg.
Ithaca Festival
This free outdoor music and arts festival typically happens the first weekend of June, but planning sometimes shifts it into late May. It's worth checking the exact 2026 dates if you're visiting the last week of May - it brings 20,000 to 30,000 people downtown for live music, craft vendors, and food. If you enjoy street festivals, it's a bonus. If you prefer quiet exploration, it makes downtown parking impossible and you'll want to visit earlier in the month.