When’s the Best Time to Visit Los Angeles? (Local Tips)

After nine years of living in Los Angeles County, I can confirm that the rumors are true: Los Angeles is a great year-round destination.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect 75 degrees and sunny all-year, with no other variables to consider when planning your trip. 

The best time to visit Los Angeles may be different for you than for someone else, depending on if you’re looking for prime beach weather, less crowds, lowest prices, or sightseeing. 

So, we’ll get into all of that in this guide, but first, I’m going to let you in on a local secret. 

When people ask me when the best time to visit is, September is my quick answer. It’s still hot and sunny, meaning it’s great beach weather. But there are far fewer crowds than in July and August, meaning your experience in LA will be approximately 80% better (yes, I just made that number up. But that’s how I feel!)

But, let me break down the seasons even further for you, so you know what to expect throughout the year, and how to make the best decision for your specific trip.

Does LA really have no seasons?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, I want to dispel one rumor — LA does in fact have seasons, so yes, your experience here will vary throughout the year. 

It’s true, they’re not as drastic as elsewhere. We don’t have snow or freezing temperatures. 

But as much as I wish it was truly summertime all year-round, the temperature, weather, and scenery definitely changes throughout the year. Don’t even get me started on May Gray and June Gloom — but more on that in a bit!

So with that out of the way, here’s the rundown on each of  the seasons in LA.

Winter (December-March)

I’ll just put it out there — I know I’ve become super spoiled when it comes to weather. In the nearly nine years I’ve lived here, I’ve become the person who complains when the temperature dips under 70 (21 celsius), and who becomes desperate for the summertime each winter. 

The truth is, I really have no reason to complain. The winter is a perfectly lovely time to visit. In fact, I’d argue that it’s one of the best times for checking off some of the best things to do in Los Angeles off your list. Crowds get a bit worse come Christmas and New Years, but that’s inevitable anywhere, especially a major tourist destination like LA. Generally, crowds aren’t nearly what they are at the height of summer, and the weather is very pleasant for walking around.

I even go to the beach throughout the winter. By that, I don’t mean it’s sunbathing or swimming weather — you definitely need to pack a jacket (nothing too heavy, but something that’s fairly warm), and layers will be your best friend. It’s generally too cold for shorts, but it’s not uncommon that you’ll be comfortable enough to take your jacket off in the afternoon. 

The water will also be much too cold for swimming, at least in my opinion. 

Average temperatures:

In Southern California, we also have El Niño and La Niña weather patterns. It’s kind of confusing and I can’t say I 100% understand, but El Niño denotes a wetter season (it’s not like that everywhere though). The weather pattern tends to switch every year or two. During La Niña years, that’s when we tend to fall into a drought, and fires are more likely.

During those rainier years, most of it tends to fall during the winter months. The rain isn’t usually as heavy as you see on the East Coast or in some other places. However, the infrastructure in LA isn’t well-equipped for rain, so flooding can be common, even when it didn’t actually rain that much.

Although I’m not a fan of the rain, El Niño does make for a beautiful spring, though!

Pack this:

• Jeans or other warm long pants
• Sweaters (preferably ones you can easily layer)
• A jacket or coat (you don’t need a parka or anything, but something heavy enough to keep you warm!) 

🎬Looking for a hotel rec? I just stayed at the Dream Hollywood Hotel and loved it — my full review is here!

Spring (March-June)

Spring is one of the prettiest times to be in LA — although it doesn’t quite compare to rainier regions of the country, we do get our fair share of trees and plants blossoming. 

By the time you get into late May and early June, it’s jacaranda season, which is extra special (just avoid parking your car under one of their trees (they can get quite sticky and messy!).

Crowds start picking up due to spring break and then school ending for the year, but it doesn’t start getting seriously crowded until mid-June. So if you’re looking to explore popular areas like Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, (click that link if you are!), this is still a great time to visit. 

This is a great time to visit for hiking and sightseeing — just doesn’t expect prime beach time, even in June.

May Gray and June Gloom

Speaking of, I need to quickly call out this phenomenon that baffles visitors, and did throw me off for my first couple of years of living out here.

Essentially, it’s due to cold Pacific Ocean temperatures that end up cooling the air above it — the layer of warmer air on top traps all the clouds and cooler air below. Oftentimes, the sun will finally peak out around the afternoon, but it still makes for less-than-stellar weather.

Average temperatures:

• March is typically around 65-72 degrees during the day.
• April and May are usually in the low 70s. Expect cloudy weather in May.
• June is typically still gloomy, and doesn’t usually feel that hot, but temperatures do tend to rise to the mid to late 70s.

Pack this:

• Versatile layers that you can put on and remove throughout the day (I like sweaters like this)
• Sneakers — this is a great time for walking around and exploring LA before it gets too hot.

Summer (June-September)

By July, the sun fully comes out, and it’s finally the hot beach weather you’d expect from Southern California.

Crowds can be intense through the end of August, which can make parking at the beach or visiting smaller, more condensed neighborhoods like Little Tokyo more stressful. However, especially if you’re willing to go more off the typical tourist trail and explore some of LA’s hidden gems, it’s still possible to have a great time.

Larger beaches like Hermosa Beach still typically have plenty of space (I also highly recommend dipping down to Orange County to visit the beaches there — find my favorites in this guide).

And, also remember that LA County is giant, so don’t overlook cities like Pasadena, which tend to get way less crowds than world-famous spots like Beverly Hills and Venice.

💗Find my full Pasadena guide here. It’s one of my favorite areas of LA!

Average temperatures:

• Temperatures tend to stay in the low to mid-70s until July, when they usually pick up. At that point, expect temperatures from the mid-70s to the high-80s.
• There are usually a couple of weeks, usually in August or September, with a more serious heat wave, when temperatures can be in the 90s, or even low 100s.

Pack this:

• A sweater or light jacket for nighttime. Low humidity means it cools down at night, even in the summer!
• Bathing suits
• Sunscreen

Fall (September-December)

Fall is such a lovely time to be in Los Angeles! September is typically still hot, with summery temperatures stretching until some time in October. At that point, it starts to cool down a little bit, but it’s a great time for exploring all the best parts of Los Angeles — from walking around and exploring different neighborhoods, hiking, visiting museums (my favorites are in this guide), and even spending time at the beach.

September and October are generally much less crowded (and flights and hotels are typically more affordable), although as we move into the holiday season in November and December, this can change. 

Average temperatures:

• September: Generally sunny and in the high 70s through high 80s in the daytime.
• October: Usually in the mid-60s through the low 80s during the day.
• November: Mid-50s through the mid-70s.
• December: Usually mid-50s to the low-70s.

Pack this:

• A bathing suit (if visiting in September or the first half of October)
• Athletic clothing — it’s a great time for hiking and exploring LA’s nature!
• Layers — it’s always cool at night, but especially as you get into the second half of fall, you’ll most likely need a jacket during the day.

Best time to visit LA for budget travelers

As you probably know, Los Angeles is not the most budget-friendly destination out there. But, if you do want to save on flight and hotel costs, your best bet is to visit January, February, September, or October. This avoids spring break, summer break, and the holidays, which are all when LA tends to get more packed with tourists.

🌴 Speaking of hotel costs, I break down lots of budget-friendly options for you in this guide.

Best time in Los Angeles for beach days

While you can definitely enjoy the beach year-round here, if you’re looking for your classic, bathing suit-wearing, sunbathing, swimming and surfing vacation, then the best time to visit Los Angeles will be from July through early-to-mid October. 

May and June can be gloomy and chilly, and temperatures usually start to dip again in October. I recommend September for less crowds, especially since beach parking can be a nightmare.

Head to one of these LA guides next:

• When’s the Best Time to Visit Los Angeles? (Local Tips)
• Best Things to Do in Los Angeles in a Budget (From a Local)
• 15 Best Hidden Gems in Los Angeles
• The Ultimate Budget Itinerary for 1 Week in Los Angeles
• Where to Stay in Los Angeles on a Budget
• Dream Hollywood by Hyatt: Los Angeles Hotel Review
• What to Do in Downtown LA
• What to Do in Beverly Hills For Free
• Los Angeles Ghost Tour: A Local’s Honest Review
• 10 Best Museums in Los Angeles
• Best Things to Do in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
• Best Things to Do In Pasadena (From an LA Local)
• Is LA Safe to Visit? (From a Local)