Best time to go to Los Angeles

If you are planning to travel to Los Angeles, but have not yet decided on what date to do it, this post is for you. I'll tell you the best time to visit the city, take note!

Camilla Graciano

Camilla Graciano

7 min read

Best time to go to Los Angeles

Los Angeles at sunset | ©Juan Samudio

When planning what to see and do in Los Angeles, it is always good to know a little about the weather and some other peculiarities of the city, so you can put together a travel itinerary to suit your needs and have a dream vacation. This way, you will be able to choose the perfect activities for the time of the year you want to travel.

This does not mean that there are better or worse times to travel. In fact, Los Angeles has great weather, warm and dry most of the year, and temperatures are usually mild in all seasons. But there are certain factors that make some dates more convenient than others, such as the influx of tourists, prices and weather, among others.

Winters are not so harsh, but rainy, and summers are warm with temperatures attenuated thanks to the breezes coming from the Pacific Ocean. My recommendation is that you take advantage of the mild temperatures of autumn and spring, although if you can only travel in summer, do not hesitate! Here's the best time of year to visit Los Angeles.

When is the best time to travel to Los Angeles?

Universal Studios Hollywood| ©Mathieu Marquer
Universal Studios Hollywood| ©Mathieu Marquer

Los Angeles has good weather almost all year round, but if you have to choose a specific date, my recommendation is between March and May or between September and November, that is, the best seasons would be spring and autumn. For two main reasons: the influx of tourists decreases considerably in relation to the summer season and temperatures are rather warm.

Between the months of March and May, minimum temperatures can reach 14 °C, while maximum temperatures can reach 20 °C. On the other hand, between September and November the minimum is around 16 °C and the maximum 22 °C. As you will see, the weather is similar at these times of the year and, in my opinion, they are the best to be able to tour the city and the main attractions without getting overwhelmed or cold.

At this time of the year, the weather will also allow you to enjoy the beach. Although in this case I recommend that you travel between September and November, since the water temperature is about 18 ° C, while between March and May 14 ° C.

Although during the winter the temperatures are not so harsh, since the average is 18 ° C, and the prices of accommodation are considerably lower than in other seasons, it is the rainiest time of the year in Los Angeles and that is why I do not recommend it so much. Another great pro of winter, though, is that you can enjoy celebrations like Christmas in Los Angeles, with a huge amount of activities.

If you're a fan of the heat, summer can be a good time for you, as the temperature tends to rise a bit more and the weather becomes hot. However, with a rising temperature, the influx of tourists also increases and many parts of the city become a bit overwhelming in every way.

Book a tour of Los Angeles

Visiting Los Angeles in spring: one of the best times to tour the city in peace and quiet.

Spring in Los Angeles| ©Adam Garcia
Spring in Los Angeles| ©Adam Garcia

Spring is one of the best times to visit Los Angeles for two main reasons: temperatures are pleasant and the influx of tourists is low compared to other times of the year.

Temperatures in the months of March, April and May are usually between 11°C and 23°C, and while there may be some rain from time to time, nothing to stop you from enjoying your vacation. In addition, in May the rains are almost non-existent.

It is the ideal time to tour the city, you will be able to move from one place to another without worrying about the heat or the cold and you will not have to deal with long lines to enter the most tourist attractions, such as Universal Studios Hollywood.

Besides, I assure you that taking a tour of Hollywood without having to dodge the masses of tourists that walk daily along the city's most famous boulevard is priceless. You can even visit the houses of the most famous celebrities and do many other tours without being overwhelmed.

As in these months the temperatures are pleasant and there are not so many tourists, you will surely be tempted to get into the sea and enjoy the coastal areas such as Santa Monica or Venice Beach, if you dare, do it! But let me anticipate that the sea temperature is somewhat low, as it is around 14 ° C.

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Visiting Los Angeles in autumn: pleasant temperatures to enjoy the city and the beaches, with fewer tourists.

Strolling around Los Angeles in autumn| ©John Sequeira
Strolling around Los Angeles in autumn| ©John Sequeira

Fall is another great time to tour the city and enjoy the waters of the Pacific Ocean. With temperatures a little higher in September and a little lower in October and November, in autumn you can have a summer-like vacation, but with more pleasant weather and fewer tourists.

In the month of September temperatures remain between 17 °C and 28 °C, making it the perfect time to enjoy the Pacific coast and swim in the sea, while in October and November temperatures range between 12 °C and 26 °C.

It will also be a good time to tour the city and visit the main attractions, when the largest mass of tourists have already left. You will have plenty of outdoor activities to do and you can take advantage of the good weather to take a helicopter tour of Los Angeles or take a boat ride and navigate the calm waters with unbeatable weather.

It is also a good time to take advantage of the good weather to walk the streets of the city, take a free walking tour of Downtown Los Angeles or Hollywood, or even take the sightseeing bus to tour the city from end to end with free stops, in a double-decker bus with an open deck.

Book the Los Angeles Sightseeing Bus

Visiting Los Angeles in summer: heat, crowds and good vibes

Los Angeles in Summer| ©meeyak
Los Angeles in Summer| ©meeyak

Having a summer vacation in Los Angeles with sun, beach and a great atmosphere is a great plan. In June the weather will be mild, but not excessively hot, while in July and August the temperatures can be a bit oppressive and you will not want to leave the sea.

In June temperatures are usually between 16°C and 25°C, while in July and August they rise to 18°C minimum and 29°C maximum. You will have many activities to enjoy a unique summer in Los Angeles, with the festive and cheerful weather that the crowds bring to the city and the beaches.

The theme parks are an excellent plan for the summer, but keep in mind that they are usually full of tourists and you will have to wait in long lines. You can also take advantage of your visit to visit Warner Bros studios. I recommend that for both attractions you buy your tickets in advance.

Another great plan is to take advantage of the good weather to learn more about the different coastal areas with a tour from Los Angeles or on your own, you can visit Malibu, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Venice Beach and much more.

In addition, all that festive atmosphere is also transferred to the summer nights that have a unique style and intensity characteristic of Los Angeles. Here is a guide of nightlife activities to enjoy the city at night as well.

Last but not least, I want to mention a fundamental fact: the high season for tourism in Los Angeles is between June and August. For this reason, it is important to keep in mind that prices of accommodations, restaurants and some activities during the summer are usually higher than the rest of the year.

Buy your tickets to Warner Bros Studios

Visiting Los Angeles in winter: rain, lower prices and a festive atmosphere.

Winter in Los Angeles| ©Kevin Gil
Winter in Los Angeles| ©Kevin Gil

In terms of weather, Los Angeles in winter is not usually the best plan, since rains are more frequent, although temperatures remain pleasant, between 10°C and 18°C, with cool nights, but with days nice enough to visit the main attractions of the city.

In addition, it is important to know that Los Angeles is not one of those cities where there is not much to do in winter, on the contrary. From the end of November onwards, the city is flooded with a particular festive climate and becomes very picturesque and beautiful to visit. So, you just have to take the precaution of having an umbrella at hand and you're all set to enjoy Los Angeles in winter.

You'll have plenty of activities and attractions to see and unique things to do. Here is a guide of things to see and do in Los Angeles in winter. From ice skating, to all kinds of events to celebrate important dates such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day, celebrate Christmas in Los Angeles or New Year's Eve. The streets of the city and its most important monuments are dressed with bright lights and decorations abound in every corner.

It is also usually a good time to visit some of the best museums in Los Angeles and to use them, in many occasions, as a shelter from possible rain or bad weather.

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A comparison between the different seasons to visit Los Angeles

Strolling around Venice Beach| ©Martin Péchy
Strolling around Venice Beach| ©Martin Péchy

I already told you a little about the best time to visit Los Angeles, with the pros and cons of each season, but to summarize and have the information clearer, here is a table with data on the different times of the year so you can better plan your trip.

  • Winter
  • December - March
  • Maximum 18ºC
  • Minimum 9ºC
  • The best: festive atmosphere, lower prices and few tourists
  • The worst: quite rainy weather
  • Spring
  • March - June
  • Maximum 20ºC
  • Minimum 10ºC
  • The best: good weather for touring the city and tranquility
  • The worst: not so good weather to enjoy the sea
  • Summer
  • June - August
  • Maximum 24ºC
  • Minimum 15ºC
  • The best: warm weather to enjoy the beach and good atmosphere
  • Worst: large crowds of tourists and higher prices

Autumn

  • September - November
  • High 23ºC
  • Low 11ºC
  • Best: good weather to walk around the city and enjoy the beach and less tourists
  • Worst: not so much festive weather and special events