🗓️ Best Time to Visit
When Should You Visit Los Angeles?
Top months: Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov. Compare 12-month weather, festivals, and pricing on one page to find your match.
Quick Answer
The best time to visit Los Angeles is Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov. These months balance pleasant weather, festival programming, and manageable crowds — the canonical first-visit pick.
Los Angeles by Season
★ Top Pick
🌸 Spring (Mar-May)
Avg 24°C / 13°C
- • Daylight Saving Time begins (2nd Sunday March)
- • Spring break crowds late March
- • Joshua Tree wildflower bloom (March-April)
☀️ Summer (Jun-Aug)
Avg 30°C / 17°C
- • June Gloom — morning marine layer through midday
- • LA Pride (early June, West Hollywood)
- • School summer break begins
★ Top Pick
🍁 Fall (Sep-Nov)
Avg 27°C / 15°C
- • LA Marathon — late September Sunday (or March, biennial)
- • School-out crowds end Labor Day weekend (early September)
- • Hotel prices start declining mid-September
❄️ Winter (Dec-Feb)
Avg 20°C / 10°C
- • Rose Parade — January 1, Pasadena (90 min north of LA)
- • Wet season peak
- • Hotel prices declining from holiday peak
Month-by-Month at a Glance
| Month | Temp (°C) | Rain | What to Pack | Crowds·Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20/9 | 6d | Light jacket + long sleeves + jeans. Evening lows drop to 9°C — pack a sweater + scarf. Days mild + sunny, but it's the rainiest month so a packable rain jacket is sensible. | Mid |
| February | 21/10 | 6d | Same as January — light jacket + long sleeves + jeans. Marginal warming. Sunshine hours increasing. | Mid |
| ★ March | 22/11 | 5d | T-shirts during the day + light jacket for evenings. Daylight saving time begins second Sunday March — sunsets extend to 18:51 then 19:00. | Mid |
| ★ April | 24/12 | 3d | T-shirts + jeans or shorts. Light layer for evenings (12°C lows). Sunscreen mandatory — UV jumps to 9. | High |
| ★ May | 26/15 | 2d | T-shirts + shorts during the day. Light jacket for cool evenings (15°C). Sunscreen SPF 50+ mandatory — UV 10. | High |
| June | 28/16 | 1d | T-shirts + shorts + swimwear. Light layer for cool coastal evenings (Pacific marine layer cools nights). Sunscreen mandatory. | High |
| July | 30/18 | 0d | T-shirts + shorts + swimwear + sun hat. Light layer for coastal evenings (still cool 18°C). Sunscreen SPF 50+ mandatory. | High |
| August | 31/18 | 0d | Same as July — T-shirts + shorts + swimwear. August is LA's hottest month with the most-frequent heatwaves. | High |
| ★ September | 30/17 | 1d | T-shirts + shorts during day. Light layer for cooler evenings. Marginal cooling from August peak. | High |
| ★ October | 27/15 | 2d | T-shirts + light long sleeves. Light jacket for cooler evenings (15°C lows). Daylight saving time ends first Sunday November — sunsets shifting earlier. | Mid |
| ★ November | 23/12 | 4d | Light jacket + long sleeves + jeans. Daylight saving time ends first Sunday November — sunsets shift to 16:46. Pack layers for cool 12°C evenings. | Mid |
| December | 20/10 | 6d | Light jacket + sweater + jeans. Pack a packable rain jacket — December has 60mm rainfall across 6 days. | High |
★ = recommended season. Full month guides on the monthly weather pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
The best time to visit Los Angeles is Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov. These months offer the most pleasant weather and full outdoor activity calendars. March is LA's spring transition — 22°C days + 11°C evenings. Daylight saving time begins second Sunday, sunsets jumping from 17:30 (early March) to 18:51 (mid-March). Outdoor activity windows expand d
What's the price difference between peak and off-season in Los Angeles?
Prices vary significantly by season. Weekday departures during shoulder season offer the best value.
Is it okay to visit Los Angeles in winter?
Los Angeles winter averages 20°C / 10°C. It's cold, but you trade weather for off-season pricing and seasonal events (Christmas markets, indoor museums, winter festivals). Bring a heavy parka, scarf, and gloves.
Should I visit Los Angeles during summer holiday season?
Los Angeles mid-summer (July-August) averages 31°C highs. This is the most expensive season — airfare and hotels peak — but outdoor festivals run at full capacity. Book 3-6 months ahead and prepare for heat.
What's the cheapest month to visit Los Angeles?
January-February is the off-season value window. Pack for cold weather, but museums, restaurants, and Broadway run at normal capacity at low-season pricing.
Why you can trust this guide
Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
8+ years analyzing travel data
30+ countries visited
Live exchange rate verified