The Best Time to Visit San Diego
San Diego is one of the top travel destinations of the world. Known for its year-round idealistic sunny weather and miles of coastline, this family-friendly city offers culture, tons of food options, and plenty of indoor and outdoor things to do. As a lifetime local, you could say that I’ve been spoiled by the near-perfect climate, but I’ve spent enough time here to know that isn’t the case - “May grey” and “June gloom” are real, and often leave summer travelers disappointed (and looking for the nearest store to buy a jacket). So while it may seem like a heaven-on-earth type of oasis, there is still an optimal season to plan your trip in order to get the best weather, minimal crowds, and cheaper prices. Keep reading for my tips and trips to make the most out of your visit to San Diego.
the best time to visit san diego
The best time to visit San Diego is in the fall, particularly from late September through October and early to mid-November. Our most overcast, cloudy days are during the spring and early summer (known as “May grey” and “June gloom”); some days we don’t see the sun at all, especially on the coast. Late June, July, and August will get you true summer sunshine and warm weather, but it’s also peak tourist season, so crowds are big and prices rise to take advantage of the demand.
Regardless of if you’re looking to stay along the coast, up in the mountains, or explore city life, you’ll get sunny days, warm weather that isn’t uncomfortably hot, smaller crowds, and off-season prices if you travel late September through November.
visiting san diego in september
It’s said that Labor Day marks the end of summer, but that’s when “local’s summer” begins in San Diego. Prices are still slightly higher than they are in the winter, but beaches are emptier, parking is easier to find, and there’s still so much to do. Late September travel allows you enough time to still catch an in-season Padres game before playoffs begin, and you most likely don’t have to worry about the evenings cooling down too much. A few other events that typically happen in September:
Taste of Gaslamp
Miramar Air Show
San Diego Restaurant Week
visiting san diego in october
If I were to book a trip to San Diego, October would be my ideal travel time. While the rest of the country is indulging in hot pumpkin spice lattes and watching the leaves change, we’re typically at the beach soaking up the sun. The water is still warm, skies are clear, and the days are still long, although Daylight Savings is on the horizon. We also start to get a bit of a breeze in October, which is ideal if you’re wanting to hike or explore the mountain towns. You can day-trip to Julian to catch the end of apple-picking season, and the weather is beautiful for dining outside morning, noon, and night.
My boyfriend and I spent a weekend at the beach during the last weekend of October, and while it didn’t feel like the hottest summer days, we still comfortably wore shorts, swam in the ocean, and didn’t have to deal with the cloud coverage that never seems to leave come May and June.
I also recommend visiting the San Diego Zoo or Safari park during the fall; the mild weather makes it easy to walk around, it’s not super crowded, and the animals seem to be more active.
visiting san diego in november
November still has great weather, especially compared to the rest of the country. One thing to be mindful of is Daylight Savings. While that one-hour change doesn’t seem like much, the days are definitely shorter and you might feel like you don’t get the most out of your trip when it suddenly gets dark at 4pm. That being said, there are still a couple of special events that occur in San Diego during November, including Fleet Week and the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. We’re a military city but also love our food, so these two events are highly anticipated and cater to people of all ages (kids, too!) with lots to see, experience, and try.
visiting san diego in january
It’s can be kind of a gamble, but if luck hits, January is a very underrated time to visit San Diego! As I write this, we’ve had two weeks of weather in the mid 80s, while the eastern half of the country has been hit with ice storms and record lows. Crowds are minimal, especially since school has started back up, but the weather can’t be beat. Weather is cooler in the evenings, but you can still eat dinner outside most nights. The only downside is that the days are shorter, but it doesn’t feel as isolating as it does late November (the sun is setting around 5pm every night currently).
tips for timing your trip to san diego
A few more tips/ quick cheat sheet for timing your visit to San Diego:
January - there’s a chance of higher rain or a cold front, but weeks of sun and 80 degree weather isn’t abnormal. Bring a jacket for evenings, and live like a local as there’s minimal tourism.
February - on average, San Diego’s rainiest month, and when tourism is at its lowest.
March - also rainy, but spring is in the air (no matter what the groundhog says). Great time to visit the Carlsbad Flower Fields, Balboa Park, plus LegoLand, San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
April - weather is mild. You’ll see some spring break visitors, but nothing too busy or wild; I’d definitely consider San Diego to be a family-friendly spring break destination.
May - gloomiest weather; great for walking around but not for laying out at the beach. Balboa Food Truck Fridays start Memorial Day weekend and continue all summer; perfect for foodies and family-friendly (4-8pm).
June - gloomy weather; the San Diego County fair takes place in Del Mar so that area has heavier traffic but it’s a fun family-friendly event.
July - peak crowds, weather is warm but not humid. There’s still a little bit of gloom here and there, so bring a jacket.
August - peak crowds, but finally out of the gloomy season! Parking is hectic, but a great time to explore San Diego beaches. Most of the local students (K-12) are also back in school by mid-August, so you’ll see more tourists out than locals, unless it’s the weekend.
September - Beautiful weather. Take advantage by checking out the wineries, zoo, a Padres game, or special events like the Miramar Air Show or Taste of Gaslamp.
October - Local’s summer, beaches are empty but the weather is perfect. Pack a jacket, and clothes to layer as the mornings/ evenings can be chilly.
November - Not uncommon to see weather still in the high 70s and low 80s (especially on Thanksgiving for some reason). Low tourism, but still lots to do.
December - If you want a white sand beach instead of a white snow Christmas, come to San Diego. Weather in the 60s and 70s, but mostly clear and sunny (a chance of rain is possible, though). Lots of fun festive events like the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.
