The Best Time to Visit Los Angeles

By Santorini Dave

See Also

• Where to Stay in Los Angeles
• Best Family Hotels in Los Angeles
• Best Hotels near LAX Airport

When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?

I’ve visited L.A. in every season, and I think the best time to visit is from March to early November, although summer (June-August) can get pretty crowded. The weather is great throughout the year, and it rarely rains for more than a few hours at a time. I sometimes find a slight bump in airfare and accommodation prices during the summer and spring break, sports events, Hollywood galas, Christmas, and New Year’s.

• The best time to visit L.A.: March, April, September, October, and early November, as they are generally warm days and less crowded than summer. Tourist season is at its peak in June, July, and August. The coolest months are January and February, which also tend to be the quietest month for visitors. Though winter is LA’s wettest season, you’re unlikely to see rain more than a couple of days per month.
• Best Time for Good Weather: As I’m usually arriving from Seattle or Vancouver I find the Los Angeles weather glorious most of the year. The average highs in the mid-90’sºF in the summer and low-70’sºF in the winter are dependably wonderful. There can be a temperature difference of 10 degrees or more from the beach to Hollywood and downtown. Mid-September through mid-October is the best time to find spectacular weather, great prices, and especially mid-week deals at hotels as the summer crowds have left. Spring is the rainiest season in Los Angeles and the most unpredictable for the weather, although it will rarely rain for more than a few hours on any given day.
• Best Time to Book Hotels: Los Angeles has many sports teams, conventions, and events throughout the year, including star-studded galas like the Grammy’s and Academy Awards. Booking a hotel in the Hollywood area during events like these and throughout summer should be done about a year in advance. For slower seasons, try to reserve rooms at least 3 months in advance.
• Best Time for Visiting Paramount Pictures: The best time to visit Paramount Pictures for a tour is weekdays between 11 am and 3 pm, when a shooting may be happening. You’ll have a much better chance of spotting someone famous or catching live filming. On weekends, there’s a 4.5-hour VIP Tour for more of insider experience, but the lot is fairly quiet. If possible, avoid summer and end-of-year holidays for a visit. Reservations are required and they charge an admission fee.
• Best Time for Visiting Universal Studios: This is the largest and busiest motion picture and TV studio in the world. More movies and television shows have filmed on this lot than any other lot in the world. Similar to Paramount Pictures, the best time to visit Universal Studios for a studio tour is weekdays between 11 am and 3 pm when movies and TV shows may be shooting and famous celebrities might be around. Universal Studios is also a theme park with over 20 rides and attractions. If possible, avoid summer and end-of-year holidays for a visit.
• Best Time for Visiting Sunset Blvd: One of the world’s most famous streets, Sunset Blvd, connects the urban streets of Hollywood to the up-scale residential city of Beverly Hills. Also known as the Sunset Strip, the infamous stretch is located in the lively city of West Hollywood and is the top nightlife hotspot with an abundance of bars and music venues. Most clubs don’t get going until at least 9 pm and will play live music through the year.
• Best Time for Visiting Venice Beach: The best time for taking a dip in the Pacific Ocean is early summer through early fall. The water temperature is much more enjoyable as the summer moves forward. Venice is more famous as an eccentric neighborhood than a spot to sunbathe. The 2.5-mile Venice Beach Boardwalk is best experienced by walking and enjoying the oddball people and shops, complete with tattoo parlors, cannabis shops, street vendors, and lots of street performers. Skate plaza and Venice Muscle Beach are two of the most famous spots here. The boardwalk is the second most-visited place in Southern California and weekends are the busiest time. If possible, visit mid-week and outside of the summer months.
• Best Time to Visit the Hollywood Sign: The Hollywood Sign can be visited anytime. You can see it from many locations throughout Los Angeles, but for the best experience and to get close, go for a hike in Griffith Park. There is also a place where you can get close-up views of the Hollywood Sign without hiking from Lake Hollywood Park at 3160 Canyon Lake Drive.
• Best Time to Spot a Celebrity: There are many locations in Los Angeles where you might spot a celebrity, and the Farmers Market on Fairfax has always been known as a particularly great location, especially during Sunday brunch hours. Another great opportunity to see a movie star is during a weekday tour of one of the movie studios. Beyond that, look up the newest cool restaurants in Los Angeles (because they constantly change), and your chances are good of seeing a celebrity in-person.
• Best Time to Visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame: The Walk of Fame, begun in 1958 with an initial 1,588 honorees, is located on 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and 3 blocks of Vine Street. The Walk of Fame (and Hollywood itself) is a bit of a seedy area with lots of very interesting people. Its most famous section is located in front of the Chinese Theatre. The best time to visit is mid-week and early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.
• Best Time to Visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre: Similar to the Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is mobbed on weekends. It is located on the Walk of Fame and is one of the busiest tourist spots in Los Angeles. The theater itself is a great place to catch a movie, but most people visit for the hand and foot imprints of over 200 Hollywood stars. The best time to visit is mid-week and outside of the summer months. To locate your favorite movie star or celebrity, you can download this app.
• Best Time to Visit Griffith Park and the Observatory: Griffith Park covers 4,310 acres of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America. There are some great trails in the park and the observatory is beautiful to see during the day and evening. If you are visiting for the views, the best time to visit the observatory is a bit before sunset and then using the telescopes in the evening. At night, the lights of Los Angeles look spectacular from here. On clear days, the city views stretch very far, and it’s a good place to see the Hollywood sign as well. Within the park is the Los Angeles Zoo. The best time to visit is mid-week and outside of the summer months.
• Best Time to Visit the Los Angeles Zoo: The zoo is home to over 1,400 mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles representing more than 270 different species, of which more than 58 are endangered. Early spring is the best time to visit the Zoo, ideally in May and before the Memorial Day weekend. The weather’s at its best, with Los Angeles’ brief rainy season over, and before the crowds of summer have materialized. After Labor Day and until the winter holidays is another good time to visit. The best time of day to visit the Los Angeles Zoo is when it opens, which is when the animals tend to be awake and easily visible. This is also when the crowds are a bit thinner as the zoo tends to get busier as the day goes on.
• Best Time for Downtown Los Angeles: Downtown has a lot to offer, including the famous Grand Central Market, a downtown landmark since 1917, where the food and cultures of LA merge. Also downtown is the Walt Disney Concert Hall, home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic from October to June. Hour-long audio tours, narrated by John Lithgow Tours are available Monday to Saturday at the Philharmonic. The street art scene in the art district is also a must-visit. Best time to visit Downtown is in spring and fall, when the weather is milder and the crowds are smaller.
• Best Time for a Dodger’s Baseball Game: The MLB season begins in late March and ends in late September. Dodger Stadium is the third-oldest stadium in MLB and the oldest west of the Mississippi. It opened in 1962 and has the largest seating capacity (56,000) of any baseball stadium in the world. The Dodgers vs. the Giants games are the ones local fans look forward to most as their rivalry is considered to be one of the most competitive and longest-standing in American baseball.
• Best Time to Visit to See the LA Kings, LA Lakers, or LA Clippers: All 3 teams play out of the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. The LA Kings’ season tends to run from early October until early April. Both Los Angeles basketball teams are part of the NBA and their season tends to run from mid-October until mid-April.
• Best Time for Discounts: For discounted rates, it’s usually best to book early and schedule flights for mid-week. In general, the cheapest rates on flights and hotels can be found during early spring, except for spring break, and from September through mid-February, except for holidays.
• Best Time for Avoiding Crowds: The quietest month for tourists is December (with the exception of Christmas week), January (with the exception of New Years’s eve), and February. September and October are great times to avoid crowds and find beautiful weather.
• Best Time for a Destination Wedding: The weather is good year-round but does get hot in summer. This is also the height of the tourist season. Spring and fall months are the best times to plan for a wedding in the city of angels.
• Best Time for Buying Airline Tickets: Prices for flights fluctuate dramatically. Generally, booking 6 weeks to 4 months in advance offers the best rates, with 6 weeks out being the optimal time for finding deals. Exceptions are when booking for Thanksgiving week and mid to late December. For these times, it’s usually best to book as soon as tickets are available, up to 11 months out.

Los Angeles Travel Seasons

The best months to visit Los Angeles for great weather and to avoid the crowds are March and April (except for Spring Break), and for great weather, September and October. Los Angeles has warm weather most of the year, with average highs of 76-78ºF in the summer and 66-67ºF in the winter. Temperatures can vary up to 10ºF from the beach to the inland towns. Rain typically falls in spring and autumn but doesn’t tend to last for more than a few hours. Los Angeles tends to see the most rain in January, February, and March with as many as 5 days of rain during each month. May through September are the driest months and average zero days of rain. February is the coldest month of the year, with temperatures dipping into the low 50’sºF.

The stretch of the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles reaches its warmest point of the year in August, with an average temperature of 68°F. The coolest month is February when the sea temperature averages 57°F. The high season coincides with spring break, summer vacation, and all holidays. The lower season is spring, except for the spring break holiday, and from mid-September through mid-February, except for holidays. During these months, visitors will find better rates and fewer travelers.

• Low Season (mid-September through mid-December, mid-January through early March): Winter, early spring, and fall are the low seasons for travel in Los Angeles. Flights, hotels, and cars are less expensive. Beaches, movie studio tours, and other attractions are less crowded. The exception with Los Angeles are the many awards shows that take place, which means some lower season travel dates can still find hotels booked when big events like the Grammys and Academy Awards happen.
• High Season (summer): From mid-June through the end of August, travel is at its peak in Los Angeles. Prices tend to be more expensive than during the rest of the year, and beaches and attractions will be more crowded. Fewer deals are available during the summer, especially in July and August.

Los Angeles Weather by Month

On average, there are 284 sunny days per year in Los Angeles. Temperatures in Los Angeles are warm most of the year. Rain is more common in the fall and spring months from November to March. Rain tends to be short-lived, except for the rare storm. The average high in Los Angeles is 76-78ºF in the summer and 66-67ºF in the winter. Temperatures can vary up to 10ºF from the beach to the inland towns.

• Los Angeles Weather in January: January is one of the cooler months of the year in Los Angeles, with temperatures as low as 53°F and an average high of 73°F. January brings an average of 4 days of rain, but it will rarely rain for more than a few hours on any given day. It is a great time to visit big attractions like the zoo, museums, and movie studios, or take a whale-watching cruise at one of the nearby beach towns. A medium-weight jacket or dressing in layers is a good idea, especially when visiting the beaches.
• Los Angeles Weather in February: Average temperatures in February are very similar to January, and fall between 52-69ºF. February tends to bring the most rain, with an average of 5 rainy days. Winter starts to wind down by late February and it is a great time to visit before the crowds arrive for spring break. Hotel rates will be lower compared to spring and summer. It’s a good idea to bring a light jacket and a travel umbrella.
• Los Angeles Weather in March: Los Angeles temperatures begin to warm, especially by the end of March. There is a chance of rain and also a high probability of summer-like weather, especially towards the end of the month. A jacket is still useful at this time of year as nights can get chilly. It’s a great time to see the spring bloom at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Average high temperatures in March are between around 52-70ºF and rainfall averages 4 days.
• Los Angeles Weather in April: Temperatures continue to rise in April with an average high of 73ºF and rainfall averages just 1 day. April is officially beach weather and a great time to visit one of the many beaches. The Pacific Ocean won’t have warmed up enough for most to swim without a wetsuit.
• Los Angeles Weather in May: May temperatures continue to inch a bit higher with average daily temperatures between 58ºF and 74ºF. May is a great time to visit as the weather is warm and the major tourist season hasn’t started yet, so the attractions are less busy than the summer high season. Winter rains will be gone and it’s the perfect time of year to head to Griffith Park or one of the many other hiking trails in Los Angeles.
• Los Angeles Weather in June: June is the official start of the summer season, but it’s also when June gloom (coastal fog) is at its height in the beach cities. Average high temperature is 79ºF. The crowds will begin growing as the summer vacation begins, so plan maximum activities early in the day as most attractions get busy from noon until the late afternoon. Tickets for any tours or attractions should be purchased in advance.
• Los Angeles Weather in July: July is a great month for spending time at the beach. This is considered one of the best months to visit Los Angeles for outstanding weather conditions. Average high temperature is 83ºF, which can feel even hotter in the city. If you happen to visit over the 4th of July holiday and can snag a ticket, then Hollywood Bowl is one of the best places for fireworks. This is also a great month to watch a free Shakespeare play in Griffith Park by the Independent Shakespeare Co.
• Los Angeles Weather in August: In August, temperatures reach their peak and rainfall is rare. Similar to July, this is a great month to be outdoors and at the beach. One of the best festivals this month is the Caribbean Food + Music Festival: a 2-day food and music festival that tends to take place in early August. It is the hottest month of the year with an average high of 85ºF. This is a great month to take a day trip to kayak on the LA River and beat the heat.
• Los Angeles Weather in September: September weather is very similar to August, with an average high of 83ºF. Rain is uncommon in September and by mid-month, the crowds begin to slow down, making it a nice time to visit.
• Los Angeles Weather in October: October is the last really warm month with an average high temperature of 79ºF and low of 60ºF. Average rain this month is just a day and fairly uncommon. The weather is great, especially early in the month. It’s a great time to visit the bigger tourist attractions as the summer crowds are officially gone.
• Los Angeles Weather in November: This is when water and air temperatures begin to drop, and while still quite comfortable, the average high temperature is 73ºF and average low is 53ºF. This is the official start of the Los Angeles rainy season but it only averages 2 days of rain. Late fall through winter is the prime surfing season. During these months, there are larger and more consistent swells. It’s a good idea to bring a light jacket or dress in layers as the weather begins to cool, especially when visiting the beaches.
• Los Angeles Weather in December: In December, air temperatures begin to dip to an average high of 68ºF and average low of 49ºF. You’ll want to bring a medium weight jacket and dress in layers, especially when visiting the beaches.

Los Angeles Events and Festivals

Los Angeles in January

• No Pants Subway Ride – This odd annual event may be more of a statement than an organized event, but it’s becoming increasingly more popular in Los Angeles and around the world. The point is to strip down to your undies (some choose to cover up with a jacket and some don’t) and hop on board the subway with like-minded Angelenos. Every year there will be about six different rendezvous points from Pasadena, East Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Koreatown, and Culver City. Riders then meet at local landmarks for plenty of fun picture-taking. Best way to keep up to date with this event is to Google it in early January to find the latest details.
• Dine L.A. – Two weeks that celebrate the LA restaurant scene with exclusive lunch and dinner menus at many of the city’s finest eateries. This is one of the best times to explore the Los Angeles food scene.
• Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena – A little farther afield, this annual event draws nearly 700,000 spectators with millions more watching around the world. Make your way to Pasadena to see dozens of parade floats decorated in thousands of flowers and a number of marching bands and equestrian teams.

Los Angeles in February

• Golden Dragon Parade – The day of the Lunar New Year is the most celebrated holiday of the year for nearly 1.5 million people of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese origin in Southern California. In celebrating over 100 years of tradition, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles presents the Annual Golden Dragon Parade. The parade and celebration is found on North Broadway in Chinatown and includes two dozen floats, multiple marching bands, government officials and dignitaries, entertainers, local business leaders, and cultural groups. Free event usually held on the first Saturday of February.
• Academy Awards – Tickets are not available for the event itself, but you can enter the Oscars Red Carpet Fan Experience. This is a random drawing for the chance at tickets to sit in the bleachers overlooking the red carpet. It’s free to enter and if you’re selected, the tickets are also free. If you can’t make it to the event, take a tour of the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, home to the Oscars. On tour, experience the Dolby Lounge and other celebrity hang-outs, see a real Oscar statuette, and view images from previous award ceremonies. Tours are available seven days a week from 10:30 am-4 pm.

Los Angeles in March

• Los Angeles Marathon – Every year, more than 24,000 runners and wheelchair racers from all 50 states and more than 67 countries take part in a 26-mile race through Los Angeles. Just like almost everything in LA, it’s not a typical marathon, as the route has cheerleaders and street performances in many spots.
• Dodger’s Opening Day – Late March is the traditional opening day for Major League Baseball and Dodger Stadium is no exception. 2020 is the beginning of a 5-game home stand to kick off the season.
• St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival – Casey’s Irish Pub (613 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles 90017) celebrates the annual St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival from 11 am to midnight. Spanning 4 blocks of Downtown LA, the massive event features more than 400 kegs of beer, 1,200 bottles of Jameson, dozens of bartenders, 12 hours of DJ sets, and traditional Irish fare from Casey’s. Entry to the festival is free before 11 am and $20 thereafter. Enter at Wilshire & Flower, tickets available at the entrance. The street festival usually happens the weekend of or before St. Patrick’s day.

Los Angeles in April

• Abbott Kinney First Friday – While this is a year-long event, April is an especially nice time of year to visit. Local merchants in Venice Beach come together every month to feature the best artists, gifts, products, and music in the area. Local charities benefit and this family-friendly event is perfect for art junkies who love a funky beach community. Food and beverages are available.
• LA Times Festival of Books – Held at the University of Southern California in late April, the LA Times Festival of Books has been an annual event for more than 20 years. This event gathers writers, poets, artists, filmmakers, musicians, and emerging storytellers, and is the largest event of its kind in the United States. There are a variety of tickets and special events. Check the website for up-to-date listings.
• The Renaissance Pleasure Faire – A bit farther afield in Pasadena, the Renfaire gives you the opportunity to experience renaissance times with a variety of games, food, live performances, rides, and even a marketplace for shopping. This is a great event for families, and you may even want to dress in period-appropriate attire. The Faire usually starts in early April and runs through mid-May, and is open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Los Angeles in May

• Cinco de Mayo (May 5) – One of California’s most popular festival days. Los Angeles hosts one of the best celebrations in the US at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, the birthplace of Los Angeles and home to world-famous Olvera Street. Every year, you’ll find a family-friendly celebration from 11 am-9 pm on the Saturday and Sunday closest to the holiday.
• LA Taco Madness – This annual event that takes place in Downtown LA. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy the best tacos in LA, listen to the best music, drink the best micheladas, and try the best local craft beer.
• LA River Kayak – Late May is the start of the LA River Kayak season. Kayaking here is a great way to learn about LA’s nature, the watershed, and the history connected to the river.

Los Angeles in June

• LA Gay Pride – One of the biggest pride events in the US, LA Gay Pride attracts 400,000+ people for a 3-day festival topped off with the famous 3-hour Sunday parade. This is one of the most important events for the LGBTQ+ community across the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Held in June-end.
• LA WineFest – Enjoy LA’s signature festival that focuses on all things wine. At ROW DTLA in downtown LA, festival-goers will enjoy a variety of wine, beer, and gourmet snacks as well as a collection of artisan goods and boutiques to browse. Tickets include unlimited wine and beer sampling.
• Jazz Concert at LACMA – This is a great month to enjoy the free concert at LACMA every Friday from 6 pm to 8 pm. LACMA puts on a great series of events. Bring a picnic and make sure to get there early to claim a space.

Los Angeles in July

• 4th of July Fireworks at the Hollywood Bowl – If you happen to visit over the 4th of July holiday and can snag a ticket, the Hollywood Bowl is one of the best places for fireworks in Los Angeles. The fireworks come accompanied by a great live music experience in one of the most beautiful outdoor theaters in the world.
• Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival – Shakespeare in the Park is an annual event that runs from mid-June until mid-September. This is a great month to watch a free play in Griffith Park with the Independent Shakespeare Co, when the evenings are perfectly comfortable.
• iPalpiti Summer Music – This festival is over 10 years old and features a collection of nearly 30 prize-winning young musicians from around the globe. Throughout the month, concerts can be enjoyed at the world renowned Walt Disney Music Hall. Ticket prices start for as little as $10.

Los Angeles in August

• Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival – This 4-day, city-wide, epicurean extravaganza is the highlight of the LA food scene. Guests have the opportunity to sample the cuisines and products from some of the most prominent epicurean influencers in the United States. Top chefs and sommeliers are in attendance at various events, parties, and tastings throughout LA. Tickets are available for a wide range of events.
• Jerk Fest – One of the best festivals this month is the Caribbean Food + Music Festival; a 2-day food and music festival that tends to take place in early August. The festival goal is to create cultural awareness and bring together friends and families for the ultimate Caribbean experience in Southern California.

Los Angeles in September

• Abbot Kinney Festival – This festival is held in Venice Beach in early September and has been celebrated for over 35 years. It stretches a mile down the block of Abbot Kinney and features over 300 vendors. This fun, family-friendly event features a lot of live entertainment, food trucks, and kids rides and games. Entry is free and the festival takes place from 10 am-6 pm.
• LA Fleet Week® – An annual, multi-day celebration of the US Sea Services held on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles over Labor Day Weekend. The event features active duty ship tours, military displays and equipment demonstrations, live entertainment, aircraft flyovers, and much more. The event is family-friendly and free to the public.
• Public Star Party at Griffith Park Observatory – Free public telescopes are offered nightly for viewing the stars and planets until 9:45 pm at the Observatory. Once a month, the Observatory also hosts Public Star Parties where volunteers from a number of organizations like The Planetary Society and the LA Astronomical Society answer questions and discuss what can be seen through the telescopes. These events are free and are open to people of all ages.

Los Angeles in October

• Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in Grand Park – The tradition of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated with a unique cultural experience in downtown LA’s Grand Park. Stroll through 50 altar displays and art installations created by local artists. Explore on your own or take a free guided tour to learn more about the holiday. This event takes place at Olive Court and the Performance Lawn of Grand Park annually from 5 am–10 pm. Admission is free and open to all ages.
• West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval – This free street festival located on Santa Monica Boulevard is considered one of the largest and most unique Halloween gatherings. Multiple music stages along the boulevard blast live sets and Dj tracks. The free event is geared towards adults and takes place on Halloween from 6 pm-11 pm.
• Go to a Basketball Game – The Staples Center in downtown LA is home to both the LA Lakers and the LA Clippers, though both NBA teams use different court and seating configurations. Each team has a variety of home games from October to April.

Los Angeles in November

• Turkey Trot – This annual event benefits The Midnight Mission, which is dedicated to helping the homeless in a variety of ways. Races take place in late November from 8 am–12 pm. The race weaves through downtown and past a handful of notable landmarks. Even if you don’t feel like taking part in this activity, you can always come and cheer on the athletes.
• Live TV Show at Paramount Pictures – Join a studio audience for a free “behind the scenes” Hollywood experience. All of the shows produced at Paramount Pictures are recorded at various studios in the Los Angeles area. Tickets are released for most shows starting 30 days prior to the show date. While recordings happen through the year, November is a great time to secure tickets.
• Griffith Park Harvest Festival – The Harvest Festival is an all-day celebration with family activities, live music, food trucks, local craft beer, many vendors, games, and the screening of a family-friendly movie under the stars. This event is free.

Los Angeles in December

• LA Zoo Wild Wonderland of Lights – Glowing animals welcome you on an unforgettable night-time journey that includes the world’s largest illuminated pop-up storybook, a magical disco ball forest, giant glittering snowflakes, and a twinkling tunnel filled with dynamic swirls of color. LA Zoo Lights is a fun family event. Tickets are required and the lights run until January 5th.
• Hollywood Christmas Parade – The Parade is a Los Angeles holiday tradition on the first Sunday of December. It follows a 3.5-mile route along Hollywood Boulevard and back along Sunset Boulevard, and features various celebrities, including Santa Claus who appears at the conclusion of every parade. It is televised nationally and has been a tradition for more than 85 years.
• Marina Del Rey Boat Parade & Fireworks – This is a full day of family fun. Kids play in the snow at Snow Wonder in Burton Chace Park (noon to 6 pm), fireworks go off on the jetty (5:55 to 6 pm), and the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade circles the main channel (6 to 8 pm). This 1-day event is free and tends to be scheduled mid-December.