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The best times to visit LA are October and May, when crowds are slim and the weather is sunny and warm every single day. Still, budget travelers should consider traveling in the heat of summer to save money on plane tickets. Also consider seasonal festivals, events and attractions in La La Land before booking your trip.
Late May to early September — summer vacation for kids nationwide — is the busiest time in LA, especially at Disneyland. Spring break is another hot travel time. Expect ample company at most tourist attractions, as well as more expensive flights.
Holiday weeks and weekends attract loads of sightseers year-round. Still, blue skies and Christmas lights might be worth the trek. The average temperature on December 25th is 59 °F.
Autumn tends to be less crowded in LA since most tourists have gone home. And late October is the sweet spot for travelers seeking pleasant temps, short queues and brilliant sunsets. You’ll find decent rates on plane tickets targeting autumn travel, especially when booking four to six months in advance.
Winter months are pretty quiet in LA. Temps hover around the 50s and low 60s, so incoming flights are cheaper due to lower demand. If you don’t mind the cooler temps, choose January or February for less-congested traffic, fewer crowds and shorter lines.
One of the cheapest times to fly into Los Angeles is August, when flights are 5% cheaper than average, according to Kayak.com. Avoid December, when flight prices spike by 18%. Even though Los Angeles is hot in August, it won’t be humid. Plan your outdoor activities during the mornings and evenings, when the weather is still relatively cool. But keep in mind that the beaches will be packed in August, as locals and tourists flock to the Pacific for a break from the heat.
Another cheap time to visit LA is January and February, as both airlines and hotels drop prices during the off season.
Los Angeles is known for having blue, sunny skies pretty much all year round — though December, January and February may be a bit too chilly for sun bathing. From May to September, it almost never rains.
Here’s what you can expect from every month:
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 68° F | 69° F | 70° F | 73° F | 74° F | 79° F | 83° F | 85° F | 83° F | 79° F | 73° F | 68° F |
| Low | 49° F | 51° F | 52° F | 55° F | 58° F | 62° F | 65° F | 66° F | 65° F | 60° F | 53° F | 49° F |
Average yearly temperatures sourced from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in February 2021.
Also known as the “devil’s winds,” this natural phenomenon occurs every year in late summer to early fall. Though it doesn’t usually last more than a day, hot, heavy winds kick up in the mountains and whoosh towards the coast, scattering debris and snapping tree limbs.
It’s best to plan indoor events if you’re in LA during Santa Ana — like mingling with wax figures at Madame Tussauds or nerding out on film memorabilia at the Hollywood Museum.
While seasons may be less clearly defined in Los Angeles than other parts of the country, it’s still an easy way to organize annual events. No matter when you travel, you can leave your parka at home.
The best time to visit LA really depends on the experience you want to have. Disney-goers score gold in January, though beach bums will need to target warmer months. After deciding what you want to see, book a flight to LA well in advance to score cheap passage.
Is LA humid?
No. Since much of California is a desert, it’s typically very dry in LA.
Does it snow in LA?
Very, very rarely. Southern California’s classified as a subtropical, Mediterranean climate. When it does snow (once every 50 years or so), it’s no more than a light dusting.
When is the water in LA warmest?
Experts recommend September for swims in the ocean around LA. The average water temperature is about 68 °F.
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