United States, North America
The best time to visit San Diego
One of the most even climates in the continental US, with one gray surprise in early summer.
- Best months
- Sep and Oct
- Think twice
- No month is a write-off
- Quietest
- January
- Cheapest
- January
The straight answer
The best time to visit San Diego is September through October: the warmest ocean of the year, sunny days in the 70s F, and summer crowds gone once school is back.
Go in September or October. San Diego is good all year, but early fall is the sweet spot: the Pacific peaks near 70F (21C), the coastal gray of early summer is long gone, and families have gone home after Labor Day, so beaches, the zoo, and hotel rates all ease.
Summer is peak season. July and August are warm and sunny, with the full beach scene, the county fair, Comic-Con, and Del Mar racing. They are also the busiest and most expensive months. Before that, May and June bring May Gray and June Gloom, a marine layer that can keep the coast overcast until midafternoon for days at a time.
Winter is mild and cheap, with highs in the mid 60s F (about 18C) and most of the year's small rainfall. It is the season for gray whale migration off Point Loma, and a desert wildflower side trip to Anza-Borrego in a wet year. The ocean is cold, but the city is fully open.
San Diego, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryGoodMild, highs near 65F (18C), occasional rainGray whales migrate past Point Loma. Cool ocean, low prices, clear days between storms.Hotels for January →CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryGoodMild, highs near 65F (18C), the wettest monthWhale watching continues. Anza-Borrego desert wildflowers can start in wet years.Hotels for February →CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchGoodMild, highs near 66F (19C)Spring break crowds and wildflowers. Pleasant but cool ocean.Hotels for March →CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilGoodMild, highs near 68F (20C)Comfortable and green. Gray whales heading north through the month.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayQuiet valueMild, highs near 69F (21C), May Gray marine layerOvercast mornings are common at the coast. Inland spots are sunnier.CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneQuiet valueMild, highs near 71F (22C), June GloomGray mornings, summer crowds starting, and the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar.CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyGoodWarm, highs near 75F (24C), sunnyPeak season: Comic-Con, Del Mar racing opening, full beaches. Book early.Hotels for July →CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustGoodWarm, highs near 77F (25C), sunnyThe warmest month and busiest beaches. Ocean near its warmest.Hotels for August →CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberBestWarm, highs near 77F (25C), warm oceanSummer weather, fewer people. The best month to swim and snorkel at La Jolla Cove.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberBestWarm, highs near 74F (23C)Clear and warm, with occasional hot Santa Ana days. Quiet beaches and good hotel rates.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberGoodMild, highs near 70F (21C)Still pleasant and sunny, with lower rates. Thanksgiving week picks up.Hotels for November →CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberGoodMild, highs near 65F (18C)Gray whale season begins, holiday lights and December Nights in Balboa Park. Rates rise over the holidays.Hotels for December →CrowdsPrice
Book San Diego for September.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for September
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in San DiegoOpens a hotel search for San Diego in September, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in San DiegoWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in San DiegoTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in San Diego for September. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to San Diego
Near-perfect weather
Highs stay in the 60s to high 70s F (18 to 25C) all year, with little rain. Few places are this reliably pleasant.
Seventy miles of coastline
La Jolla Cove's sea lions, Coronado's wide beach, surf breaks in Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach, and tide pools at Cabrillo.
One of the world's great zoos
The San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park in Escondido are both world-class, and the zoo sits inside Balboa Park's museum district.
Mexican food and border culture
California-style fish tacos and Baja flavors run deep, and the border region gives the city a character all its own.
Things to do, and when to do them
San Diego Zoo
Go at opening; the animals are most active in the morning. Plan a full day.
Balboa Park
Seventeen museums, gardens, and Spanish Colonial buildings. Many museums close one day a week, so check.
La Jolla Cove
Sea lions, seals, and snorkeling. Best in early fall when the water is warmest.
Cabrillo National Monument
Point Loma views, tide pools at low tide in winter, and gray whale watching from December through March.
USS Midway Museum
A walk-through aircraft carrier on the bay. A hit with kids.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Open-range animal habitats in Escondido, about 45 minutes north.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Clifftop trails above the Pacific. Arrive early; parking fills on weekends.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Ocean science aquarium in La Jolla with sweeping views.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Gray whale migration
Roughly December through April, peaking January to March
Whales pass close to Point Loma. Boat tours and shore watching from Cabrillo.
San Diego County Fair
June into early July
A big classic county fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Comic-Con International
July
The giant pop culture convention. Downtown hotels sell out months ahead and rates soar.
Del Mar racing season
Mid July through early September
Summer horse racing by the ocean; opening day is a big local event.
Beat the crowds
- Avoid Comic-Con week downtown unless you are going. Stay in La Jolla or Coronado if dates overlap.
- Hit La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines early in the morning. Parking fills fast by late morning in summer.
- Visit the zoo on a weekday outside school holidays.
- Choose September and October for summer weather without summer prices.
Open or closed
- The city runs fully year-round. Some Balboa Park museums close one weekday each week.
- Beach water quality advisories can close stretches of shoreline after rain, especially near the Tijuana River in the South Bay. Check before swimming.
- Santa Ana wind events in fall can bring heat and fire danger to the region.
With kids in tow
- San Diego is one of the best family cities in the US: the zoo, the Safari Park, SeaWorld, Legoland in Carlsbad, and calm beaches like La Jolla Shores and Mission Bay.
- Tide pools at Cabrillo are best during low tides in winter.
- For homeschool families: the Midway, Cabrillo, Old Town's historic park, and Birch Aquarium cover history and marine science.
Getting there
- San Diego International (SAN) sits right by downtown, with nonstops from most US hubs, including Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
- Los Angeles is about 2 to 3 hours north by car depending on traffic; the Pacific Surfliner train is a relaxed alternative.
- A car helps for La Jolla, the Safari Park, and Carlsbad; downtown and Balboa Park work without one.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
San Diego for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where San Diego makes our ranked list.
Presidents' Day Weekend
February
The peak of the ski season and the Caribbean high season in the same week. Pick your warm or your snow early, or pick the week after.
Spring Break
March, April
The week the whole country goes somewhere warm at the same time. Pick the right warm, or pick a different week.
Summer Vacation
June, July, August
Ten weeks, one country on vacation, and half the world too hot or too rainy. Go north, go high, or go south of the equator.
Thanksgiving
November
The busiest travel days in America wrapped around one of the best-value weeks abroad. Fly on the right day and go somewhere that is not having a holiday.
San Diego timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit San Diego?
September. Warm, sunny days, the warmest ocean of the year, and fewer crowds after Labor Day. October is a close second.
What is the cheapest time to visit San Diego?
January through early March, outside holidays and big conventions. Weather is mild, though the ocean is cold.
What is June Gloom in San Diego?
A marine layer that keeps the coast overcast through much of May and June, often until midafternoon. Inland areas are usually sunny.
When is the best time to see whales in San Diego?
Gray whales pass from about December through April, peaking January through March. Blue whales can appear offshore in summer.
When is San Diego crowded?
July and August, especially during Comic-Con in July, and on major holiday weekends.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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