The Best Time to Visit San Diego (According to a Local)

👉 Navigate To:Best Period to Visit San Diego | Travel Periods | Weather & Climate | Tips | FAQ

The best time period to visit San Diego is during the summer months when you can fully take advantage of the stunning beaches, which are the city’s most prominent attractions. The latter part of summer, especially September, tends to boast the finest weather, warmest ocean temperatures, and smaller crowds.

Most visitors come to San Diego to appreciate its beautifully scenic beaches and planning a trip throughout the summertime is ideal if making the most of the water, sand, and sunshine is a priority. However, as a local resident I can assure you that not all summer months are equally pleasant in America’s Finest City.

Hotel web page • Check prices for Four Seasons

Notification: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. See our Advertising Policy for further explanation. Thank you!

When is the Best Time to Visit San Diego?

Generally, the best time of year to visit San Diego is during the summer months when you can fully take advantage of San Diego’s wide sandy beaches, clear turquoise Pacific Ocean, stunning clifftop sunsets, and maybe a sea lion or two.

While San Diego is without a doubt a summer destination, the summer months tend to be the most busy and pricey of the year. And the city remains beautiful and rich in activities even into fall and winter.

There are certainly many considerations that determine the best time to visit San Diego, but I`m here to guide you through the decision making process!

👉 Read Next: Where to Stay in San Diego (Best Areas & Neighborhoods)

When to Visit San Diego to Avoid Crowds 

During the months of June through August, San Diego welcomes most of its visitors. In this season, swarms of summer travelers flock to the beaches and surrounding areas.

There is, however, a straightforward way to take pleasure in the summer weather while still avoiding the summer crowds… intend your visit for after Labor Day Weekend. In my assessment, September is the optimal month to visit San Diego to avoid crowds.

A head covering is an essential item for any journey to Mexico. However, if sun hats are preferable, then this Panama hat should fulfill the need.

San Diego’s low season occurs during late fall and winter, so your best option is to visit during the cooler months if you wish to avoid large crowds and don`t mind spending more time indoors.

When to Visit San Diego for the Best Weather 

I have lost count of the number of times friends have come to visit me in June and early July expecting warm sunny weather conditions of approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit, only to be disappointed by cool breezes and overcast skies. This typical phenomena is not affectionately known as `June gloom,` and this gloomy local forecast typically gives way to improved weather in July.

While “greatest weather” is based on the individual and also the activity, the temperatures in September in San Diego is debatably the best of the entire year. The days are warm and sunny with low humidity and the evenings are pleasantly cool.

When to Visit San Diego for the Best Activities

Enjoying San Diego’s outdoor activities near water like surfing, boating, and snorkeling is best during the warmer summer and early fall months. To avoid large crowds, I suggest September when San Diego weather is warm but most visitors have left.

Many of San Diego’s most visited attractions are more enjoyable during the shoulder seasons when there are fewer tourists and cooler temperatures. The San Diego Zoo, as an example, is much more pleasurable in fall and spring.

Interested in hiking? There are some excellent walking routes east of the city that are intolerably hot during summer but are scenic during fall and spring.

San Diego also explores seasonal events throughout the year in the following section.

When to Visit San Diego for Families

During the fall, San Diego provides optimal conditions for families wishing to travel as the weather allows time at the beach while also making attractions such as the zoo and Legoland accessible.

I don`t typically remove my first aid kit from my hiking daypack except to take inventory after using it. I simply leave it inside for future use since it`s truly essential for hiking.

Travel Seasons in San Diego

Fall

Early autumn in the city still boasts warm weather and allows locals and late-season tourists to enjoy the many San Diego beaches.

As the season progresses, the days and evenings become cooler and milder San Diego weather sets in, allowing for further exploration beyond just the beaches around San Diego County. It`s a great time to go on some of my favorite day trips from San Diego too.

Autumn is also the best time to visit San Diego for events and activities, including music events, an art and wine festival, and sports games.

🗓️ San Diego Autumn Events & Activities:

🏠 Population: 863 | 📍 Google Maps | Shelter Cove Website

• La Jolla Art and Wine Festival (October) – sample wine and craft beers while browsing art and live music in La Jolla
• MCAS Miramar Airshow (October) – the largest military air show in the U.S.A.
• Visiting apple orchards for picking and enjoying local pies around Julian town (Fall) – Julian, a historic mining community in East County is renowned for its orchards and apple pastries.
• The San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival (November) celebrates international wineries, craft beer, and local culinary specialists located at Embarcadero Marina Park North.
• Ice Skating alongside the Ocean (November-January) – Annually the renowned Hotel Del Coronado builds a beachfront skating rink overlooking the water on Coronado Island.

Winter

Despite its reputation for having warm weather throughout the year, San Diego can get quite cool during winter nights, with lows reaching around 10 degrees Celsius.

Avoid the winter months if you want the typical San Diego beach and ocean experience. The weather is cold and damp and ocean temperatures drop drastically. Surfers, however, celebrate the big Winter swell and great surfing conditions.

And while there’s less activities available in San Diego during winter, it’s a great time to take advantage of the city’s amazing indoor attractions, such as museums, since crowds will be minimal. Another perk if you don’t mind the cooler temps: hotel pricing tends to be lower in the winter low season.

🗓️ San Diego Winter Events and Pastimes:

• Go see The Grinch Stole Christmas at The Old Globe Theater (November – December) – Annually the Old Globe stages an excellent production of the Dr. Seuss classic.

📚 Associated Reading: 17 Top-Rated Tulum Hotels and Resorts

• San Diego Bay Parade of Lights (December) – Boats decorated with holiday lights sailing around San Diego Bay for spectators to watch from shore.
• San Diego Santa Gathering (December) – Large numbers of people dress as Santa and parade around different locations in San Diego.

Spring

In Springtime, temperatures in San Diego tend to rise but skies can be cloudy (San Diego prototypically sees April showers, May grey, and June gloom). However, the dreary atmospheres are counterbalanced by colorful blooms peaking during San Diego`s spring.

The circumstances in Death Valley are unique, with some heavenly objects that can exclusively be seen from some of the darkest places around the globe. However, what makes this National Park stand apart is the diversity of landscapes.

🗓️ San Diego Spring Events and Activities:

• Month of Museums (February) – Over 30 San Diego museums, parks, and cultural centers offer half-price admission for the entire month of February.
• Carlsbad Flower Meadows – Each year the giant ranunculus flowers flourish and turn a hill in Carlsbad into a colorful field.

Already, its joint effort with the non-profit One Tree Planted through the United States Forest Service has led to 70,000 fresh trees in Gunnison County, Colorado.

• Desert blooms – depending on rainfall, the desert transforms in Spring with the blossoming of multicolor poppies, California’s official flower.

I hope this guide providing ideas for the best gifts for hikers has offered you some concepts for birthdays, holidays, and other events! Be certain to inspect our list of the best travel gifts for even more recommendations. Happy searching!

Summer

Summer is, of course, the ideal and most popular time to visit San Diego. If you’re searching for high temperatures and sunshine, I suggest avoiding early summer, however, as the overcast spring lingers throughout June.

Enjoying the beach is the obvious summer activity in San Diego. However, there are many other enjoyable events and activities including live music, sporting events, and family-friendly occasions.

🗓️ San Diego Summer Events and Activities:

• San Diego County Fair (June) – Enjoy carnival rides, fair food, and family fun at the fair, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
• Over the Line Tournament (July) – Each year San Diego hosts the baseball-inspired tournament on Fiesta Island, Mission Bay where participants use underhand pitches and hits to try scoring runs.
• Comic-Con (July) – Comic-Con is one of the largest gatherings celebrating the art of comics held at the San Diego Convention Center in downtown San Diego.
• Pullman Panwa Beach Resort – Panwa Beach
• Summer Musical Performances (July-September) – The Del Mar Racetracks hold concerts on Fridays and some Saturdays following the final race. Attending the concerts is complimentary with tickets to the races.

👉 Helpful Hint: The hottest months are a wonderful time to explore San Diego`s underwater attractions! Check out these awesome snorkeling and kayaking tours in La Jolla, San Diego.

Weather and Climate in San Diego 

San Diego features chaparral, or coastal desert, and possesses a Mediterranean-like climate and scenery. The city is renowned for its generally mild and pleasant weather throughout the year, particularly along the coast. Further inland, however, San Diego weather can be more extreme. It`s best to avoid during the hot summer months.

Spring and early summer often involve overcast and cool conditions, keeping people anxiously awaiting the true summer sunshine and beach weather until well into July. Summer stretches on late, into September frequently, and October sometimes brings Santa Ana winds carrying hot, dry air inland from the desert towards coastal Southern California.

During August and September, temperatures regularly peak with average highs of around 25 degrees Celsius. December is normally the coldest month, averaging a high of around 20 degrees Celsius during the day and dropping to around 10 degrees Celsius at night. Winter months also tend to bring most of the rainfall each year, even though San Diego is known for its general scarcity of precipitation.

Tips for Visiting San Diego

San Diego’s Beaches and Ocean Activities Can Be Enjoyed Year-Round

While it’s generally nicer to enjoy the beach during the summer months, the water remains bearable year-round if wearing a wetsuit (or having a high tolerance for cold)!

Throughout the winter, visitors from chillier places can often be seen splashing around in waves without a wetsuit, even though typical ocean temperatures hover around 57 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and rise to around 68 degrees Fahrenheit in summer.

Bring Clothes to Layer!

San Diego`s climate sees unpredictable temperature variations throughout the day and between days. Especially during fall and spring, mornings and evenings feel cool though midday becomes warmer. Winter often bears random sunny days reaching 65°F.

Avoid the Ocean After Big Rains

You`ll want to avoid going into the ocean for several days after significant rainfall. Since major storms are infrequent in San Diego, the ones that do occur transport runoff from land into the water, risking irritation.

👉 Preview This: Is Traveling to San Diego Now Considered Safe?

FAQs About When to Visit San Diego

👉 Next Topic: Best Time to Visit California

***

👉 Wait, Before You Go … Be sure to bookmark my epic article on the 48 Top Things to Do in San Diego!

Planning a trip can be difficult, and deciding when to visit can be one of the toughest choices. So hopefully this information has given you some clarity on the best months to visit San Diego for an incredible trip.

Please leave a comment to let me know when you plan to visit. I hope to see you here soon!