Best time to visit California

Visiting California in February

In February, California remains cool and rainy, especially in the north, making sightseeing less crowded. If you’re lucky, you might glimpse the natural ‘Firefall’ at Yosemite National Park, when the cascading waters of Horsetail Fall glow red and orange in the sunset.

Head to Los Angeles at the tail-end of the month in time for the Academy Awards. The city is buzzing with anticipation as the red carpet unfurls and the biggest names in Hollywood arrive dressed up to the nines. Whilst the ceremony itself is an exclusive affair, there are always exciting fringe events open to the public. We can even whisk you off to a star-studded after-party at a favourite haunt of the rich and famous.

This is also a great time to visit Disneyland, one of the world’s most famous theme parks. The attraction is relatively quiet from mid-January to mid-March – that means shorter queues for the best rides. 

Visiting California in March

March in California is still low season, with fewer tourists around and lower rates on rooms. Whilst you can expect occasional showers, the rainy days dwindle and the mercury climbs as spring appears on the horizon. 

Spring break straddles mid-March and early April, which means college cities become more crowded. Don’t let that put you off visiting, though. San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on 17 March with gusto, and the spring breakers only add to the lively atmosphere.

This is also an excellent time to spot grey and humpback whale off the Monterey coast. Or why not head to Fresno for the Blossom Trail? Drive through the city’s fruit orchards, lined by trees frothing with white and fuchsia petals.

Visiting California in April

Springtime has arrived in California, bringing with it pleasant temperatures and promises of more cloud-free days. It’s the shoulder season, so crowds and prices remain lower than in the summer.

April is a good time to visit the wineries of Napa and Sonoma, when the valleys are in full bloom. You’ll avoid the biggest crowds, as many tourists wait until the summer harvest, and we can offer private winemaking for a hands-on experience. For more of the great outdoors, head to Yosemite. Melting snow makes the waterfalls gush, and entry fees are waived during the annual National Parks Week in April.

It’s always sunny in Palm Springs, but April offers another reason to visit this oasis – the Coachella festival, a music and arts extravaganza in the middle of the desert.

Visiting California in May

The final month before the peak summer season, May is when much of California begins hotting up, and the dry weather means you can safely leave the umbrella at home.

Palm Springs is especially warm, with highs averaging 35 degrees Celsius. Fans of country music should head here in time for the family-friendly Stagecoach music festival. Or, if you’re more of a cinema buff, visit Newport Beach for its annual film festival, taking place between April and May.

Memorial Day falls on the final weekend of the month, and roads can become congested as a result. Aside from attending parades, Americans spend their extra day off in the sunshine, barbecuing, picnicking and generally toasting good company.  

Visiting California in June

The summer is here, and so are the tourists. June is California’s peak season, and coincides with the school holidays – so expect higher prices and larger crowds. The average high temperature for inland cities such as Fresno and Sacramento is above a toasty 30 degrees Celsius, whereas it’s in the twenties in coastal cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

In late June, San Francisco turns from the ‘Golden City’ into the ‘Rainbow Village’, when tens of thousands march through Market Street for Gay Pride. Meanwhile, San Diego celebrates the sunshine by hosting America’s largest county fair, running from the first weekend of June until early July. 

Visiting California in July

California’s high season continues, and July is the state’s hottest and sunniest month of the year. The deserts are particularly sweltering, with Death Valley hitting an average high of 46 degrees Celsius – enough to melt the soles of your shoes.

Cool off in the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach. Boasting a 15km stretch of beach, the city hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing between July and August, and the atmosphere is electric.

Fourth of July is Independence Day, and that means the whole of California dons a party hat and heads outdoors for festivals, fireworks and fun. That also means traffic can be nightmarish, so keep an eye on the travel reports.

Visiting California in August

The heat persists into August – the final month of California’s peak tourism season. It’s still summer break, so locals and visitors alike crowd the state’s beaches and landmarks, especially on the weekend. 

Whilst the days are sunny and dry across much of California, San Francisco does its own thing; the famous fog which typifies the city’s summertime often clears midday, only to return late afternoon, so flight delays are the norm.

Because of the harvest, California’s world-famous winelands are at their busiest between now and early autumn. Sip your way around the Napa and Sonoma valleys during ‘crushing season’, when workers tend the fields from dawn until dusk, clipping grapes and preparing them for the juicing process. 

Visiting California in September

California’s peak summer season is over; students are back at school and autumn is around the corner. September remains warm and dry, and – with crowds thinner and rates lower – it’s a great time to visit the Golden State. 

San Francisco is at its warmest in September. Those famous wisps of fog, which cool the city down whilst the rest of California swelters, have mostly lifted, letting the sunshine in. Enjoy the sights of the ‘City by the Bay’ amidst a Mediterranean climate.

Just as Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer, Labor Day in early September heralds its end. Locals often head out on this long weekend to enjoy the gorgeous weather, so coastal hot spots may be busier. 

Visiting California in October

California’s trees may not put on the same show as those in Maine, but the state’s warm, dry autumn weather is a rival draw. It’s the shoulder season, after the summer peak and before the winter lull, so expect crowds and room rates somewhere between the two.

Popular with Orange County surfers, Newport Beach is mild and dry at this time of year and worth a visit. Between September and October, take your taste buds on tour at the Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival, where the sublimely-fresh seafood regularly steals the show.

October is also one of the best times to go to Disneyland, especially during a weekday; enjoy relatively short queues and sparse crowds as you eye Space Mountain in anticipation.

Visiting California in November

As the days grow shorter, the temperature slides, the rain falls and people layer up. It can only mean one thing: winter is coming. November marks the beginning of the low season, but there’s still plenty to see and do in California.

Head for San Diego in November to enjoy the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival, where you can indulge in VIP tastings of gourmet bites and top tipples. Despite some rainy days and chilly waters, the city enjoys warm weather at this time of year, and the low season promises more attractive prices and fewer crowds. 

Thanksgiving falls towards the end of November, and Californians love to spend the four-day weekend in each other’s company, so expect a spike in traffic during this period. 

Visiting California in December

The weather outside is rarely frightful in California, even in the winter, but you can expect a dip in temperatures, a few more rainy days and snowfall on the mountains. 

That snow is very welcome at the ski resorts surrounding Lake Tahoe. A visit during the festive period guarantees a white Christmas, and sleigh rides capture the spirit of the season.

Alternatively, enjoy ice skating overlooking the beach in San Diego, or gaze at festively-decorated luxury yachts during the Newport Boat Parade, which lights up the harbour at night.

For the ultimate Californian New Year, San Francisco and Los Angeles know how to throw a party, with parades and fireworks galore.