When to visit San Diego, California
San Diego, you finally made the decision to visit America's Finest City, so now what? You want to plan your visit, but how do you decide when to come?
The good news is that there really is no bad time to visit San Diego, as our weather is consistently beautiful year round (we have it pretty tough here, ha!). If you have the luxury of tailoring your vacation to a certain time of year, I hope you find this post resourceful!
*bar graph is from tripsavvy.com
The best times to visit San Diego are March - May and September - November because this is our off-season. Not only can you get cheaper flights and hotel/ airbnb rates, but you will avoid the summer crowds!!
JANUARY
Average Temperature: 57°F
Average Sunshine: 72%
Average Rainfall: 1.98 inches
FEBRUARY
Average Temperature: 58°F
Average Sunshine: 72%
Average Rainfall: 2.35 inches
January - February are quieter months in San Diego, and the perfect time to come if you want to relax. The temperatures are cooler (for us!), just know ahead of time that February is our wettest month. Be prepared for rain, but the sun always comes out!
EVENTS
Bring in the New Year with a Polar Bear Plunge into the Pacific Ocean on January 1, with La Jolla Cove's Swim Club (am I the only one who thinks this sounds painful? ha!)
The whole month February is San Diego Museum Month, so admission to (most of) the museums in Balboa Park are half off.
*image from ouroyster.com
Drink your carbs at the San Diego Winter Brew Fest! They feature local beers from San Diego (and beyond), live music, and food.
MARCH
Average Temperature: 60°F
Average Sunshine: 70%
Average Rainfall: 1.81 inches
APRIL
Average Temperature: 62°F
Average Sunshine: 67%
Average Rainfall: 0.78 inches
This is one of the best times to visit San Diego because the weather is warming up, flowers are blooming, and we are still in our off-season (yay for less crowds)! The beaches start to see some action, but aren't yet over crowded.
EVENTS
Visit the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. The fields are open March 1 - May 13, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and is located 40 minutes north of downtown. Admission is $16, and much bigger than the pictures lead on. You can easily spend a half day exploring the area!
We host the largest St. Patrick's Day Parade west of the Mississippi, which is followed by and Irish Festival in Balboa Park (family friendly). At night you can head to the shamROCK the Gaslamp block party (21+) to celebrate like a true Irishman!
Opening season for the Padres (MLB at Petco Park) begins in April. Ticket's are easy to get online or at the ticket booth day-of (local tip - ask the attendant for a view of downtown). Even if the team isn't amazing, the views, food, and local beer are worth an evening at the ballpark!
*image from www.usatoday.com
MAY
Average Temperature: 64°F
Average Sunshine: 59%
Average Rainfall: 0.12 inches
JUNE
Average Temperature: 67°F
Average Sunshine: 58%
Average Rainfall: 0.07 inches
Everyone assumes the San Diego weather is perfect year round (rightfully so), but May and June and the months I recommend least. During May and June we have a weird fog/marine layer that hangs around for most of the day; it looks like it's going to rain, but it never does. San Diegan's call this season MAY GREY and JUNE GLOOM.
EVENTS
The San Diego County Fair is June 1- July 4, and is the largest county fair in the United States. With over a million visitors each year, the fair focuses on agriculture and crafts, but provides unique entertainment, animals, rides, concerts, and food to try.
*image from San Diego Magazine*
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in historic Old Town San Diego, California's first settlement. Old Town filled with museums, Mexican culture, live music, art, and history. They host a huge three-day celebration called Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo each year, packed with plenty or margaritas!
Run in the San Diego Rock'n'Roll Marathon. This is a marathon course bringing athletes and musicians together for an inspiring event. Various bands and cheer teams line the course to motivate runners as they make their way through downtown. Tickets sell out well in advance, so I advise you to sign up for their email list!
JULY
Average Temperature: 70°F
Average Sunshine: 68%
Average Rainfall: 0.03 inches
AUGUST
Average Temperature: 72°F
Average Sunshine: 70%
Average Rainfall: 0.02 inches
If you are looking to escape to San Diego at its' peak, then this is when you want to come! The weather is warm, summer has claimed her territory, and there's A LOT to do! This is the best time to enjoy our beaches and outdoor activities like kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, jet skiing, and surfing. The beaches are packed with sunbathers, families, music, and sports. This is when you will get to experience quintessential San Diego!
EVENTS
Big Bay Boom for the 4th of July We're famous for our Big Bay Boom fireworks show, at 9 p.m., where the city strategically places four barges around the bay for one of the biggest fireworks shows in the U.S. The fireworks can be seen from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and Coronado Landing, and is free! *4th of July is one of the most expensive weekends to visit*
*image from San Diego Magazine
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club - Opening day at the horse track is July 18th and will end in early September. People come from all over to bet on horses with hopes to win big. This is a popular summer event for patrons to enjoy the weather, dress up, socialize, and hopefully win some cash!
*image from arizonafoothills.com
Go to Comic-Con International: San Diego, AKA WHERE GEEK DREAMS COME TRUE! This is a multi-genre convention celebrating comics and similar fantasy entertainment. Comic-con is filled with action figures, anime, video games, zombies, superheroes, wizards, and fairies; basically if you can dream it, you'll see it here! It proves that geek culture is everyone's culture. Tickets are incredibly hard to get, so be sure to sign up for their email lists. Even if you can't get a ticket, it's a fun time to people watch in downtown San Diego; you might find yourself sharing a cocktail with Tortoro and Captain America!
*image from bandaiding.com
OCTOBER
Average Temperature: 67°F
Average Sunshine: 68%
Average Rainfall: 0.57 inches
SEPTEMBER
Average Temperature: 71°F
Average Sunshine: 69%
Average Rainfall: 0.15 inches
This is a beautiful time to visit San Diego. The weather is still warm, but summer is over so the crowds have died down. This pocket of time gives you so many options of things to experience during your visit. Not only can you still go to the beach, but you can take day trips to the mountains for cooler temperatures and 'fall' activities; it's the best of both worlds.
EVENTS
San Diego Restaurant Week is a celebration of local restaurants showcasing culinary diversity with prefixed menus at discounted prices. If you are a foodie, this week was MADE for you. SDRW is September 23-30, with over 180 participating restaurants.
Visit the town of Julian for their famous apple pies! Apple season begins as early as the end of August and lasts until mid October. This is an easy day trip if you have a car, and a must if you are visiting San Diego in the fall. The most popular apple pies in Julian are the Julian Pie Company, Mom's Pie House, and Apple Alley Bakery.
CRSSD Music Festival is a bi-annual oceanside music festival located at Waterfront Park, downtown San Diego. There are three stages featuring well-curated old school and new artists. The backdrop to the stages are spectacular views of downtown and the San Diego Bay.
NOVEMBER
Average Temperature: 62°F
Average Sunshine: 75%
Average Rainfall: 1.01 inches
DECEMBER
Average Temperature: 57°F
Average Sunshine: 73%
Average Rainfall: 1.53 inches
Cooler nights, stunning sunsets, and a quieter experience is what you will get in San Diego if you visit in November and December. I love the holidays in San Diego because its a unique experience (especially since I come from the East Coast).
EVENTS
Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo is my favorite time to visit the zoo, and it runs December 8-January 1. We always go to the zoo in the evening for the "Celebration of Lights," which is a musical experience/ animal-themed parade.
*image from Pinterest
December Nights at Balboa Park is free to attend, and is a local Christmas tradition. It is a park-wide event where you can enjoy entertainment, live music, Christmas lights, and free admission in the evenings to most of the museums.
*image is from lajollamom.com
Skating by the Sea at Hotel Del Coronado is a unique experience you can only enjoy in a city like San Diego. The outdoor ice-skating rink is on the Windsor Lawn, which probably doesn't mean anything to you, so basically, it's ice-skating at the beach!
*image is from www.localadventurer.com
I hope this helps you plan your next trip to San Diego. Let me know if you have any questions about visiting, I'm always happy to help!
- caitlin
