When To Visit Los Angeles

No matter when you decide to visit, it's almost always a good time to visit Los Angeles.

Whether the bright lights of Hollywood or the "Hey there, everybody" of Mickey Mouse lure you to Tinseltown, you'll find yourself in plenty of company. As the second largest city in the U.S., Los Angeles is a culturally diverse area that offers reasons to visit year-round. We've put together this seasonal guide to help you determine when to visit Los Angeles.

With an average of 35 days receiving measurable precipitation annually, the entire Los Angeles area sees plenty of sunshine and sometimes smog (although on the decline). October through April is generally considered the rainy season.

iofjohnpaul 'o7 Courtesy of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

The largest crowds by far appear in summer. That is when most families take their vacations and the weather is warmest. But like San Diego, Los Angeles suffers from "June Gloom," when a low-lying marine layer blankets the area in a gray fog for much of the day. June Gloom keeps the average highs in the low 70s. July, August, September and October are all warmer, with highs in the mid- to upper 70s. Temperatures can climb quickly away from the coast. Vacationers making their way inland can find the summer months downright hot and often smoggy, although a quick trip to the beach will set everything right once again. The LA Gay Pride, the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Orange County Fair, Pageant of the Masters and Honda US Open of Surfing are among the area's most popular summer events.

September is perhaps the ideal month to visit Los Angeles. Crowds are at their lowest and there is plenty of sun, making it perfect for trips to Disneyland, Universal Studios or Six Flags Magic Mountain in nearby Valencia. October brings a number of Halloween and fall-related events, including Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland's Halloween Time, Queen Mary Dark Harbor and the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival.

©Travis Conklin 2008 Courtesy of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

For stargazers, awards season starts with the Emmys in September  and lasts until the Academy Awards in February. But anytime is a good time to catch celebrities, since they are out and about any time of year. Popular celeb haunts include The Grove shopping center and the nearby Farmers Market, and the Malibu Country Mart.

November and December right on through to New Year's Day bring more visitors to the city of Angels because of the holidays and special events, perhaps none more famed than the Rose Bowl Parade. These months also see cooler temperatures, with highs in the mid-60s and lows in the upper 40s, and higher rainfall, although not as much as January and February.

We hope you've found this overview of when to visit Los Angeles helpful in planning a visit to Los Angeles. You'll find more resources and tips inside our Los Angeles Planning Guide.

Tags: Planning Guide, Southern California Family Vacation, Los Angeles Family Vacation