Season guide · Los Angeles · United States
Los Angeles in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Often the sunniest, warmest beach weather with fewer crowds, but also the season of Santa Ana winds and wildfire risk. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F), with about 6 rainy days across September–November. September–November are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 11°C (52°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 6
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 28°C (82°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 1 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| October | 26°C (79°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 2 | 11.3 h | 3/5 |
| November | 23°C (73°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 3 | 10.3 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 26°C (79°F) against a yearly 24°C (75°F), and 6 of the year's roughly 32 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Abbot Kinney Festival in Venice (usually late September)
- October: Halloween Carnaval in West Hollywood (31 October)
- October: Día de los Muertos events at Olvera Street and Hollywood Forever Cemetery (late October to early November)
- November: Día de los Muertos celebrations (around 1–2 November)
- November: Hollywood Christmas Parade (usually the Sunday after Thanksgiving)
Make the most of the weather
Museum · Exposition Park
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Pair it with the California Science Center and the rose garden between them; the Metro E Line stops right outside.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Nature
Garden · San Marino
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens
The Huntington's themed gardens — Japanese, Chinese, desert and rose — spread over about 50 hectares next to Pasadena, alongside an art collection that includes Gainsborough's The Blue Boy and a library holding a Gutenberg Bible.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
Aquarium · Long Beach
Aquarium of the Pacific
Take the Metro A Line from Downtown LA to its southern end in Long Beach, then walk about 15 minutes to the waterfront.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Landmark · Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory
On the southern slope of Mount Hollywood since 1935, Griffith Observatory has free exhibits, a planetarium with paid shows, and terraces looking over the LA basin to the ocean and up to the Hollywood Sign.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Kids
- Couples
Museum · Brentwood
Getty Center
Visit on a clear afternoon and stay for sunset from the west-facing terraces and the cactus garden.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Views
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Day trips in autumn
- Laguna Beach (About 1–1.5 hours by car) — A former artists' colony on the Orange County coast, Laguna Beach has coves and tide pools at Crescent Bay and Treasure Island Beach, galleries along Coast Highway and, in summer, the Pageant of the Masters, where performers recreate famous paintings as living pictures.
- Joshua Tree National Park (About 2.5–3 hours by car) — Where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, spiky Joshua trees grow among giant granite boulders.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Los Angeles?
Yes: September–November are among the best months. Often the sunniest, warmest beach weather with fewer crowds, but also the season of Santa Ana winds and wildfire risk.
+What is the weather like in Los Angeles in autumn?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F), with about 6 rainy days over the season.