Month guide · Los Angeles · United States
Los Angeles in December
What December is really like in Los Angeles: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: CrispyCream27, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 9.9 hours of daylight. Cool, sunny days between occasional storms, with holiday lights and theme-park Christmas events; prices rise over the holidays.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 9.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Los Angeles: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 24°C (75°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with November (23°C (73°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:52
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:45
- Daylight
- About 9.9 hours
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F)
Autumn (September–November). Often the sunniest, warmest beach weather with fewer crowds, but also the season of Santa Ana winds and wildfire risk.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Holiday seasons at Disneyland and Universal Studios (usually mid-November to early January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Museum · Miracle Mile
Petersen Automotive Museum
Wrapped in a red-and-steel ribbon facade on Wilshire Boulevard, the Petersen tells the story of car culture in a city built around the automobile, with Hollywood film cars, hot rods and supercars across three floors.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Rainy day
- Kids
- History
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
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 9°C and 5 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Los Angeles?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and September–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Los Angeles in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Los Angeles?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cool, sunny days between occasional storms, with holiday lights and theme-park Christmas events; prices rise over the holidays.
+How warm is Los Angeles in December?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Los Angeles in December?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.