Month guide · Los Angeles · United States
Los Angeles in January
What January is really like in Los Angeles: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Edwardrhodes06, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 10.1 hours of daylight. Mild, sunny days and cool nights, with the year's wettest spells; occasional storms bring heavy rain and snow on the San Gabriel Mountains.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest 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 6 of its 31 days. Compared with December (20°C (68°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 21°C (70°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 06:58
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:06
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°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, January rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena (1 January, or 2 January when the 1st is a Sunday)
- Lunar New Year Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown (late January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Landmark · Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory
Parking near the building fills quickly around sunset; the LADOT DASH bus from Los Feliz runs up the hill.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Kids
- Couples
Museum · Brentwood
Getty Center
Richard Meier's travertine-clad hilltop campus holds European paintings including Van Gogh's Irises, plus photography, sculpture and decorative arts, and Robert Irwin's Central Garden.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Views
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Santa Monica
Santa Monica Pier
Rent a bike near the pier and ride the beach path south to Venice, about 3 km along the sand.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
- Free
Neighbourhood · Venice
Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals
Ocean Front Walk is LA at its most theatrical: street performers, murals, the outdoor gym at Muscle Beach and a skate park on the sand.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Food
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 9°C and 6 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Los Angeles?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events 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 January a good time to visit Los Angeles?
It is a shoulder-season month. Mild, sunny days and cool nights, with the year's wettest spells; occasional storms bring heavy rain and snow on the San Gabriel Mountains.
+How warm is Los Angeles in January?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Los Angeles in January?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.