Month guide · San Diego · United States
San Diego in January
What January is really like in San Diego: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 10.2 hours of daylight. Mild, sunny days with some winter rain; good for whale-watching as grey whales migrate south past Point Loma.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 10.2 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 9th-warmest month in San Diego: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with December (19°C (66°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 06:51
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:05
- Daylight
- About 10.2 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild, sometimes rainy, with cool evenings, whale-watching and the lowest hotel rates outside the holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Grey whale migration season (usually mid-December to April)
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.
Park · Balboa Park
Balboa Park
Walking the gardens and El Prado is free; pick two museums for a day rather than trying to cover them all.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
- Art
- Outdoors
Zoo · Balboa Park
San Diego Zoo
One of the best-known zoos in the world occupies about 40 hectares of canyons on the north side of Balboa Park, with habitats for koalas, polar bears, elephants and great apes.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Park at the beach lot and walk up the road for the full climb, or pay to park at the top for shorter walks.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Views
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
Historic site · Point Loma
Cabrillo National Monument
At the tip of Point Loma, this National Park Service site commemorates Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's 1542 landing, the first European expedition on the US West Coast.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 9°C and 7 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit San Diego?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
San Diego in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit San Diego?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild, sunny days with some winter rain; good for whale-watching as grey whales migrate south past Point Loma.
+How warm is San Diego in January?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in San Diego in January?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.