Season guide · San Francisco · United States
San Francisco in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ryan Schwark, CC0
Quick answer
Usually the warmest, clearest weather of the year in September and October, with Fleet Week and free festivals, before rain returns in November. Expect highs up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 11 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 10°C (50°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 11
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 23°C (73°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 1 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| October | 22°C (72°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 | 11.1 h | 4/5 |
| November | 18°C (64°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 7 | 10.1 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 19°C (66°F), and 11 of the year's roughly 59 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Large conventions at Moscone Center can raise hotel rates sharply (often September and October)
- October: Fleet Week air shows and ship parades on the bay (usually early October)
- October: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass — free music festival in Golden Gate Park (usually early October)
- November: Día de los Muertos procession in the Mission (2 November)
Make the most of the weather
Waterfront · Fisherman's Wharf
Pier 39 and the sea lions
See the sea lions early or late to avoid crowds, then walk west along the Wharf to the Musée Mécanique and the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
Street · Russian Hill
Lombard Street
One block of Lombard Street between Hyde and Leavenworth twists through eight hairpin bends lined with flower beds, earning its 'crookedest street' nickname.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Views
Viewpoint · Telegraph Hill
Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill
Walk up from North Beach and down the Filbert Steps to Levi's Plaza; the lobby murals are free to see.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Park · Presidio
Presidio and Crissy Field
A former army post turned national park site, the Presidio has forest trails, historic barracks, the Walt Disney Family Museum and Presidio Tunnel Tops, a park opened in 2022 with lawns and a children's play area facing the bridge.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
Park · Mission District
Mission Dolores Park and the Mission murals
Walk 24th Street and Balmy Alley for murals, then pick up a burrito and eat it on the park's upper slopes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Art
- Views
- History
Day trips in autumn
- Berkeley (About 30 minutes by BART) — The University of California campus and its Sather Tower anchor Berkeley.
- Monterey and Carmel (About 2.5 hours by car) — Monterey's Cannery Row leads to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with sea otters and a towering kelp forest tank, and the coast continues to Carmel-by-the-Sea and its white-sand beach.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit San Francisco?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Usually the warmest, clearest weather of the year in September and October, with Fleet Week and free festivals, before rain returns in November.
+What is the weather like in San Francisco in autumn?
Highs of up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 11 rainy days over the season.