Month guide · San Francisco · United States
San Francisco in October
What October is really like in San Francisco: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
October is one of the best months to visit San Francisco. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 3 rainy days and roughly 11.1 hours of daylight. Warm, sunny days and clear views of the bridge make October one of the best months to visit.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 3
- Daylight
- About 11.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in October
October is the 3rd-warmest month in San Francisco: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 3 of its 31 days. Compared with September (23°C (73°F)), October is about as warm; by November highs drop to around 18°C (64°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 07:18
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 18:32
- Daylight
- About 11.1 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Summer (June–August). Peak crowds and prices but often cool, foggy and windy, especially near the ocean; the Mission and the East Bay are sunnier.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: October is one of the pricier months.
Events in October
- Fleet Week air shows and ship parades on the bay (usually early October)
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass — free music festival in Golden Gate Park (usually early October)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Waterfront · Fisherman's Wharf
Pier 39 and the sea lions
Pier 39 is a busy pier of shops, restaurants and street performers, but the real draw is the sea lions that haul out on the floating docks beside it, a colony that settled here after the 1989 earthquake.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
Street · Russian Hill
Lombard Street
Visit early in the morning, when the gardens are in soft light and before the queue of cars builds.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Views
Viewpoint · Telegraph Hill
Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill
The 64-metre Art Deco tower on Telegraph Hill, finished in 1933, has Depression-era murals in its ground-floor lobby and an observation deck looking over the bay and both bridges.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Park · Presidio
Presidio and Crissy Field
Picnic on the Tunnel Tops lawns, where food trucks often gather on weekends in the warmer months.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 13°C and 3 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit San Francisco?
One of the best months to visit San Francisco, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are April–May and September. Compare every month.
San Francisco in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is October a good time to visit San Francisco?
It is one of the best months to visit San Francisco. Warm, sunny days and clear views of the bridge make October one of the best months to visit.
+How warm is San Francisco in October?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in San Francisco in October?
Expect rain on about 3 days of the month, so it is usually dry.