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Original poster

Is California unbearably hot in August?

34 replies

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 10:51

We are looking to do a road trip with the teens but eldest is coming up to Y10 so it's out of the question to take them out of school for any of it.

This limits us to 2 weeks in May, 2 weeks in October or 4 weeks mid July to mid August due to the way the school holidays work for us.

Initially I was looking at May or October as I know they are more pleasant weather-wise, but really struggling to fit in everything we want to do within 2 weeks, essentially it looks like we'd have to skip San Diego and one of the national parks (admittedly because we are keen to do the theme parks which is taking up a chunk)

If we do August we can go for longer, but is the weather unbearable?

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JW13 · 02/02/2025 11:22

We went last August and it was fine but we don't mind heat too much! We stayed in Santa Monica in LA and the sea breeze meant it wasn't too hot. I think Hollywood etc are hotter. Then we went to Disney and it wasn't as bad heat wise as we expected. We went early both days and one day we came back early afternoon for a swim but it wasn't unbearable at all. We then went to Palm Springs for a week and it was very hot there (40+ degrees) but we stayed on a resort with pools and enjoyed it. It's a dry heat so doesn't feel as hot as 40 degrees in Europe.

The theme parks are quieter towards the middle/end of August as schools go back - we went around the 16th and it wasn't that different to when we went in May/June a couple of years ago. We did have the queue jumping tickets though (they weren't that expensive given the general price of the tickets).

Original poster

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 11:25

Thank you, unfortunately our school opens back up around the 20th of Aug around the same time as the Americans I guess!

Did you do San Diego on your trip? That seems to be the bit pushing our itinerary, that and Redwoods which I think I'm just going to have to drop.

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NeedthatFridayfeeling · 02/02/2025 11:27

We went 2023 and it was gorgeous, hit i think 33 in Santa Barbara but dropped when we were in the national parks due to being at higher altitude. Fantastic trip.

JW13 · 02/02/2025 11:32

We didn't go to San Diego as we've been before and we were visiting friends in LA/Palm Springs, but I'd be surprised if it were that different. Weather app says 20-25 degrees in San Diego vs 19-29 in LA for August. I think San Diego was cooler than LA when we went a few years ago (not August - school holidays are a killer)!

Were you planning on going north of LA as I'd be hesitant to do that due to the devastation caused by the fires and seeing how they rebuild? Although they'd probably appreciate the income/visitors if they are back up and running.

Original poster

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 11:39

So we won't be going until next year. We wanted to do San Fran, Yosemite, Monterray, Disney, Universal, Hollywood backlot, Santa Monica.

Just really struggling to look at how we can do what we'd like in 2 weeks. Well no doubt go back when older without the kids, but want to try and show the kids as much as possible! (But the theme parks are a priority, which is why we are struggling!)

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Original poster

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 11:46

I'm wondering if instead of doing north California we stick to south and do theme parks, beaches, LA/Hollwood, San Diego. I'd love to see the northern parts but my youngest is AuADHD and I think road tripping might get a bit tough on him with how much we would need to fit in so wonder if we just stick south, and DH and I do the northern parts down the line.

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SorrelForbes · 02/02/2025 11:48

I think you'll easily do all that in two weeks. The Disney and Universal aren't that big, so with an early start and a late finish, you could do one per day. Universal includes a back lot studio tour but it's part of the main experience and you don't need a separate day.

Santa Monica is lovely but a day there on the beach and boardwalk is enough. The same with Santa Barbara.

On a trip in 2022, we drove from Santa Barbara to Sequoia to see the Redwoods before heading off to Death Valley, Grand Canyon etc. and honestly it was the best bit of the trip. The Las Padras mountains are spectacular.

We found San Fran underwhelming (apart from visiting Alcatraz) and our kids were bored. San Diego is nicer IMHO.

We've been in June, July and August and have never struggled with the heat. It just doesn't feel as sweltering hot as Florida or Greece.

JW13 · 02/02/2025 11:51

When we were younger (pre-DS) we went to Coachella then did a road trip north (LA, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Carmel, Monterey, SF and Napa) and it was a lot in 2 weeks do I would definitely try and go for longer if you can.

Personally I didn't love San Diego (much prefer LA but some people don't like it) so I wouldn't worry too much about missing it from the itinerary. I also didn't love San Francisco but there are lots of great things to see there (more so than SD) so it's worth a visit.

For Disney if you want to do both parks I'd stay 3 nights and do a day in each park. Our DS is much younger (7) but we did all the big rides as he's very tall. We haven't been to universal yet - next time....

Mysteryfemale · 02/02/2025 11:52

We did SF, Santa Cruz, Yosemite and King's Canyon, Monterey, down the coast to LA (inc Disney and Universal), Palm Springs in late July to late August over four weeks. SF isn't that warm! The rest of it was warm-hot but not unbearable with the exception of Palm Springs - which was fine when you are around the pool/in air con but we did a trip to Joshua Tree (FANTASTIC) but a 1km walk was enough before you needed to be back in the air con. I would definitely do longer in the summer rather than two weeks.

Original poster

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 12:15

Thanks all, I think I've convinced myself that going north won't be right for DSs, reflecting on it all I think he'll struggle too long in the car to see scenic things which won't excite him like it does us. DH and I love manic road trips and have done some crazy itineraries over the years but think DSs will want more down time built in like beaches and pool time, I think we'll focus south.

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Original poster

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 14:50

@JW13 is there much to do in Palm Springs?

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abricotine · 02/02/2025 14:53

There really isn’t much in Palm Springs unless you like golf, relaxing by the pool, and shopping. I’ve been a couple of times and it’s nice for a blast of heat when coastal California is mixed but there’s not a lot going on.

Original poster

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 14:58

I was thinking a pool day could be nice after busy week theme parks etc, although as we are looking at October again would it be warm enough?

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drspouse · 02/02/2025 14:58

Monterey is never that warm, neither are San Francisco or the redwoods.
Theme parks are usually really hot though. Take neck towels and fill up your water bottles every five minutes and you will be ok though. I went in mid Sept with my DD who was 9 and we were pretty roasting TBH.

drspouse · 02/02/2025 14:59

(Theme park hotels that have a pool would be ok in Oct for swimming but the ocean could be cold. Ok the Pacific is always cold).

drspouse · 02/02/2025 15:01

There is a small amusement park at Santa Cruz, and also a lovely old train camp not too far in the redwoods. It is less touristy but obviously isn't Disney.

JW13 · 02/02/2025 17:29

@hjfoau there's not a huge amount. It's really a golf/resort town. But there's a cable car to the top of the mountain which is good, a zoo/animal park which is quite fun (your DC may be less interested)! Palm Springs has nice restaurants etc and there's very nice architecture and some modern art. If you go in October/April then joshua tree would be more accessible heat wise and it's great there. You could even stay a couple of nights in the desert out there - there are some cool trailers/air bnbs. We've been to PS/JT in both April and October and it's been warm both times. Definite pool weather. PS is early to mid 20s at the moment. Also if you like shopping, Cabazon outlet is on the way between LA and PS. There's also an outlet near Anaheim with Nike etc. We've driven Disney to PS a couple of times and it's quite an easy route.

Crikeyalmighty · 02/02/2025 17:35

@hjfoau we have been lots , last time to LA, Laguna beach ( very nice ) and San Diego - you can do Disneyland as part of this

I've done LA, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara ( lovely ) and monterrey. - Asa split one too

8 to 10 days is fine if you 'do a region'

You really need 14 days minimum to do north to south in my view.

October is my favourite , May was lovely too

EwwSprouts · 02/02/2025 19:46

I would stick to LA to San Diego. Lots to do in SD. Gorgeous white beaches, long boardwalk with eateries, La Jolla for snorkelling/kayaking in https://lajollabythesea.com/listings/la-jolla-underwater-park/ Take in a baseball game! We didn't get to the space museum or zoo. We did go inland for Palomar Observatory if your DC are interested (via avocado alley!) and to an old mining town. Temp hit 100 deg there.
We stayed at Mission Bay which is quieter than downtown and the hotel had access to the calm bay for swimming and SUP as well as a pool.

Original poster

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 20:07

Thanks all. I've gone from considering 3 weeks doing north to south in August this morning to this evening deciding we'd just do SoCal in 2 weeks in October!

Loving the look of the air bnbs in Palm Springs area. Will check out the other places mentioned.

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Original poster

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 20:20

In terms of sports, I was unlucky enough to be forced to watch an Atlanta Braves game many moons ago so I don't think I would force myself to do that again anytime soon 😂 but if we go in October I'm hoping a Lakers game might be on, I saw a Knicks game a couple of years ago and it was incredible, my kids would love.

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JW13 · 02/02/2025 23:22

@hjfoau we went to a lakers game when we were there in an October. It was amazing. Also saw the LA Halloween parade which was cool. This was a few years ago now so don't know if they still do it.

This is the kind of place we stayed at in Joshua Tree - https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/47355983?adults=1&children=0&enable m33private room=true&infants=0&pets=0&searchhmode=regular search&checkkin=2025-03-02&check out=2025-03-07&sourceeimpression id=p331738538351 P3VWJUC80NDt6VSk&previousspage sectionnname=1000&federated searchhid=f73d3f4d-5a5f-42c7-b698-cd986ecd7f55 - i'd love to go back there.

Boohoo76 · 02/02/2025 23:29

No, it’s not too hot. It’s desert heat so dry and if you go into the shade it feels cooler even during the middle of the day. It also cools down a lot at night - our hotel in San Diego had fire pits in the evening in the middle of August and I would wrap a towel round me watching the kids whilst they swam in the pool at sunset as I was feeling chilly! San Diego is my favourite U.S. city. I would move there if I could.

seenabeena · 02/02/2025 23:49

Went for first 3 weeks of summer hols last year LA-VEGAS-PHEONIX-NYC
Weather was lovely but we like it dry & hot (got up to 48c 😅) plenty to do. Would love to visit San Diego & Yosemite next time.

sleepwouldbenice · 03/02/2025 00:31

We did Sf/ Yosemite/ montery/LA in just over 2 weeks. Late June early July, but originally planned it last august for 2020. Weather for both can be hot but not ridiculously so

California dreamers Facebook page is great for info and itineraries

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