Best time to visit Big Sur
The best time to visit Big Sur is June–October, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Big Sur, California, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 8 °C / 46 °F | 119 mm / 4.7 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 13 °C / 55 °F | 7.6 °C / 46 °F | 108 mm / 4.2 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 7.8 °C / 46 °F | 95 mm / 3.7 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 13.8 °C / 57 °F | 8.2 °C / 47 °F | 39 mm / 1.5 in | good month |
| May | 14.9 °C / 59 °F | 9.3 °C / 49 °F | 13 mm / 0.5 in | good month |
| June | 17.2 °C / 63 °F | 11 °C / 52 °F | 3 mm / 0.1 in | best month |
| July | 18.7 °C / 66 °F | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 1 mm / 0 in | best month |
| August | 19.3 °C / 67 °F | 12.9 °C / 55 °F | 0 mm / 0 in | best month |
| September | 19.6 °C / 67 °F | 13.1 °C / 56 °F | 3 mm / 0.1 in | best month |
| October | 18.4 °C / 65 °F | 11.8 °C / 53 °F | 24 mm / 1 in | best month |
| November | 15.5 °C / 60 °F | 9.5 °C / 49 °F | 53 mm / 2.1 in | good month |
| December | 13.1 °C / 56 °F | 7.9 °C / 46 °F | 112 mm / 4.4 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June–October
- Good
- April–May, November
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 4.8 days, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily high 13.8 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 8.2 °C / 47 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 12.3 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 78%.
May · good
In its favour: precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, feels like (high) 13.9 °C / 57 °F, wet days 1.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily high 14.9 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 9.3 °C / 49 °F.
Against: relative humidity 77%.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, average daily high 17.2 °C / 63 °F, wet days 0.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 11 °C / 52 °F, relative humidity 75%.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.1 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 18.7 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 12.4 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 74%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.6 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 19.3 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 75%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.5 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 19.6 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 0.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 13.1 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 74%.
October · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 24 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 2.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily low 11.8 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 72%.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.5 °C / 60 °F, wet days 5.7 days, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: good
- Best
- January–November
- Good
- December
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.2 °C / 56 °F, wet days 8.3 days, precipitation 119 mm / 4.7 in, average daily low 8 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, feels like (high) 10.7 °C / 51 °F, days with heavy rain 3.7 days, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph, daylight per day 10 h.
February · best
In its favour: average daily high 13 °C / 55 °F, precipitation 108 mm / 4.2 in, wet days 8.4 days, average daily low 7.6 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, feels like (high) 10.5 °C / 51 °F, daylight per day 10.9 h, days with heavy rain 3.9 days, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 13 mph.
March · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.2 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 95 mm / 3.7 in, wet days 9.6 days, feels like (high) 11.2 °C / 52 °F, average daily low 7.8 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, daylight per day 12 h, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.8 °C / 57 °F, precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, wet days 4.8 days, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, feels like (high) 12.3 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 8.2 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 13.1 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.9 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 1.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, feels like (high) 13.9 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 9.3 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 14.1 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.2 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 11 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 14.6 h, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.7 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 19.1 °C / 66 °F, average daily low 12.4 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, daylight per day 14.3 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.3 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, feels like (high) 19.6 °C / 67 °F, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, daylight per day 13.5 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.6 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 19.5 °C / 67 °F, average daily low 13.1 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 24 mm / 1 in, wet days 2.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, feels like (high) 17 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 11.8 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.5 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, wet days 5.7 days, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph, daylight per day 10.2 h.
December · good
In its favour: average daily high 13.1 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 112 mm / 4.4 in, wet days 8.8 days, average daily low 7.9 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, feels like (high) 10.5 °C / 51 °F, days with heavy rain 3.8 days, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: daylight per day 9.7 h.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is China Peak Mountain Resort, 259 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 10.7 °C | 10.5 °C | 11.2 °C | 12.3 °C | 13.9 °C | 16.8 °C | 19.1 °C | 19.6 °C | 19.5 °C | 17 °C | 13.3 °C | 10.5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3.7 days | 3.9 days | 3.5 days | 1.4 days | 0.3 days | 0.1 days | 0.1 days | 0 days | 0.1 days | 0.6 days | 1.8 days | 3.8 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 4 am | 6 am | 4 am | 7 am | 3 pm | 8 am | 1 am | 12 pm | 9 am | 6 pm | 2 pm | 4 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 8.2 h | 9.3 h | 10.3 h | 11.7 h | 13.3 h | 13.7 h | 13.8 h | 12.9 h | 11.8 h | 10.4 h | 9 h | 7.9 h |
| Relative humidity | 76% | 76% | 78% | 78% | 77% | 75% | 74% | 75% | 74% | 72% | 74% | 76% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 7.3 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | 8.4 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 11.4 µg/m³ | 11.9 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 9.7 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 12.1 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | 11.4 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.