Best time to visit San Luis Obispo
The best time to visit San Luis Obispo is April–November, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
San Luis Obispo, 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 | 15.8 °C / 60 °F | 8.7 °C / 48 °F | 95 mm / 3.7 in | good month |
| February | 15.8 °C / 60 °F | 8.8 °C / 48 °F | 71 mm / 2.8 in | good month |
| March | 16.2 °C / 61 °F | 9.5 °C / 49 °F | 67 mm / 2.6 in | good month |
| April | 17.2 °C / 63 °F | 10.3 °C / 51 °F | 25 mm / 1 in | best month |
| May | 18 °C / 64 °F | 11.5 °C / 53 °F | 6 mm / 0.3 in | best month |
| June | 20 °C / 68 °F | 13.3 °C / 56 °F | 2 mm / 0.1 in | best month |
| July | 21.1 °C / 70 °F | 14.5 °C / 58 °F | 1 mm / 0 in | best month |
| August | 21.8 °C / 71 °F | 15 °C / 59 °F | 0 mm / 0 in | best month |
| September | 22.2 °C / 72 °F | 15.1 °C / 59 °F | 3 mm / 0.1 in | best month |
| October | 21.2 °C / 70 °F | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 15 mm / 0.6 in | best month |
| November | 18.4 °C / 65 °F | 10.9 °C / 52 °F | 33 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| December | 15.6 °C / 60 °F | 8.9 °C / 48 °F | 78 mm / 3.1 in | good month |
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: good
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: good
- Best
- April–November
- Good
- December–March
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 85%, feels like (high) 13.5 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 95 mm / 3.7 in, wet days 6.2 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, average daily low 8.7 °C / 48 °F, relative humidity 72%.
February · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 86%, precipitation 71 mm / 2.8 in, feels like (high) 13.7 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 2.8 days, average daily low 8.8 °C / 48 °F, relative humidity 72%.
March · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.7 °C / 58 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, precipitation 67 mm / 2.6 in, average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, wet days 6.8 days, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 73%.
April · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.2 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily high 17.2 °C / 63 °F, wet days 3.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 72%.
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 6 mm / 0.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, wet days 1.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 11.5 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 74%.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.6 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 20 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 2 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 0.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 13.3 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 75%.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.5 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 21.1 °C / 70 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 14.5 °C / 58 °F.
Against: relative humidity 78%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 21.8 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 15 °C / 59 °F.
Against: relative humidity 78%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.9 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 22.2 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 0.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 15.1 °C / 59 °F, relative humidity 76%.
October · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.4 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 21.2 °C / 70 °F, precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 1.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, average daily low 13.6 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 70%.
November · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.5 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F, relative humidity 70%.
December · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 85%, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in, feels like (high) 13.2 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.6 °C / 60 °F, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F, relative humidity 72%.
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: best
- Best
- January–December
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 95 mm / 3.7 in, wet days 6.2 days, feels like (high) 13.5 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 8.7 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, days with heavy rain 3 days, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph, daylight per day 10.1 h.
February · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 71 mm / 2.8 in, wet days 6.5 days, feels like (high) 13.7 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 8.8 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 2.8 days, daylight per day 10.9 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
March · best
In its favour: average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 67 mm / 2.6 in, wet days 6.8 days, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, feels like (high) 14.7 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 12 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.2 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, wet days 3.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, feels like (high) 16.2 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 13.1 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 6 mm / 0.3 in, wet days 1.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 11.5 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, daylight per day 14 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 20 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 2 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 20.6 °C / 69 °F, average daily low 13.3 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 14.5 h, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 21.1 °C / 70 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, daylight per day 14.3 h, feels like (high) 22.5 °C / 73 °F, average daily low 14.5 °C / 58 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 21.8 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 13.4 h, feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, average daily low 15 °C / 59 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.2 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 12.4 h, feels like (high) 22.9 °C / 73 °F, average daily low 15.1 °C / 59 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 21.2 °C / 70 °F, precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, wet days 1.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, feels like (high) 20.4 °C / 69 °F, average daily low 13.6 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 11.3 h, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, feels like (high) 16.5 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph, daylight per day 10.3 h.
December · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.6 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in, wet days 6.5 days, feels like (high) 13.2 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: daylight per day 9.8 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, 255 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) | 13.5 °C | 13.7 °C | 14.7 °C | 16.2 °C | 17.6 °C | 20.6 °C | 22.5 °C | 23.2 °C | 22.9 °C | 20.4 °C | 16.5 °C | 13.2 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3 days | 2.8 days | 2.2 days | 0.8 days | 0.1 days | 0.1 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0.1 days | 0.4 days | 1.1 days | 2.6 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 1 pm | 2 am | 2 am | 5 am | 2 am | 9 am | 9 pm | 5 am | 1 am | 12 am | 5 pm | 7 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 8.6 h | 9.5 h | 10.6 h | 11.9 h | 13.5 h | 13.8 h | 13.7 h | 12.8 h | 11.8 h | 10.6 h | 9.2 h | 8.4 h |
| Relative humidity | 72% | 72% | 73% | 72% | 74% | 75% | 78% | 78% | 76% | 70% | 70% | 72% |
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 | 6.5 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 10 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 10.1 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 11.4 µg/m³ | 10.6 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 10.8 µg/m³ | 12.2 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.