San Diego's gorgeous beaches, slew of outdoor activities, unique restaurants and amazing weather make it the best place to call home in all of Southern California. If you're planning a visit to America's Finest City, you're truly in for a treat. As San Diego natives, we're sharing travel tips to help you match the vibe of casual, beachy (but not sloppy) San Diego style while still being prepared and comfortable regardless of the time of year you plan to visit.
While San Diego enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, there are some cooler months in the Winter and Spring that call for extra layers in the early mornings and evenings. The early Fall months are some of the warmest but less crowded than the Summer or spring break making it a great time to visit. Just don't forget the sun protection! Let's dive into what you can expect for your visit and the San Diego essentials to blend in like a local.
Winter (December, January, February)
These winter months are the coldest in San Diego with night temps getting down into the 40's and days wavering between the high 50's to mid 70's. We have been known to have some really beautiful weather in January, with clear blue skies and temps in the 70's. For San Diegans, anything below the mid 60's is cold and you'll find us all in jeans, Patgonia puffer jackets and athleisure like Lululemon and Vuori. Beanies and baseball caps are completely acceptable and a staple of winter wardrobes. Birkenstock clogs, Ugg boots and even flip flops are the most common shoe of choice even in the winter. Cold weather accessories such as mittens, scarves and earmuffs are really not necessary unless spending a lot of time outside at night or out boating or whale watching on the ocean.
Winter Packing List:
Jeans
Sweatshirt
Nice sweater for women
Long sleeve tees
Collared shirt for men
Puffer jacket or similar medium weight jacket
Comfortable walking shoes - casual tennis shoes or athletic shoes
Athleisure such as Lululemon, Vuori or similar
Sandals
Shorts
Swimsuit
Coverup
Umbrella (just in case!)
Sunglasses
Spring (March, April, May)
Spring in San Diego is beyond beautiful but can still be a tad bit nippy. Pacific ocean breezes are chilly even with the sun shining bright making for very mild temperatures all Spring. San Diego Spring mornings often start off very grey hence the term May Grey with very light drizzle or mist. The haze typically burns off mid-day with temps in the mid to high 60's, reaching low 70's on a perfect day. Jeans, a light jacket, hoodie or cardigan are ideal to always have with you as the mornings are cool, the afternoons are warm but with much cooler nights with very cool breezes. Plan to wear light layers on top that you can peel off or put back on if out all day. Again, jeans, shorts, casual dresses or skirts with a denim jacket and athleisure pieces are all part of the laid-back vibe you'll see in San Diego. Flip flops, cute sandals and wedges, Birkenstocks, and sneakers such as Vans, On's or Hoka's are frequently seen year long.
Spring Packing List:
Light jacket
Sweatshirt
Jeans
Shorts
Casual tops
Athleisure such as Lululemon, Vuori or similar
Collared shirt for man for nice dinner
Maxi dress for woman for nice dinner
Sundress
Swimsuit
Coverup
Comfortable shoes - casual tennis shoes or athletic shoes
Sandals and/or wedges
Flip flops
Umbrella (just in case!)
Sunglasses
Wide brimmed hat and/or baseball cap
Summer (June, July August)
The springtime cloudiness continues into June (aka our June Gloom) and through early July. We often have cloudy skies on 4th of July but as the summer months progress, days of full sun and temps in the 70's and 80's prevail. August brings the heat with consistently warm days in the 80's and 90's as you venture away from the coast. Shorts, t-shirts, and sundresses with flip flops, wedges and sandals are all the norm. Despite the perfect weather, a light jacket, sweater or wrap is always a good idea if the coastal fog rolls in at night.
If spending a day at the beach, the San Diego Zoo or strolling around one of our many outdoor malls, a wide-brimmed hat and a good pair of sunglasses are essential accessories. Baseball hats on men and women are also commonplace all over San Diego (not just at Petco Park!).
Summer Packing List:
Light jacket
Light sweatshirt
Jeans
Shorts
Casual tops
Athleisure such as Lululemon, Vuori or similar
Collared shirt for man for nice dinner
Maxi dress for woman for nice dinner
Sundress
Swimsuit
Coverup
Comfortable walking shoes - casual tennis shoes or athletic shoes
Sandals and/or wedges
Flip flops
Sunglasses
Wide brimmed hat or sun hat
Fall (September, October, November)
The fall months bring the warmest days in San Diego and are truly one of the best times to visit as tourism tapers down. While the rest of the country is sipping PSL's, San Diegans need iced cofee through all of October due to the very warm weather. Fall brings days of sunshine, making it some of the best weather for beach days and chilling poolside. While November often has warmer days, we start to get a glimpse of Fall temperatures as late nights start to cool off and require a light jacket or sweater.
Fall Packing List:
Light jacket
Light sweatshirt
Jeans
Shorts
Casual tops
Athleisure such as Lululemon, Vuori or similar
Collared shirt for man for nice dinner
Maxi dress for woman for nice dinner
Sundress
Swimsuit
Coverup
Comfortable walking shoes - casual tennis shoes or athletic shoes
Sandals and/or wedges
Flip flops
Sunglasses
Wide brimmed hat and/or baseball cap
San Diego Packing List
Now you know what to bring for the time of year you're visiting and for each of these items we'll dive into specific options and outfit ideas with pics so you can plan your San Diego outfits and fit in like a local.
Recommended Athleisure Brands:
Vuori - this brand started in the heart of Encinitas, a must-see north San Diego coastal town known for
Lululemon
Alo
All in Motion (Target)
Recommended Bottoms:
Nice jeans without holes if planning on a nice dinner out
Nicer golf shorts for men also work for a nice dinner out
Denim or khaki style shorts
Recommended Tops and Jackets:
Light jacket
Puffer jacket for Winter
Long sleeve layer
Collared polo or button up shirt for men for nicer dinner
Tees
Tank tops
Recommended Dresses:
Maxi or midi-length casual dress for nice dinner out
Sun dresses
Rompers
Skirts and tanks
Recommended Swim:
Boardshorts or medium length swim trunks for men
Bikini and/or one piece swimsuit for women
Coverup
UPF shirts
Water shoes if planning to explore tidepools
Recommended Shoes:
Nice flip flops/sandals/wedges for nice dinner out - Olukai, Reef, Birkenstock
Casual non-tennis shoes - Allbirds, Vans, Olukai
Comfortable athletic walking shoes
Flip flops for the beach - any flip flops that you don't mind getting sandy
Recommended Accesories and Must-Haves:
Beanie - if visiting in Winter and Spring months
Baseball cap
Sun hat
Sunglasses
Crossbody bag
Day backpack
Sunscreen
Small umbrella - if traveling in Dec, Jan, Feb, March
Enjoy this post about San Diego by a local? Let us know what else you'd like to know!
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