Best Time to Visit San Francisco, California, USA
San Francisco is at its sunniest and driest in May–October.
The best time to visit San Francisco for sunny, dry weather is May–October — 6 months of the year fit our sunny profiles at this specific location. The drier stretch runs through April–October; the wetter half falls in November–March. At the city itself, monthly average temperatures range from 10.1°C / 50.2°F in January to 17.8°C / 64°F in September, with rainfall from 2 mm / 0.1 in (July) to 150 mm / 5.9 in (January). These are point-value climate normals sampled at San Francisco, California, United States of America's coordinates — usually more actionable for travellers than the country-wide average. San Francisco's climate is broadly mild oceanic. The full month-by-month table below lets you match your travel window against our five weather profiles.
Recommended months
| Month | Temp | Rain | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 15.1°C59.2°F | 15 mm0.6″ | Sunny & Mild |
| June | 16.4°C61.5°F | 5 mm0.2″ | Sunny & Mild |
| July | 16.7°C62.1°F | 2 mm0.1″ | Sunny & Mild |
| August | 17.1°C62.8°F | 3 mm0.1″ | Sunny & Mild |
| September | 17.8°C64°F | 8 mm0.3″ | Sunny & Mild |
| October | 16.6°C61.9°F | 40 mm1.6″ | Sunny & Mild |
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit San Francisco?
The best time to visit San Francisco for sunny, dry weather is May, June, July, August, September, October. At the city itself, the warmest month is September averaging 17.8°C / 64°F, and the driest is July with about 2 mm / 0.1 in of rain. These are point-value climate normals sampled at San Francisco's coordinates.
When is the rainy season in San Francisco?
The rainy season at San Francisco, California runs through November–March, when monthly rainfall exceeds the annual median of about 45 mm / 1.8 in. The wettest single month is January (150 mm / 5.9 in).
What is the driest month in San Francisco?
The driest month in San Francisco is July, averaging about 2 mm / 0.1 in of rainfall. Temperature that month averages 16.7°C / 62.1°F.
What months should I avoid visiting San Francisco?
The least comfortable months for travel to San Francisco — based on point-value climate at the city — are January, February, March, December. These are the wettest or coolest months at this location. Rainfall peaks at 150 mm / 5.9 in in January, and the coldest month averages 10.1°C / 50.2°F.
Is San Francisco climate different from United States of America overall?
Yes, usually. Our San Francisco figures are point-value climate normals sampled at the city itself, while our United States of America figures are area-weighted averages across the whole country. The two can diverge substantially in geographically diverse or elevation-varied countries. The month-by-month table below reflects San Francisco specifically — usually the more actionable data for a traveller planning to spend time in the city.