Best Time to Visit San Francisco
Best time to visit San Francisco: May, June, July, August, September and October. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit San Francisco
Go in May, June, July, August, September and October. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in San Francisco month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 46° | 3,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| February | 59° | 47° | 5,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 64° | 50° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 63° | 51° | 2,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 65° | 52° | 0,6 in | ★★★★★ |
| June | 66° | 54° | 0,0 in | ★★★★★ |
| July | 66° | 56° | 0,1 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 69° | 57° | 0,0 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 69° | 58° | 0,2 in | ★★★★★ |
| October | 71° | 56° | 0,7 in | ★★★★★ |
| November | 62° | 50° | 4,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 58° | 47° | 5,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Mediterranean. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How San Francisco compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against San Francisco.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco County | 0 mi | 57°F | about the same | 25 in |
| Napa | 37 mi | 59°F | +34°F warmer | 30 in |
| Santa Clara County | 39 mi | 61°F | +36°F warmer | 22 in |
| Sacramento | 75 mi | 63°F | +38°F warmer | 27 in |
| Point Lobos State Natural Reserve | 91 mi | 57°F | about the same | 23 in |
Best time to visit each attraction in San Francisco
2 attractions mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit each airport in San Francisco
1 airports mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit each district in San Francisco
2 districts and neighborhoods mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit each zip / postal code in San Francisco
2 zip and postal codes mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit each area code in San Francisco
1 area codes mapped in this atlas
What to pack, what to skip
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
San Francisco is a city in California. San Francisco is known for Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars. It has a population of about 810.000.
Right now it is 64°F (18°C) in San Francisco with clear sky. It feels like 58°F. Today runs from 57°F to 72°F. Chance of precipitation is 0%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.1/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit San Francisco is May, June, July, August, September and October. The climate is Mediterranean. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. October is the warmest month with average highs near 71°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 46°F.
The closest major airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), about 11 mi away. Nearby highlights include Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Pinnacles National Park.
In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 72°F is 2.7°F above the 69°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 9 AM to 12 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in San Francisco today at 9.7/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in San Francisco right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 7:01 AM, Aug 23 local time.
Weekend outlook
☁️ 72° / 57°
Overcast · 0% rain · wind 16 mph
🌥️ 76° / 54°
Fog · 2% rain · wind 13 mph
Things to do in San Francisco
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around San Francisco.
Quick facts about San Francisco
| Type | City |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 37°46′29.6″N 122°25′9.8″W (37.7749, -122.4194) |
| Population | 810.000 |
| Known for | Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars |
| Local time | 7:01 AM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August, September and October |
| Climate | Mediterranean |
Explore San Francisco
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is San Francisco?
San Francisco is a city in California. Its coordinates are 37.7749, -122.4194. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in San Francisco right now?
It is currently 64°F (18°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 71% and wind is 16 mph.
When is the best time to visit San Francisco?
May, June, July, August, September and October offer the most comfortable conditions in San Francisco, which has a Mediterranean climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is San Francisco in?
San Francisco observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 7:01 AM.
How many people live in San Francisco?
San Francisco has a population of approximately 810.000.
What is the nearest airport to San Francisco?
The closest airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 11 mi away.
What are the top things to do in San Francisco?
Popular options include Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Pinnacles National Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Emerald Bay State Park.
What places are in San Francisco?
San Francisco covers 8 places in this atlas, including Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco International Airport, Fisherman's Wharf, Mission District and ZIP Code 94102.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-us) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 23, 2026 at 7:01 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
