District in Los Angeles

Santa Monica Travel Guide

Santa Monica travel guide: interactive map, live weather, best time to visit, things to do and nearby places.

☀️ 71°F now🕔 7:58 AM local📅 Best: April, May, June, July, August, September and October

Active alerts for Santa Monica

⚠️Heat Advisory · Moderate
Heat Advisory issued August 23 at 12:06AM PDT until August 25 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Issued by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
⚠️Extreme Heat Watch · Severe
Extreme Heat Watch issued August 23 at 12:06AM PDT until August 28 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Issued by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Summary

Santa Monica is a district in Los Angeles. Santa Monica is a district known for the pier and beachfront path.

Right now it is 71°F (22°C) in Santa Monica with clear sky. It feels like 74°F. Today runs from 67°F to 78°F. Chance of precipitation is 0%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.6/10 - excellent - go now.

The best time to visit Santa Monica is April, May, June, July, August, September and October. The climate is Mediterranean. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. August is the warmest month with average highs near 83°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 45°F.

The closest major airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), about 7 mi away. Nearby highlights include Santa Monica State Beach, Hollywood Sign, Disneyland Resort and Channel Islands National Park.

In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for August. The forecast high of 78°F is 5.2°F below the 83°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 7 AM to 10 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Santa Monica today at 9.8/10. 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.

Map of Santa Monica

Interactive map with nearby places. Switch between street, terrain and satellite views.

Coordinates: 34°1′10.2″N 118°29′28.3″W (34.0195, -118.4912)

Weather in Santa Monica right now

☀️
71°F
Clear sky · feels like 74°F
Humidity86%
Wind7 mph W
Gusts15 mph
UV index0.1 · Low
Cloud cover5%
Pressure1007 hPa
VisibilityGood · 9 mi
Air quality72 · Moderate
Sunrise6:20 AM
Sunset7:32 PM
Moon🌔 Waxing gibbous · 80%

Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 7:58 AM, Aug 23 local time.

Weekend outlook

Saturday, Aug 22

☁️ 78° / 67°

Overcast · 0% rain · wind 10 mph

Sunday, Aug 23

☀️ 78° / 65°

Clear sky · 1% rain · wind 11 mph

Quick facts about Santa Monica

TypeDistrict
CityLos Angeles
CountryUnited States
ContinentNorth America
Coordinates34°1′10.2″N 118°29′28.3″W (34.0195, -118.4912)
Known forthe pier and beachfront path
Local time7:58 AM (UTC-07:00)
Best monthsApril, May, June, July, August, September and October
ClimateMediterranean

Things to do in Santa Monica

Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Santa Monica.

Best time to visit Santa Monica

Go in April, 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.

January★★★★
February★★★☆☆
March★★★★
April★★★★★
May★★★★★
June★★★★★
July★★★★★
August★★★★★
September★★★★★
October★★★★★
November★★★★
December★★★★

What to pack, what to skip

Pack for the next 7 days
  • Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
  • Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
Worth avoiding
  • If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.

Airports near Santa Monica

Closest airports with IATA codes and distances.

AirportCodeDistanceServes
Los Angeles International AirportLAX7 miLos Angeles
San Diego International AirportSAN116 miSan Diego
Harry Reid International AirportLAS237 miLas Vegas

Explore Santa Monica

Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.

Travel Guide for related places

Frequently asked questions

Where is Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is a district in Los Angeles. Its coordinates are 34.0195, -118.4912. It lies in North America.

What is the weather like in Santa Monica right now?

It is currently 71°F (22°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 86% and wind is 7 mph.

When is the best time to visit Santa Monica?

April, May, June, July, August, September and October offer the most comfortable conditions in Santa Monica, which has a Mediterranean climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.

What time zone is Santa Monica in?

Santa Monica observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 7:58 AM.

What is the nearest airport to Santa Monica?

The closest airports are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 7 mi away, San Diego International Airport (SAN), 116 mi away and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), 237 mi away.

What are the top things to do in Santa Monica?

Popular options include Santa Monica State Beach, Hollywood Sign, Disneyland Resort, Channel Islands National Park, Coronado Beach and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Related articles

Data sources and methodology

Place dataUSPOTUS Atlas dataset (districts) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts.
Map tilesOpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO and Esri.
ElevationOpen-Meteo digital elevation model where the dataset has no value.
MethodScores, 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 7:58 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.

Davil Hofile
Written byWriter at USPOTUS

Davil Hofile is a writer at USPOTUS covering breaking news, NFL updates, viral stories, entertainment, pets, and lifestyle. He specializes in transforming complex news into clear, trustworthy, and engaging articles that help readers quickly understand what's happening across the United States. His reporting follows Google's E-E-A-T guidelines, emphasizing accuracy, credible sources, and practical value for readers.

More from Davil Hofile