United States · 37°46′N 122°25′W
San Francisco and Big Sur
Hills, fog, food and a famous coast road.
- Good for
- Beach, Big city, Food, Nightlife, Nature, Adventure, Doing nothing
- Rough daily spend
- around $210 per person mid-range, not counting getting there (our estimate; it varies a lot)
- Mildest months
- June, July, August, September and October
Best time to visit San Francisco and Big Sur
Warmest in September (around 21° by day), coolest in January (14° by day, 8° at night). June has the fewest wet days (0). For walking around in comfortable weather, aim for June, July, August, September and October.
| Month | High | Low | Wet days | Rain | Sun / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14° | 8° | 11 | 127 mm | 6.9 h |
| Feb | 15° | 8° | 8 | 96 mm | 8.6 h |
| Mar | 15° | 9° | 11 | 103 mm | 9.3 h |
| Apr | 16° | 10° | 5 | 32 mm | 11.3 h |
| May | 17° | 11° | 2 | 17 mm | 12.8 h |
| Jun | 19° | 13° | 0 | 1 mm | 13.3 h |
| Jul | 19° | 13° | 0 | 0 mm | 12.9 h |
| Aug | 20° | 14° | 0 | 1 mm | 12.2 h |
| Sep | 21° | 14° | 1 | 4 mm | 11.4 h |
| Oct | 20° | 13° | 3 | 32 mm | 9.7 h |
| Nov | 16° | 10° | 7 | 64 mm | 8.3 h |
| Dec | 14° | 8° | 10 | 133 mm | 6.7 h |
Averages for 2016–2025 from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (CC BY 4.0), for the point at 37°46′N 122°25′W. Wet day = 1 mm or more. Highlighted months are mild (18–27° highs) and fairly dry.
What to pack for San Francisco and Big Sur
For four nights, based on the weather above. Every trip also needs the basics: documents, chargers, toiletries and any medication.
September
- Nothing extra
January
- Light jumper
- Waterproof jacket
- Compact umbrella
Either way
- 5 × underwear
- 5 × socks
- 4 × tops
- 2 × trousers or jeans
- Something to sleep in
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Light jacket
- Small cross-body bag
- Transit card or app set up
Going with a group? The planner builds a shared list where each person ticks their own things and claims the shared ones.
Going with friends?
One link for the group: find the days you’re all free, vote on what to do, get a day-by-day route and a shared packing list. No sign-up.