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Best Time for California: San Francisco to Los Angeles by Highway 1
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Sweet spot: February, March, April. Computed from NASA POWER climate normals across the route's overnight towns, balancing temperature, rainfall and daylight.
💡 Good to know
- Highway 1 reopened through Regent’s Slide in January 2026, then winter debris and August wildfire operations caused new closures. Treat through access as a live prerequisite: if Caltrans closes the Big Sur segment, use a separately assessed signed inland alternative or choose another date rather than presenting the coastal road as open.
| Month | Low | High | Rain | Daylight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.6°C | 15.1°C | 86 mm | 9.9 h | |
| February | 7.7°C | 15.3°C | 82 mm | 10.7 h | |
| March | 8.5°C | 16.7°C | 63 mm | 11.7 h | |
| April | 9.0°C | 17.8°C | 30 mm | 12.9 h | |
| May | 10.7°C | 20.0°C | 13 mm | 13.9 h | |
| June | 12.6°C | 22.5°C | 3 mm | 14.4 h | |
| July | 14.6°C | 24.2°C | 2 mm | 14.2 h | |
| August | 14.9°C | 24.6°C | 1 mm | 13.4 h | |
| September | 14.6°C | 24.6°C | 3 mm | 12.2 h | |
| October | 12.7°C | 22.2°C | 22 mm | 11.1 h | |
| November | 9.9°C | 18.5°C | 39 mm | 10.1 h | |
| December | 7.7°C | 15.0°C | 90 mm | 9.6 h |