Los Angeles in December: a seasonal travel plan
Los Angeles, United States. In december, the average daytime high is 18.7 °C and the night-time low is 8.7 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: December
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Los Angeles
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 18.7 °C
- Nighttime low
- 8.7 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 77.9 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 5.4
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 20.0 | 9.8 | 1.2 |
| Days 11–20 | 18.9 | 8.2 | 1.3 |
| From day 21 | 17.3 | 8.1 | 2.9 |
What this month is like
Los Angeles, United States. In december, the average daytime high is 18.7 °C and the night-time low is 8.7 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 5.4 wet days on average, with about 77.9 mm of precipitation. There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 9.9 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
There are relatively few days with precipitation. Build your plans around walks and keep an indoor activity for a wet-weather day.
What to pack
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 22.6 °C, December — 18.7 °C, next month — 17.9 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 2.6, 5.4 and 5.6.
Things to do
Los Angeles stretches between the ocean and the San Gabriel range, and the city is made of dozens of districts with centres of their own. There is little of the usual compact middle, so plan a day around one zone and allow time on the road.
Griffith Observatory
The observatory sits on the hill above Hollywood, and its terrace shows the whole basin down to the ocean. Arrive before sunset when the haze clears, and leave an hour for the trails in Griffith Park where locals run.
The Getty Center
The Getty Center rises on the hill above Sepulveda with pale pavilions, gardens and a collection of European painting. Museum and gardens cost nothing to enter, parking is charged, and a tram carries you up from the lot.
Santa Monica and Venice
The beach path runs from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach, a distance a bicycle covers in half an hour. On the way look for the Venice canals away from the boardwalk, where houses stand directly on the water.
Where to stay
Downtown
Downtown packs museums, concert halls and Grand Central Market into a few blocks. Office streets empty in the evening, yet bars and restaurants in the historic core keep going, and the metro links the district with Hollywood.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica suits anyone who wants to live by the ocean without a car: beach, pier and cafes are walkable. Rooms are expensive and parking awkward, but in the evening you simply walk to the water.
Silver Lake
Silver Lake and Los Feliz run on cafes, bookshops and small clubs, with fewer tourists and more locals. A car helps, yet the district gives a calm evening after a day of museums.
Getting to and around Los Angeles
The FlyAway bus connects LAX with Union Station, while a taxi or rideshare takes you straight to the hotel. Metro rail links Downtown with Hollywood and Santa Monica, though many sights sit outside the network. For beaches, hills and studios a rented car is easier, with freeway traffic built into the day.
Three days in Los Angeles
Downtown
Start at Grand Central Market, then see the Bradbury Building and The Broad. After lunch walk to Walt Disney Concert Hall and have dinner in Koreatown, where kitchens stay open late.
Hollywood and the hills
Walk the Walk of Fame and look at the Chinese Theatre, then climb into Griffith Park during the day. Return to the observatory for sunset and the panorama over the city.
The ocean shore
Pick up a bicycle at Santa Monica Pier and ride the path to Venice Beach. Come back to Santa Monica in the evening for dinner and the sunset from the pier.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.9 | 8.2 | 91.9 | 5.6 | 10.2 |
| February | 18.6 | 8.2 | 77.0 | 5.9 | 10.9 |
| March | 19.3 | 9.2 | 73.9 | 7.1 | 12.0 |
| April | 22.0 | 10.6 | 14.4 | 2.0 | 13.0 |
| May | 22.7 | 11.9 | 9.9 | 2.0 | 13.9 |
| June | 27.3 | 15.1 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 14.4 |
| July | 30.3 | 18.2 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 14.2 |
| August | 31.2 | 18.9 | 7.2 | 0.3 | 13.4 |
| September | 29.8 | 18.0 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 12.4 |
| October | 27.3 | 15.6 | 7.1 | 1.7 | 11.4 |
| November | 22.6 | 11.4 | 23.6 | 2.6 | 10.4 |
| December | 18.7 | 8.7 | 77.9 | 5.4 | 9.9 |
Frequently asked questions
Los Angeles: what is the temperature in December?
The average daytime high is 18.7 °C and the night-time low is 8.7 °C. Daytime is suitable for a longer walk around the city. Leave time for breaks and lunch along the way.
How many days with precipitation are there in December?
On average, there are 5.4 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 77.9 mm. There are relatively few days with precipitation. Build your plans around walks and keep an indoor activity for a wet-weather day.
What should I pack for walks in December?
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 20.0 °C; 11–20 — 18.9 °C; 21 to month-end — 17.3 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in December?
The average is 9.9 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Los Angeles worth visiting in December?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 18.7 °C and nights around 8.7 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Los Angeles on a wet day in December?
There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Los Angeles in December?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 9.9 hours.