Los Angeles in August: What to Expect

Los Angeles in August is warm, hazy, and great for the beach. Here's what visiting Los Angeles in August looks like for weather, crowds, and events.

Los Angeles in August is peak Southern California summer. The beaches are in full use, the outdoor dining scene is at its most active, and the city hums along at a pace that feels both busy and relaxed simultaneously. It's one of the best months to be there if the beach and outdoor lifestyle are part of your plan.

The flip side: traffic is heavier than usual, particularly around beach communities, and hotel prices in Santa Monica and Venice are at their annual peak.

Weather

Average highs in August sit around 27 to 30 degrees in the coastal areas and 33 to 36 degrees in the inland basin around Downtown and the San Fernando Valley. "June Gloom," the morning marine layer that keeps coastal temperatures mild in early summer, typically burns off by August, giving clearer days with longer sunshine.

The Santa Ana winds occasionally arrive in late August, bringing dry desert air from the east and pushing temperatures above 38 degrees for short periods.

Crowds and Prices

Venice Beach, Santa Monica, and Malibu are at their most crowded in August. The Venice Boardwalk is chaotic and wonderful in equal measure. Santa Monica Pier is busy from noon onwards.

For the major cultural sites, the Getty Center requires timed arrival reservations (free, but mandatory), and LACMA is popular but manageable with advance ticket purchase. The Griffith Observatory car park fills by 10 AM on weekends; take the DASH Observatory bus from Los Feliz.

What's On

The LA County Fair at Fairplex in Pomona runs from late August through September, a large traditional county fair with food, livestock, rides, and concerts. The Hollywood Bowl summer concert season runs through August with a full programme of concerts; midweek shows are easier to ticket than weekends.

One Thing to Watch

Traffic in LA in August, particularly on summer Friday afternoons, is exceptional even by LA standards. The I-10 westbound from Downtown to Santa Monica and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) through Malibu are both significantly slower than weekday mornings suggest. If you're planning beach days or airport transfers on a Friday afternoon, build in at least an extra 45 minutes.