What to pack for San Diegois actually a fairly easy list as our style is very casual. The goal of this post is to help you decide what exactly deserves valuable suitcase space based on weather, how we dress, and what you might need while on vacation here.
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Packing for San Diego Weather
The average temperature in San Diego is an enviable 70° F, which makes our city a popular destination for all types of travelers year-round. San Diego also does not receive much rain, but most of the rain we do get falls between November and March.
Despite our Mediterranean climate, we have a few very mild “seasons” to be aware of. The best time of year to visit San Diego is really any time, but we’ll go over each season so that you know what to pack.
Winter (December, January, February)
San Diego weather typically averages in the high 60s on the warm side and low 50s on the cool side. There will be days with blue skies, warmer temperatures, and sunshine that mirrors summer. Our winter climate is awelcome respite from extreme weather. Even if it is quite warm during the day, the air feels crisp and cooler in the evening. Layering is advised but shorts are still worn. (It’s a sunny January day as I type this and my daughter went to school in shorts and a T-shirt).
Spring (March, April, May)
Weather in spring averages in the high 60s on the warm side and high 50s on the cool side, but there will be lovely days in the 70s. Spring Break is huge in San Diego and skies are usually mostly sunny through April and into the first few weeks of May. We have a seasonal event along the coast that we call “May Gray” which means that it’s as the name implies… cloudy skies that often, but not always, clear in the afternoon. This starts usually in mid-May. It’s not “cold” though we San Diegans find it annoying and might put on jeans and UGG boots.
Summer (June, July, August)
May Gray transitions to June Gloom, in most cases. By the end of June, it should be perfect beach weather but, unfortunately, there were clouds on the 4th of July this year. Weather in July and August weather is awesome. The sun is out and the days are long. Average high temperatures are in the high 70s and lows average high 60s. There are usually many days in the 80s. What to wear in San Diego during these months is mostly beachwear, shorts, short sleeves and sweaters in the evenings.
Fall (September, October, November)
If it’s possible to plan a San Diego vacation between mid-September and mid-October, San Diego’s shoulder season is a dream when it comes to weather, crowds, and pricing. The odds of it being warm are quite high in fact recently some of our hottest days (well into the 90s) have been during this time frame. The weather starts to turn chillier around Halloween when the time changes. Average high temperatures are in the mid-70s and average low temperatures are in the low 60s.
See also: Top 10 Things to Do in San Diego
What to Wear in San Diego
San Diego style is fitting for a casual beach town. During the day, along the beaches especially, you’ll find people of all ages wearing shorts, T-shirts, beachwear, and athleisure like Lululemon.
There aren’t many places these days where men need towear more than a nice pair of jeans and a collared shirt when it comes to dining out. Casual dresses that can take you from day to night are common for women, as are nice jeans and/or skirts and T-shirts (bring a wrap or jacket during any season). Staple pieces that define what to wear in San Diego include:
- Swimwear and cover-ups
- Nice jeans
- T-shirts
- Sweaters and sweatshirts
- Wraps and jackets
- Casual dresses
- Collared shirts
- Flip flops
- Sneakers or comfortable shoes for sightseeing
- Activewear (nice athleisure during the day is very common everywhere)
- Hats
- Sunglasses
- UGG boots and puffer jackets in the winter
I receive lots of emails asking for visuals, which is why I’ve put together these simple what to pack for San Diego lookbooks.
Women’s Lookbook:
Men’s Lookbook:
If you plan on hitting some of the nicer clubs in Downtown San Diego, common dress codes include no open-toed shoes, athletic shoes, hats, T-shirts (unless you’re wearing a sports coat of similar over it) or baggy jeans for men.
Women have a lot more flexibility, but a good rule of thumb is no baggy T-shirts, ball caps, casual athletic shoes. Nice jeans and a nice shirt will do if accessorized well, as will a simple black dress. Be mindful that you’ll likely walk several blocks between clubs if wearing high heels.
San Diego is all about feeling good, so simply be comfortable in what you already have and don’t stress about it.
San Diego Packing List for Clothes and Shoes
Now that you know what to wear in San Diego, don’t forget to put these staples in your suitcase.
Light Jacket or Wrap
Even in summer, it’s important to layer as evenings can get chilly.
Beach Flip-flops
Pack ones that you are okay with getting sandy. Truthfully, you’ll be able to most likely wear these out and about elsewhere, if they’re comfortable.
Good Walking Shoes
You will walk quite a bit while sightseeing in San Diego. The San Diego Zoo alone is 40 acres in size and it’s a drag when blisters slow you down (I carry Compeed blister cushions just in case).
Closed-toed Shoes (Men) or Nicer Sandals (Women)
You’ll want these for nicer restaurants and night life. If sticking to the more casual spots, you can leave these at home as flip-flops will be fine.
Swimwear and Cover-ups
It is possible to use the beach year-round in San Diego so do not forget swimwear. For women, I recommend a cover-up like a caftan or T-shirt dress that you can feel comfortable in when walking from the beach straight to casual dining. Boys and men here tend to wear longer boardshorts in the water (and around town).
UV Shirts for the Beach and Pool
Our beaches do not have shade. Whether it’s foggy or sunny, you’ll see people of all ages wearing UV shirts over their swimwear for additional sun protection. This is especially important for kids. If planning on participating in water sports, you might also want to look into a pair of UV tights or cropped UV pants.
Water Shoes
Toss in water shoes only if you have them and space in the suitcase. They’re helpful forgoing tide pooling in winter (otherwise, sneakers that can get dirty are fine) and for kayaking or snorkeling.
Day-to-Night Dress
A casual, easy-to-pack, maxi or day-to-night dress will go a long way in San Diego if you have one. Otherwise, no need to buy one.
Nice Jeans and a Button-Down Shirt (Men)
As mentioned earlier, this is a pretty standard evening uniform for men at some of our nicer restaurants.
Jeans and Shorts
Weather in any season is going to require both jeans (or casual pants) and shorts for men, women, and kids.
More Warmth in Late Fall, Winter, and Early Spring
Yes, bring the shorts and T-shirts, but you will need a sweater or two and long pants more during these months than during the remainder of the year. A light raincoat would also be advisable.
Again, simply pull things that are casual and comfortable from your wardrobe for sightseeing, beach, and dining out. Unless you are attending a special event, you will not need anything fancy.
Gear for the Sun, Beach,and Pools
Swimwear is covered above, but if you’re wondering what to pack for San Diego that might help you at the beach, pool or in the sunshine, here’s what else you might need.
Sunglasses
Do not forget your sunglasses! You will wear them constantly in any season. I’ve recently become a fan of polarized lenses because I can see so much better around town with them.
Hats
You’ll want a hat for sightseeing and a hat for the beach. It’s simply easier on the eyes to wear one and of course anextra layer of sun protection on sunny days. There are many versions of packable wide brim hats that fit in with San Diego style.
Sunscreen
Bring SPF for your face, lips, and body and do not forget to reapply it throughout the day. (Tip: If daily sunscreen feels greasy on you, my dermatologist recommended Elta UV Clear SPF 46 and I love it. The make a good sports sunscreen, too.)
Waterproof camera
I love having a GoPro camera for beach photos. I put it on a 3-way arm and bring it kayaking, to the tide pools, in the ocean, etc. Domes are fun accessories because they’ll allow you to get over water and underwater photos (otherwise called split shots) that are cool even in hotel pools.
Smartphone Beach Protection
This is more of a nice-to-have versus a necessity, but I might suggest bringing a waterproof cover for beach use, even if you just hang out on the sand. Little grains can wreak havoc on your smartphone buttons and headphone jacks (been there) and wedge themselves into cases and other crevices. Even a Ziploc bag will help.
Also, note that our seagulls are used to tourists and can be a little aggressive. Never put your cell phone in a plastic or paper bag, because they are thieves and may just nab it and fly away thinking that your lunch is inside.
Kids’ Beach Toys
Many beachfront hotels will have sand toys available for kids. But, clever companies have created collapsible pails, waterproof playing cards, and other fun things to keep them entertained while on the sand.
Travel Beach Tent
It’s likely that you’re going to want shade at the beach. I always do. Umbrellas can be bulky so consider bringing a portable beach tent.
Beach Chairs
Many beachfront hotels will provide beach chairs. If you think you’ll need them and are within driving distance of San Diego, I’d bring a few.
Wetsuits
If driving, toss these in the car to wear in winter months when ocean temperatures drop. Otherwise, they’re easy to rent around town, even for kids.
Miscellaneous Nice-to-Haves
Travel Blanket
In any season, a warm travel blanketis helpful during Padres baseball games, for watching sunsets, listening to outdoor concerts and much more in San Diego.
Waterproof Travel Blanket
Waterproof travel blanketsare usually not as cozy as regular travel blankets but they’ll serve an entirely different purpose. Not only are they nice to have at the beach, but our grassy areas are often damp from irrigation or dew. It’s nice to have one to sit on in our various parks when the kids want to kick a ball around or fly a kite or you’d like to have a picnic.
Light Water Bottles
A goodcollapsible water bottlethat doesn’t leak (I find with these you get what you pay for) is helpful to fill up and take to the beach, on hikes or out for general sightseeing.
Portable Chargers
Don’t let a dying smartphone slow you down. I carry a Jackery with built-in cables because I often remember the charger but not the cable.
Binoculars
While binoculars are handy when on a whale watching tour, they’re useful sometimes on land. It’s possible to spy whales and dolphins from places like Cabrillo National Monument and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve during seasonal migrations. There are raptors and other birds to see during hikes.
Pocket Kites
Small pocket kites can certainly entertain kids in a variety of places around town. You can (carefully) fly small kites in Ellen Browning Scripps Park and larger kites around Mission Bay and Seaport Village. People fly kites on the beach, too.
You can also check my lists of best beach games and toys and best beach accessories.
What NOT to Pack for San Diego
Leave the suit at home, unless attending a wedding or event that requires one. While our San Diego outfits here are casual, I would call them fashionably casual.
Leave the baggy sweatpants behind closed doors. Fur is also not common (nor is it widely accepted) unless it’s faux fur.
Rent Beach and Baby Gear Instead of Packing It
Yes, you absolutely can rent beach and baby gear in San Diego and even have it delivered to your hotel or vacation rental in some cases.
Where you do this depends on what part of town you’re staying in and what you need. The most common rentals are surfboards, SUP boards, wetsuits, beach chairs, umbrellas, and baby gear. The latter can be delivered, and you’ll be amazed by the selection.
A few options include:
- Surf Diva (surfboards, SUP, beach gear)
- Mission Beach Surf Rentals (beach chairs, bikes, umbrellas, more)
- Beach Fire Guy(beach bonfires set up for you)
- Del Mar Surf Rentals (open during summer only for boogie boards, surfboards, beach gear)
- Toddlers Travels (Baby gear – mention that lajollamom.com sent you)
Before renting, be sure to ask your hotel what they can provide. You might be surprised by how much baby gear San Diego family hotels have (bathtubs, bottle warmers, high chairs, etc.) that isn’t mentioned on their websites. Ask if they have proper beach towels, too. Otherwise, you might want to bring or rent some.
To give you an idea, Toddlers Travels says that many people rent full-sized cribs, if the hotel only offers Pack n’ Plays. They also commonly rent playpens, car seats, strollers, high chairs, booster seats, boxes of mixed toys for inside play, beach toys, pool toys, and beach gear.
And, do not forget that you can save money on tickets to the most popular San Diego attractions.
See also: How to Save Money in San Diego
Feel free to ask any questions. Please also add your what to pack for San Diego suggestions in the comments below.
Safe travels!
