Best Times to Visit Monterey

The best time to visit Monterey is between April and May. Spring offers warmer temperatures, fewer crowds and food festivals dishing out delectable eats, including Pebble Beach Food & Wine and the Artichoke Festival in Castroville. Summer is the most popular time to visit the Monterey Peninsula, but be forewarned: Although the sun's rays are at their strongest, Monterey can still be chilly. Located right on the ocean, the region experiences bitter winds, so bring a sweater regardless of the season. Fall is another good time to visit, but the likelihood of rain increases starting in October. Monterey's central California location subjects it to mild temperatures during the winter, with the average low reaching 48 degrees. Winter also brings lower hotel prices and the celebrity-heavy AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am event held in February, making Monterey an attractive destination year-round.

Weather in Monterey switch to Celsius/mm

Average Temperature (°F)

Average Precipitation (in)

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

April-May

April through June is when the chance of showers starts to drop and temperatures ascend, slowly climbing to the mid-60s. Although there will be fewer crowds at main attractions such as Fisherman's Wharf and the Monterey Bay Aquarium than during the summer high season, you might be met with higher room rates and fewer lodging options, due to the annual gastronomy festivals and the increasingly popular three-day California Roots Music and Arts Festival.

Key Events:

Pebble Beach Food & Wine (April)
California Roots Music and Arts Festival (May)
Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival (May)

June-September

Perpetually chilly Monterey is at its warmest during the summer, with temperatures reaching the high 60s and low 70s. Expect heavier crowds at main attractions and higher room rates for lodging options. This is an especially popular time for car enthusiasts to visit as classic collector automobiles can be seen sharing the motorways and are on display throughout the city.

Key Events:

Monterey Car Week & Concours D'Elegance (August)
Monterey Jazz Festival (September)

October-March

Crowds wane come October, bringing cheaper lodging options. Meanwhile, temperatures start their steady decline with averages hovering around the low 60s and high 50s. The coolest temperatures drop to the 40s in the morning and evenings. Despite the undesirable temperatures, some of the city's most popular events are held during these months. The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am has seen some of the country's top golfers — including Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods — along with famous tournament regulars Bill Murray and Ray Romano. The Carmel International Film Festival has also drawn actors in the past, and considering Clint Eastwood was once the mayor of the neighborhood, you never know who you could run into.

Key Events:

Carmel International Film Festival (October)
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (February)

Popular Times to Visit Monterey

Average Tourist Volume

Average Hotel Prices Search Hotels »

Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016.

Explore More of Monterey

Things to Do

See Things to Do »

Best Hotels

See Best Hotels »

Map

See Map »

Previous: Dining Next: Map

Monterey Travel Guide