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What to pack for San Diego is 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 the weather, how we dress, and what you might need while on vacation here.

This isn’t about to be a photo montage of stuff in my closet or choreographed photoshoots near the beach. I’m not a fashion influencer. I’m a San Diego mom and travel advisor who helps people plan actual trips to my city — with a much deeper understanding of what you actually need to bring.

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 a welcome respite from extreme weather elsewhere in the country. 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 the skies are usually mostly sunny through April and into the first few weeks of May.

We have a seasonal event along the coast called “May Gray” which means that it’s as the name implies… cloudy skies that often, but not always, clear in the afternoon. This usually starts in mid-May. It’s not “cold,” though we San Diegans find it annoying and might wear jeans and UGG boots during this timeframe.

Summer (June, July, August)

May Gray transitions to June Gloom in most cases. It should be perfect beach weather by the end of June, but unfortunately, there were clouds on the 4th of July this year. It’s not uncommon for June Gloom to bleed into the first few weeks of July.

However, the weather in July and August is usually 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 regarding 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, thanks to daylight savings. 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

Basically, if you use Vuori, Lululemon, and Alo Yoga (with some jeans thrown in) as your style guides for men and women, you’ve nailed our looks in any season.

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 to wear 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, so 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 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, or 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 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 100 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 nightlife. If sticking to the more casual spots, you can leave these at home, as flip-flops will be fine.

Swimwear and Cover-Ups

Using the beach year-round in San Diego is possible, 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 to participate in water sports, you might also want to look for 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 for going tide pooling in winter (otherwise, sneakers that can get dirty are fine) and for kayaking or snorkeling.

Day-To-Night Dress

If you have one, a casual, easy-to-pack maxi or day-to-night dress will go a long way in San Diego. 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 requires jeans (or casual pants) and shorts for men, women, and kids.

More Warmth in Late Fall, Winter, and Early Spring

Yes, bring 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 casual and comfortable things from your wardrobe for sightseeing, beach, and dining out. Unless you attend 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. But they’re also helpful when you are kayaking or playing beach volleyball.

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, an extra layer of sun protection on sunny days. Many versions of packable wide-brim hats fit in with our 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. They make a good sports sunscreen, too.

Smartphone Beach Protection

Cell phones overheat at the beach here all the time. It happens even when it’s not that hot. They’re unusable when they overheat. Just keep this in mind while you’re at the beach, hiking, or in a sunny place with your phone out. It happens in cars, too.

I have a couple of other tips.

  • If you’re not used to bringing your phone to the beach, sand is sneaky and can wreak havoc on your buttons, case, plug jack, and screen protectors.
  • Our seagulls, especially in the La Jolla Cove area, are incredibly aggressive. They are used to tourists. Never put your cell phone in a plastic or paper bag. They are thieves and may nab it and fly away thinking that your lunch is inside. This happens all the time!

We’ve tried a bunch of thermal phone protectors, but they haven’t worked well. If you have one, bring it. A Ziploc back is handy, too, for sand protection when you’re not using your phone.)

Kids’ Beach Toys (and Maybe Some Fun for You)

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.

Beach Chairs

Many beachfront hotels will provide beach chairs for free or to rent. If you think you’ll need them and are within driving distance of San Diego, I’d bring a few. Toss in an umbrella or some shade while you’re at it.

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

Waterproof Travel Blanket

Waterproof travel blankets are usually not as cozy as regular travel blankets, but they 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.

Reusable Water Bottle

A good collapsible water bottle that 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.

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 overly 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:

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 indoor 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 suggestions on what to pack for San Diego in the comments below.

Safe travels!