Los Angeles · Month comparison
March vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs March at #3. Coachella, perfect weather, and golden afternoon light — the most photographed LA month.
March
#3 of 12 months
Best match
Spring arrives properly — warm days, green hills, and the best hiking conditions of the year.
- ↑March is arguably the best month for outdoor LA. The hills are green from winter rains, wildflowers bloom in the Santa Monica Mountains (Malibu Creek State Park, Point Mugu), and temperatures sit at the ideal 21–23°C range — warm enough for beach walks, cool enough for long hikes. The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, 90 minutes northeast, typically peaks in late March and early April.
- ↑Coachella-adjacent energy begins building by mid-March with festival preparations and a surge of creative events across the city. The art and music programming at spaces like The Broad, Hammer Museum, and various pop-ups picks up noticeably.
April
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Coachella, perfect weather, and golden afternoon light — the most photographed LA month.
- ↑Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (two weekends in mid-April, approximately 125,000 attendees per weekend) sends a wave of creative energy through LA before, during, and after the event. Even without attending, the city's pool parties, brand activations, and ancillary events are open and atmospheric. The drive out on I-10 to Indio passes through the windmill fields at Palm Springs — worth the three-hour round trip.
- ↑April delivers the best average weather of the entire year — 23°C highs, near-zero rainfall, 9+ hours of daily sunshine, and a dry clarity that makes every view across the city crisp. Sunsets over the Pacific from the Palisades or Point Dume are extraordinary.
| Factor | March | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 9 |
| Value score | 7 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 6 |
| Events score | 7 | 9 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 21.5°C | 23.2°C |
| Monthly rain | 51mm | 20mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8.4hrs | 9.1hrs |
March trade-offs
- ↓Hotels in beachside areas (Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu) start rising toward their moderate-season pricing. Expect $250–$320/night for mid-range Westside properties, up from $180–$220 in January.
- ↓Spring break crowds hit Universal Studios and Disneyland hard — waits of 90–120 minutes for major rides are routine in the third week of March. If theme parks are on the itinerary, go in early March or late April.
April trade-offs
- ↓Coachella weekends drive hotel and Airbnb prices up across Greater LA — not just in Palm Springs. West Hollywood and Silver Lake properties can spike 20–30% on Coachella festival weekends. Book accommodation 2–3 months ahead.
- ↓Tourism builds noticeably through April. The Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Griffith Observatory car parks fill by 10am on weekends. Arrive at popular spots early or use the Dodger Stadium Express and other transit options.
Scores compare months within Los Angeles. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →