Photo: Wikipedia · Santa Monica, California
Where near Phoenix has 70°F weather this weekend?
If I were leaving Phoenix Friday afternoon, I'd look at Santa Monica (78°F) first.
If you’re trying to help plan a trip around sit-outside terrace weather, this guide is for you. It’s built from the weekend outlook for 2026-08-22 – 2026-08-23 — current recommendations, not a recycled list of famous places that ignore the forecast.
The goal isn’t another static travel guide. It’s to discover hidden gems and familiar favorites only when the outlook cooperates. If a town doesn’t match patio weather for 2026-08-22 – 2026-08-23, it doesn’t make the cut — full stop.
Whether you’re chasing sit-outside terrace weather or simply trying to avoid weather that keeps you indoors, treat this as a working shortlist for 2026-08-22 – 2026-08-23. Save a favorite, compare two towns, then build the trip once the weather story clicks.
Where near Phoenix has 70°F weather this weekend?
Weekend strip
Santa Monica 78°F · Santa Barbara 79°F · Santa Maria 76°F · Hayward 77°F · Redwood City 76°F
Weekend comparison
| Destination | High | Rain | Match | Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica, California | 78°F | 0.05" | 95% | ~371 mi drive |
| Santa Barbara, California | 79°F | 0.00" | 92% | ~442 mi |
| Santa Maria, California | 76°F | 0.10" | 98% | ~489 mi |
| Hayward, California | 77°F | 0.05" | 97% | ~633 mi |
| Redwood City, California | 76°F | 0.07" | 98% | ~636 mi |
Weekend shortlist
1. Santa Monica, California
Rank 1 isn’t a trophy — it’s a forecast fit. Santa Monica (California) lands near 78°F with a dry outlook with little to no rain, which is exactly the band people want for sit-outside terrace weather.
What makes Santa Monica useful isn’t hype; it’s timing. For 2026-08-22 – 2026-08-23, it reads like a place where you can help plan a short getaway around sit-outside terrace weather and still have a backup café if a cloud shows up.
Bottom line for Santa Monica: it’s on this list because it supports current recommendations for sit-outside terrace weather, not because it always trends on social. That’s the difference between a real weather guide and a postcard.
Where to eat
2. Santa Barbara, California
Photo: Wikipedia · Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara in California is one of the clearer matches for patio weather on this weekend’s board — a 79°F high and 66°F low with a dry outlook with little to no rain.
What makes Santa Barbara useful isn’t hype; it’s timing. For 2026-08-22 – 2026-08-23, it reads like a place where you can help plan a short getaway around sit-outside terrace weather and still have a backup café if a cloud shows up.
Bottom line for Santa Barbara: it’s on this list because it supports current recommendations for sit-outside terrace weather, not because it always trends on social. That’s the difference between a real weather guide and a postcard.
Where to eat
3. Santa Maria, California
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Santa Maria in California is one of the clearer matches for patio weather on this weekend’s board — a 76°F high and 57°F low with only light rain on the books (~0.10 in).
Call it a hidden gem or a familiar favorite — either way, the point is the outlook. Travelers trying to find your perfect weather for 2026-08-22 – 2026-08-23 should shortlist Santa Maria before the hotter or wetter options crowd the tab.
Use it as a concrete recommendation: fly or drive for patio weather, keep an eye on updates, and treat 76°F as your planning anchor — not a vague “nice weather somewhere.”
Where to eat
4. Hayward, California
Photo: Wikipedia · Hayward, California
77°F high · 0.05" rain · ~633 mi
5. Redwood City, California
Photo: Wikipedia · Redwood City, California
76°F high · 0.07" rain · ~636 mi
What to pack
Packing checklist8
- Light jacket or cardigan — Evenings and air-conditioned spaces
- Sandals / flip-flops — Easy footwear for heat and water edges
- Shorts / breathable bottoms — Stay cool when highs push into the 80s+
- Sunscreen (SPF 30+) — High daytime heat and sun exposure
- Closed-toe walking shoes — Better for cool temps and city miles
- Electrolyte packets — Heat + dry air increase dehydration risk
- Moisture-wicking shirts — Stay cooler when humidity is high
- Sun hat / cap — Shade for face and neck in strong sun
Keep planning
Updated August 20, 2026. Not a substitute for local advisories.