Best Weather Within Driving Distance of San Diego — Santa Monica

Santa Monica (76°F) and Santa Barbara (77°F) look like strong fits for 70–75°F.

By Travel With YouGee

Today through Sunday

Santa Monica, California

°F · Live via Google Weather

Today

71°F/ 65°F

Sunny

0% chance ·

Thu

71°F/ 64°F

Sunny

0% chance ·

Fri

71°F/ 64°F

Sunny

0% chance ·

Sat

70°F/ 65°F

Mostly sunny

0% chance · 0.00 in

Sun

70°F/ 65°F

Light rain

40% chance · 0.12 in

Santa Monica, California Photo: Wikipedia · Santa Monica, California

2026-08-22 – 2026-08-23 doesn't have to be a wash. Here's a clearer weather Plan B.

The question

Where near San Diego has 70°F weather this weekend?

Weekend comparison

DestinationHighRainMatchTravel
Santa Monica, California76°F0.03"99%~118 mi drive
Santa Barbara, California77°F0.00"96%~188 mi drive
Malibu, California78°F0.00"95%~130 mi drive

Where to go

1. Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica in California is one of the clearer matches for hiking weather on this weekend’s board — a 76°F high and 67°F low with a dry outlook with little to no rain.

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 Monica before the hotter or wetter options crowd the tab.

Use it as a concrete recommendation: fly or drive for hiking weather, keep an eye on updates, and treat 76°F as your planning anchor — not a vague “nice weather somewhere.”

Things to do

2. Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara, California Photo: Wikipedia · Santa Barbara, California

If you’re scanning for current recommendations, put Santa Barbara near the top of the list: weekend air around 77°F / 62°F, plus a dry outlook with little to no rain.

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 Barbara before the hotter or wetter options crowd the tab.

Use it as a concrete recommendation: fly or drive for hiking weather, keep an eye on updates, and treat 77°F as your planning anchor — not a vague “nice weather somewhere.”

Things to do

3. Malibu, California

Malibu, California Photo: Wikipedia · Malibu, California

Malibu in California is one of the clearer matches for hiking weather on this weekend’s board — a 78°F high and 65°F low with a dry outlook with little to no rain.

What makes Malibu 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 trail-friendly highs and still have a backup café if a cloud shows up.

Bottom line for Malibu: it’s on this list because it supports current recommendations for trail-friendly highs, not because it always trends on social. That’s the difference between a real weather guide and a postcard.

Things to do

What to pack

Packing checklist8
  • Closed-toe walking shoes — Better for cool temps and city miles
  • 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+
  • Daypack — Water, layers, and snacks on trails
  • Sunscreen (SPF 30+) — High daytime heat and sun exposure
  • Electrolyte packets — Heat + dry air increase dehydration risk
  • Moisture-wicking shirts — Stay cooler when humidity is high

Bottom line

Start with Santa Monica (76°F). Compare the rest, then build the trip.

Keep planning


Updated August 17, 2026. Not a substitute for local advisories.

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