Cheap flights to California from $494

Best Time to Fly to California

When to fly to California depends on where in California you’re going. The state’s climate varies dramatically, so if you’re looking for cheap trips to California, it’s best to choose a city first and search flights during the off-season.

Peak Season:

The peak season for California vacations is the summer. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Napa Valley greet summertime travellers with warm weather and dry days.

Off Season:

Winter is the low season for LA, Anaheim, San Francisco, and wine country. However, winter in San Francisco is when the ballet and opera seasons are in full swing. Wine country is also fun to visit in fall, when the wineries are in production, and spring, when the flowers are in bloom.

When you should take a flight to California

Know this before booking California flights: If America is the land of opportunity, California is the state of chance. California showed great prospect as far as back as the 1800s, when a settler struck gold at Sutter’s Mill and California quickly became the land of wealth. The effects of the California Gold Rush were monumental and today, the coastal state continues to welcome visitors booking airline tickets to California for a greater opportunity, or for just plain fun.

Fly to California for a chance to experience some of the West Coasts’ most famous streets. The rich and luxurious charter their own California flights to Beverly Hills and shop the swank stores along Rodeo Drive. In Hollywood, see the Mann Chinese Theater and be on the lookout for celebrity A-listers.  Gold stars grace the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard, marking the achievements of Hollywood’s greatest artists.

For the outdoor traveller going to California, open parks and hiking trails at Big Sur, Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park are a nature-lover’s dream come true. Wine connoisseurs fly to California’s Sonoma and Napa Valley regions. Visitors would be remiss if they didn’t visit one of California’s beautiful beaches in Malibu or Santa Monica before boarding the California flight home.

People travelling to California are bound to be busy during their visit and the options for activities are endless. However, in the land of opportunity, what better state to take a chance in?

California climate

Due to its topographical extremes California’s weather depends on where you are. Along the coast, the climate is mostly mild. Los Angeles is high desert, and the low humidity keeps the city comfortable year-round. About 45km south of LA, Anaheim can go up into the high 20’s or low 30’s in the summer, with cool evenings. Anaheim winters are mild with little rain. San Francisco is foggy with cool winds. Summer temperatures occasionally go above 21 degrees Celsius; autumn tends to have clear skies and temperatures in the mid-20’s. Winter rarely goes below freezing. Sacramento’s summer days can reach 37 degrees Celsius, but then drop as much as 4degrees at night. The rainy season runs from late fall into spring, and winters are cold and foggy.

Getting around California

Driving is the best way to cover short distances in California, or if you enjoy long drives, for covering the entire state. If you’re booking flights to California and then planning on driving the state, make sure to carry a map as not all road signs indicate a direction, just town or city names. If you’re headed into the mountains, make sure to get antifreeze and tire chains.

Many freeways have carpool lanes called “diamond” lanes or high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the regulations regarding the use of these lanes as some of them are monitored even during non-rush hour and fines are over $270.

California has over 15 airports, and given the number of small and large commercial carriers, flights in California are fairly easy.

For a scenic trip along the coast, Amtrak’s Coast Starlight has double-decker Superliners, gourmet dining car, accommodation from first class to coach, and entertainment and games.