Yes, and it may be the best time. October and November in Los Angeles bring warm, dry days without August heat, a noticeable drop in visitor numbers after Labor Day, and a cultural calendar that outperforms summer: Día de los Muertos across three neighborhoods, postseason baseball at Dodger Stadium, and the first holiday lights going up before Thanksgiving.
Starline Tours has been driving visitors through this city since 1935, from our kiosk in front of the Dolby Theatre at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Ninety-one years and more than 2 million guests later, autumn is the season our guides recommend to friends. This is what the city looks like between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, and how to see it without a car or a complicated plan.
What Is The Weather Like In Los Angeles In October And November?
Warm and dry. NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals for downtown Los Angeles put October at an average high near 79°F with lows around 60°F and under an inch of rain. November eases to highs near 73°F and lows near 53°F. Coastal mornings can start grey and clear by midday.
In practice, this is the most comfortable stretch of the year to be outside for hours. Summer highs push visitors indoors by mid-afternoon. October does not. Evenings turn cool once the sun drops, particularly up in the Hollywood Hills, so a light layer matters more than it does in July.
The Crowds Clear Out Right As The City Gets Interesting
Peak summer travel ends after Labor Day, and the holiday rush does not begin until late November. That leaves a real gap. Hollywood Boulevard, the TCL Chinese Theatre forecourt and the Santa Monica Pier all feel different in mid-October than they do in mid-July.
Locals treat fall as their season for this reason. The city belongs to the people who live in it again, which changes how a visit actually feels. You will hear more conversations in Spanish on Olvera Street, see more neighborhood crowds at the Original Farmers Market, and find restaurant tables available on a Friday.
Día de los Muertos Is LA’s Biggest Fall Cultural Event
Los Angeles holds one of the largest Day of the Dead celebrations outside Mexico, and it spreads across the city from late October into the first days of November. In 2026, Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosts its 27th annual celebration on Saturday, October 24, with more than 100 community altars, Aztec ritual dancers, and a ceremonial procession through the grounds where many of Old Hollywood’s names are buried.
Downtown runs its own version. Olvera Street, the city’s oldest district, holds a nine-day festival from October 25 through November 2 with a nightly procession, and Gloria Molina Grand Park stages a free week-long exhibition of community ofrendas across the same dates. All three sit on our Hop-On Hop-Off Downtown Purple Route, which stops at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Santa Monica Blvd and again at Olvera Street and Union Station. One pass, three celebrations, no parking involved.
October Belongs To Baseball, November To The First Lights
If the Dodgers are playing into October, the city knows it. Bars fill, blue jerseys appear everywhere, and Chavez Ravine becomes the loudest place in Southern California. Dodger Stadium sits on our Purple Route, and we run a dedicated round-trip shuttle on home game days from Hollywood and Downtown, which our full shuttle guide breaks down in detail.
By late November the season turns. Rodeo Drive goes up in lights, The Grove raises its 100-foot tree, and our Holiday Lights and City Sights tour opens November 21 and runs through December 27, 2026. A Thanksgiving-week trip catches both versions of the city at once.
Fall Light Is The Real Reason To Book An Evening Tour
Sunset arrives earlier, so the entire golden hour and city-lights come on sooner, without pushing your evening too late. Our Hollywood Night Tour Starring Griffith Observatory departs at 7 PM in summer and shifts to 5 PM in winter, which means an autumn visit gets you dusk over Hollywood Boulevard and the full LA basin lit up without waiting until nearly bedtime.
The route runs the Walk of Fame past the Pantages Theatre, Netflix Studios and Amoeba Music, then climbs to the Observatory for a 30-minute stop overlooking the skyline, the Hollywood Hills and the Sign. One scheduling note: the Griffith Observatory museum is closed Mondays year-round.
What To Book First, And What To Bring
Reserve online before you arrive. Buying ahead is faster and cheaper than the terminal, and we recommend confirming at least 24 hours out in any season. Late November dates fill first, since Holiday Lights and Thanksgiving travel land in the same week.
A few practical notes:
- Pack the same way we advise all year: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water bottle, camera. Add an evening layer for fall. Full list on our FAQ page.
- Free cancellation applies up to 48 hours before Celebrity Homes and Holiday Lights departures.
- Wheelchair assistance is available with 24 hours notice, one per bus. See our accessibility page.
- Driving? Tour guests get two hours for $3 with validation at the Ovation Hollywood garage. Details on our parking page.
- Skipping the car entirely is easier than most visitors expect, as our No-Car Guide to LA lays out.
How To Plan a Fall Trip Around Starline’s Routes
Fall is a short window, and it is the one worth catching. Browse all tours or check the route map to see which neighborhoods you want. The two-hour Celebrity Homes Tour runs daily in English or Spanish, and the full-day City and Beach Tour covers Beverly Hills, the Santa Monica Pier and Griffith Observatory in one 9:30 AM departure. Call (323) 463-3333 for current times, which change with the season, or request a quote for a private tour from 2 to 7 hours. Already booked? Manage your booking or download the app for narration in nine languages.
FAQ Section:
How much do Starline tours cost in the fall?
Prices are the same year-round. The two-hour Celebrity Homes Tour and the Hollywood Night Tour are each $50, and the full-day Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, LA City and Beach Tour is $70. Hop-On Hop-Off starts at $48 for the Hollywood Red Route, $52 for a One Day Classic, $65 for two days and $77 for three. Self-guided audio walking tours are $10, or $20 for the all-access pass. Private tours start at $530.
What is the best month to visit Los Angeles?
October is hard to beat. NOAA normals show average highs near 79°F with under an inch of rain, summer crowds have gone, and the Día de los Muertos celebrations at Hollywood Forever, Olvera Street and Grand Park run in the final week of the month. November brings cooler weather and the start of holiday lights.
What time does the Hollywood Night Tour depart in the fall?
Departure is 5 PM in winter and 7 PM in summer, so autumn visitors catch the earlier slot as the season turns. The tour runs 1.5 to 2 hours with a 30-minute photo stop at Griffith Observatory. Check in at the Starline Visitor Center inside Ovation Hollywood, Suite #203. Call (323) 463-3333 to confirm your date.
Can I get to Día de los Muertos events without a car?
Yes. Our Downtown Purple Route stops at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Santa Monica Blvd and at Olvera Street and Union Station, the two largest celebration sites. Hop-On Hop-Off runs daily with narration in nine languages. Event tickets are handled separately by each venue.
How many days do I need in Los Angeles?
A two-day Hop-On Hop-Off pass covers Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the beaches at a relaxed pace, which is what we most often recommend. Add the Celebrity Homes Tour or the evening Griffith Observatory tour and three days handle the city comfortably without driving.
Where do Starline tours depart from?
Two locations, so check your booking. Celebrity Homes and Holiday Lights leave from the Starline kiosk in front of the Dolby Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. The Night Tour and full-day City and Beach Tour check in at the Starline Visitor Center inside Ovation Hollywood, Suite #203, second floor.
