What to Wear in San Francisco in October

So you’re packing for your upcoming San Fran trip? We’ve got you covered on all of the outfit essentials you’ll need to properly handle the Fall weather! Here, we will cover 3 main outfit tips that will comfortably get you through October in SF.

First off, let’s go over what you can expect with the weather. Starting in September and carrying over to October, San Fran offers warm days and cool nights. On a typical day, you can expect to have an average high of 70° F and an average low of 55° F. This is great news for you, since this means you’re getting the best of both worlds when it comes to weather! However, since the weather changes as the day goes on, it’s important to plan accordingly. So, let’s go through the top 3 tips to consider when packing.

1. Layers are your friend!

During the day, feel free to bust out those shorts and sundresses! The weather is just warm enough for you to soak up some sun and wear some light clothing while doing it. However, as mentioned before, the later it gets, the more cool it gets. This is where layers will become your best friend.

If you’re going to be walking, we suggest bringing along a light jacket that you can easily tie around your waist and use as an accessory during the day and a necessity at night. Ladies, it might be a good idea to wear a dress that might also look cute with leggings underneath so that you can throw some on if you get too cold later in the night. Overall, just be sure to bring along some extra layers of clothing so that you don’t have to cut your city exploring short due to the chilly weather.

Jacket tied around waist
Jacket tied around waist

2. Active wear is a must

SF is filled with more than just city life. You can easily spend hours doing hikes, bike rides, runs, and so much more. Since your time in SF will consist of a lot of active exploring, it’s always important to pack active wear/workout clothes to prep for these adventures. If possible, you can even pack a spare in your day pack that you take with you throughout the day in case you run into an unexpected adventure that you want to embark on! This one is less specific to October, and is more of a year round tip, but one that should always be reminded of!

workout clothes
workout clothes

3. Backup shoes are a good idea

The same goes for shoes as it does for clothes. It’s a perfect time of the year to wear those sandals and open toed shoes. However, you’re going to want to swap those out for comfortable, close toed shoes as soon as evening hits. This is harder to carry around if you aren’t taking a vehicle or carrying a day pack. If that’s the case, it is completely okay to wear them from the beginning. If possible, though, we recommend a slight outfit/shoe change when the sun begins to set!

Changing shoes
Changing shoes

We hope this helps in your packing for this upcoming trip! October offers you a warm sun and a cool moon, which means a packing list with a variety of clothes fit for both conditions is best. As long as you consider these 3 tips, you should be set! Happy packing and happy Fall!