Visiting Arizona and LA in August..

[Anonymous]

We are trying to visit Arizona and LA in August,. trying to get back to VA before school starts on August 19th.
So we trying to go there between August 1st and August 10th on our camper. Its the heat too much? I am used to not having AC, since I grew up without, but of course my kids will cry and say they want AC and all... will they be okay? Did anyone ever go to visit the west cost in August?

[Anonymous]

Very different places! If you are within 3 miles of the coast in LA you probably won't even need air conditioning. Arizona will be a blazing hot hellscape.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would you want to go to AZ in August? I say this as someone who lives in Arizona. We GTFO as much as we can in July/August. It could be manageable if you go to Flagstaff or other higher areas but it's still going to be warm during the day 80/90. Flagstaff is mainly outdoorsy activities. Outside of that there is not much to do.

I wouldn't want to go to LA in Aug without A/C. It can still be pretty hot there. Not surface of the sun hot but hot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you want to go to AZ in August? I say this as someone who lives in Arizona. We GTFO as much as we can in July/August. It could be manageable if you go to Flagstaff or other higher areas but it's still going to be warm during the day 80/90. Flagstaff is mainly outdoorsy activities. Outside of that there is not much to do.

I wouldn't want to go to LA in Aug without A/C. It can still be pretty hot there. Not surface of the sun hot but hot.

The camper has AC, but if we are out and about walking there will not be ACs. I guess if we go in to a store or restaurant there will be AC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you want to go to AZ in August? I say this as someone who lives in Arizona. We GTFO as much as we can in July/August. It could be manageable if you go to Flagstaff or other higher areas but it's still going to be warm during the day 80/90. Flagstaff is mainly outdoorsy activities. Outside of that there is not much to do.

I wouldn't want to go to LA in Aug without A/C. It can still be pretty hot there. Not surface of the sun hot but hot.

The camper has AC, but if we are out and about walking there will not be ACs. I guess if we go in to a store or restaurant there will be AC.

With a/c in the camper you should be fine in LA and the high country of AZ. DO NOT go to Phoenix/Scottsdale. Nothing outside is pleasant in August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very different places! If you are within 3 miles of the coast in LA you probably won't even need air conditioning. Arizona will be a blazing hot hellscape.

Is this accurate ? Hard to believe that one could be this far from the coast & not need a/c.

[Anonymous]

You're going to drive there in a camper and back from Virginia? Not a great idea.

Arizona is a massive state. You need to say where in AZ and the drive from AZ to LA is through the hottest part of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're going to drive there in a camper and back from Virginia? Not a great idea.

Arizona is a massive state. You need to say where in AZ and the drive from AZ to LA is through the hottest part of the country.

Agree it's not a good idea. Even if you haul a$$ it's a 2-3 day drive one way. And that's with few stops and full days of driving. I can't imagine you can drive terribly fast in a camper. You'll be driving longer than you're at your destinations.

[Anonymous]

It's like 120 in Phoenix in August. You'll be the one crying for a/c, not just the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very different places! If you are within 3 miles of the coast in LA you probably won't even need air conditioning. Arizona will be a blazing hot hellscape.

Is this accurate ? Hard to believe that one could be this far from the coast & not need a/c.

Yes. Most older homes in places like Santa Monica and Venice do not have A/C. The ocean moderates the temperatures. In the summer rarely above 80 or below 65 at night in the summer. This is August 2023 monthly data for LAX which is about 2 miles inland (depending on where the exact spot is):

https://www.wunderground.com/history/monthly/us/ca/los-angeles/KLAX/date/2023-8

Now,, go further inland, or into the San Fernando Valley, and it gets real hot because that ocean moderation is gone. Here is Burbank. Over 100 in late August.

https://www.wunderground.com/history/monthly/us/ca/burbank/KBUR/date/2023-8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very different places! If you are within 3 miles of the coast in LA you probably won't even need air conditioning. Arizona will be a blazing hot hellscape.

Is this accurate ? Hard to believe that one could be this far from the coast & not need a/c.

No it's not accurate. You need a/c to be comfortable. Yes, you can live without it but it won't be comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very different places! If you are within 3 miles of the coast in LA you probably won't even need air conditioning. Arizona will be a blazing hot hellscape.

Is this accurate ? Hard to believe that one could be this far from the coast & not need a/c.

Yes. Most older homes in places like Santa Monica and Venice do not have A/C. The ocean moderates the temperatures. In the summer rarely above 80 or below 65 at night in the summer. This is August 2023 monthly data for LAX which is about 2 miles inland (depending on where the exact spot is):

https://www.wunderground.com/history/monthly/us/ca/los-angeles/KLAX/date/2023-8

Now,, go further inland, or into the San Fernando Valley, and it gets real hot because that ocean moderation is gone. Here is Burbank. Over 100 in late August.

https://www.wunderground.com/history/monthly/us/ca/burbank/KBUR/date/2023-8

Or check current temps right now in Culver City versus Pasadena. 15 degrees cooler in Culver City, which is around 4 miles from the ocean, versus 25 miles for Pasadena.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's like 120 in Phoenix in August. You'll be the one crying for a/c, not just the kids.

+1. Might as well visit the surface of the sun.

[Anonymous]

I’ve done both and it was lovely.
In California we went to Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands, then Disneyland. Weather was very nice in all three.
In Arizona we went to Tucson because we had an event there. Weather is fine from 5 am to 9 am and then after 4 pm (especially if it rains—it’s monsoon season). Otherwise you should be in air conditioning or the pool.
We also went to Sedona, whiere it was fine to hike before 11 and do shopping or swimming after that.
Then we went to the Grand Canyon where it was lovely at the rim—do not try to hike more than 2 miles down the canyon trail in August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's like 120 in Phoenix in August. You'll be the one crying for a/c, not just the kids.

Averages for August are more like 100-105 highs. Lows are 20-25 degrees cooler though which means early morning can be very bearable. August is better than July because the monsoons come to Arizona in August.