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San Diego air right now

ModerateAQI 52

San Diego’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

52
AQI now
9.4
PM2.5 · µg/m³
4 cleaner spots within 3 hr drive

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Julian looks like the better move.56% cleaner air with a verified 1 h 20 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
San Diego Local readings Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Temecula
Cel-shaded illustration of Temecula
AQI 22
#1TemeculaChecking road route

California· Good

Inland wine-country valley in southern California, with cooler evening air pulled from coastal gaps.

59% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.9 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.9/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

59% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Pechanga Reservation monitor.

Directions
Julian
Cel-shaded illustration of Julian
AQI 23
#2Julian~1 h 20 min drive

California· Good

Historic mountain apple town in the Cuyamacas east of San Diego near 4,200 feet, a cool forested escape with B&Bs and cabins.

56% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.1 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

56% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Alpine monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Riverside
Cel-shaded illustration of Riverside
AQI 44
#3Riverside~1 h 55 min drive

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 7.9 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
16% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Riverside - Rubidoux monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Avalon (Catalina Island)
Cel-shaded illustration of Avalon (Catalina Island)
AQI 67
#4Avalon (Catalina Island)Checking road route

California· Moderate

Island town 22 miles off the Los Angeles coast, wrapped in open-Pacific air, with hillside hotels.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 17.8 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 17.8/22 × 7 = 5.7 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in San Diego

89% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Bonita
Cel-shaded illustration of Bonita
AQI unavailable
#5BonitaChecking road route

California

California community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
La Mesa
Cel-shaded illustration of La Mesa
AQI unavailable
#6La MesaChecking road route

California

California community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Imperial Beach
Cel-shaded illustration of Imperial Beach
AQI unavailable
#7Imperial BeachChecking road route

California

California community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
La Presa
Cel-shaded illustration of La Presa
AQI unavailable
#8La PresaChecking road route

California

California community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Spring Valley
Cel-shaded illustration of Spring Valley
AQI unavailable
#9Spring ValleyChecking road route

California

California community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
La Jolla
Cel-shaded illustration of La Jolla
AQI unavailable
#10La JollaChecking road route

California

California community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix
Cel-shaded illustration of Casa de Oro-Mount Helix
AQI unavailable
#11Casa de Oro-Mount HelixChecking road route

California

California community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
El Cajon
Cel-shaded illustration of El Cajon
AQI unavailable
#12El CajonChecking road route

California

California community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Twentynine Palms
Cel-shaded illustration of Twentynine Palms
AQI 13
#13Twentynine PalmsChecking road route

California· Good

Mojave gateway town on the north side of Joshua Tree, far from coastal-basin sources of smoke.

76% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2.3 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.3/22 × 7 = 0.7 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

76% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Borrego Springs
Cel-shaded illustration of Borrego Springs
AQI 21
#14Borrego Springs~2 h 5 min drive

California· Good

Desert village encircled by Anza-Borrego wilderness, far from urban sources under dark skies, with small resorts and inns.

61% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.7 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.7/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

61% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Wrightwood
Cel-shaded illustration of Wrightwood
AQI 21
#15Wrightwood~2 h 40 min drive

California· Good

Small mountain town in the San Gabriels near 6,000 feet, a cool forested reset above the LA basin, with cabins and a compact main street.

60% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.8 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.8/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

60% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Glendora - Laurel monitor.

Directions
Joshua Tree
Cel-shaded illustration of Joshua Tree
AQI 23
#16Joshua TreeChecking road route

California· Good

High-desert town near 2,700 feet at the park's edge, remote from urban sources with cabins and inns.

56% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.1 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

56% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Idyllwild
Cel-shaded illustration of Idyllwild
AQI 24
#17Idyllwild~2 h 15 min drive

California· Good

Pine-forest village perched high in the San Jacinto Mountains, elevated far above Inland Empire smog, with cabins and small inns.

54% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.3 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.3/22 × 7 = 1.4 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

54% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Banning - South Hathaway Street monitor.

Directions
Mammoth Lakes
Cel-shaded illustration of Mammoth Lakes
AQI 11
#18Mammoth LakesChecking road route

California· Good

Eastern Sierra ski town near 8,000 feet, where thin high-mountain air sits far above valley smoke, with a deep base of condos and lodges.

80% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1.9 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.9/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

80% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Lee Vining monitor.

Directions
Paso Robles
Cel-shaded illustration of Paso Robles
AQI 11
#19Paso RoblesChecking road route

California· Good

Central Coast wine town on the Salinas River, higher and drier than the coast with a broad hotel base.

79% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

79% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Atascadero monitor.

Directions
Tucson
Cel-shaded illustration of Tucson
AQI 11
#20TucsonChecking road route

Arizona· Good

A major Arizona city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

79% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 9.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Diego right now

79% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Geronimo monitor.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in California →
Anaheim air qualityBakersfield air qualityChico air qualityFresno air qualityLos Angeles air qualityModesto air qualityRedding air qualityRiverside air qualitySacramento air qualitySan Bernardino air qualitySan Francisco air qualitySan Jose air qualityStockton air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Yuma air qualityHenderson air qualityLas Vegas air qualityPhoenix air qualityMesa air qualityTucson air qualityReno air qualityProvo air qualityAlbuquerque air qualityEl Paso air qualitySalt Lake City air qualityOgden air quality

What this means · San Diego

Moderate

AQI 52

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Most people can stay active outside.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people should consider shorter or easier outdoor effort.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 9.4 µg/m³ (Elevated), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Elevated.

9.4 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

3.0/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 9.4 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →