Does It Snow At Universal Studios Hollywood?
Want to know if it snows at Universal Studios Hollywood? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
Every once in awhile you might see posts all over social media about theme parks covered in snow and they just look beautiful.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), those theme parks are not located in Southern California.
If you’ve seen snow at a Universal Studios theme park, it was probably the one in Beijing.
So if you’re looking for snow in Los Angeles or just California in general, Universal Studios Hollywood is not where you want to go.
However, there is plenty of artificial snow in the parks during the Winter holiday festivals and celebrations.
Check out our guide for the best one day itinerary to Universal Studios Hollywood if you need some ideas for planning your visit!
Planning A Trip? Use Our Favorite Resources Below!
👉🏼 Accommodations
👉🏼 Tours/Experiences
👉🏼 Flights
👉🏼 Car Rentals
Does It Snow At Universal Studios Hollywood?
If you’re talking about real snow, no it does not snow at Universal Studios Hollywood.
The only type of snow you’ll see here is artificial snow during Winter holiday celebrations.
The elevation at Universal Studios Hollywood is only 778 feet.
Typically in Southern California, you’ll need to be at an elevation of 5,000 feet or more to see any sort of accumulating snow.
Back in February 2023, the LA area saw it’s largest dusting of snow since 2007, which is the only other time in the 21st century that the lower elevations saw any sort of snow at all.
Has It Ever Snowed At Universal Studios Hollywood?
The short answer is no.
During the Winter holidays there is plenty of artificial snow falling from the sky in the Harry Potter area, but that’s as close to snow as you’re going to get at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Why Doesn’t Universal Studios Hollywood Get Snow?
Generally the temperatures stay above 48 degrees, so it doesn’t get cold enough for it to snow.
The climate in Hollywood is most similar to the Mediterranean, so there is not usually too much variety in the weather.
This kind of climate doesn’t see extremes in weather like the Midwest or Canada tend to experience.
Additionally, the elevation at Universal is pretty low and it only snows at the highest elevations in Southern California.
Where Can I See Snow Near Hollywood?
The nearby mountain towns get plenty of snow in the Winter months as early as October and as late as April.
Sometimes the snow is so plentiful it lasts well into Summer!
Back in 2023, there were ski resorts in California that stayed open all the way through the 4th of July holiday.
Here are a handful of places within about 100 miles of Universal Studios Hollywood where you can see snow – all in order from closest to farthest!
✅ Mount Wilson
The Mount Wilson Observatory is a free place to visit and hike.
It’s about 30 miles outside of Universal, making it about an hour drive depending on traffic.
It has an elevation above 5,500 feet, so it will occasionally get some snow.
✅ Mount Baldy
Mount Baldy is about 55 miles outside of Universal and is about a 90 minute drive or longer depending on traffic.
✅ Frazier Park
Frazier Park is up past Santa Clarita, about 65 miles away.
It’s about a 75 minute drive or more from Universal, depending on traffic.
Being another mountain town, Frazier Park experiences its fair share of snow.
It’s also a great place to see the sky at night away from all the city lights.
✅ Wrightwood
Wrightwood is another mountain town about 85 miles outside of Universal and it’s about a 2 hour drive from the city.
It’s elevation around 6,000 feet allows for plentiful snowfall.
This town is actually so small it’s considered the “town without a traffic light”.
There’s plenty of skiing and hiking in this area.
Be sure to visit the Devil’s Punchbowl, a park full of colorful rocks.
✅ Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead is a mountain town just a little further east than Mount Baldy.
It’s about 85 miles from Universal and takes at least 2 hours or longer, depending on the traffic.
This is a great area if you’re going for the whole weekend or at least overnight.
✅ Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is a little bit further out, but still not too far.
It’s about 100 miles from Universal and takes at least 2 1/2 hours to drive there, depending on traffic.
We have a great Winter weekend itinerary for Big Bear Lake if you’re going for 2-3 days.
Snow Resorts Near Universal Studios Hollywood
If you’re in the area and want to experience snow in the Winter months, rather than just look at it, you’re in luck!
There are plenty of resorts where you can go skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and more.
Here are some of the best ski resorts that are closest to Universal Studios Hollywood.
They are both located at the places mentioned above.
➡️ Mountain High Ski Resort
Mountain High East Ski Resort, located in Wrightwood, has 5 ski lifts that will take you to slopes for a variety of skill levels.
The elevation here is mostly between 6,500 – 8,000 feet, which is why they get plentiful snow and Universal does not.
➡️ Big Bear Mountain Resort
Big Bear Mountain Resort is obviously located at Big Bear Lake.
Choose from 3 different mountains: Snow Summit, Snow Valley, and Bear Mountain.
There are 11 ski lifts that will take you to slopes for a variety of skill levels.
The elevation here is mostly between 7,000-8,000 feet, which is why they get plentiful snow and Universal does not.
More Fun Things To Do Near Hollywood In Winter
Even though you probably won’t experience any real snow in Hollywood, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy Winter activities without leaving the city.
Each year there are always a variety of special events and festivals.
Some of our favorites from past years include Malibu Wine Safari Malibu Lights: Winter Nights and Snow Day LA at Elysian Park, but they unfortunately have all closed down.
So instead, here are two things I highly recommend that aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
☑️ LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow
A great evening event for the holidays is checking out the Christmas lights at the LA Zoo.
There’s even a handful of animals that will still be out at night.
☑️ The Best Things To Do In California In December
Each year we compile a list of all the best things to do in California in December.
There are always events, festivals, theme parks, etc., to visit that are within a short driving distance to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Conclusion: Does It Snow At Universal Studios Hollywood?
So now you know, it does not snow at Universal Studios Hollywood.
The elevation is too low, it doesn’t get cold enough, but you can see plenty of artificial snow during the Winter festivals and celebrations.
