Month guide · Atlanta · United States
Atlanta in December
What December is really like in Atlanta: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marco Correa, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 13°C (55°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.9 hours of daylight. Cool and sometimes rainy, with holiday lights and big college football games downtown.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 13°C (55°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Atlanta: days average 13°C (55°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (18°C (64°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 12°C (54°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:35
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:31
- Daylight
- About 9.9 hours
Winter (December–February). Mild with occasional cold snaps; holiday lights and big games, and lower hotel prices in January and February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (usually early December)
- Peach Bowl college football game (around New Year)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Downtown
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
This museum next to Centennial Olympic Park covers the American civil rights movement and global human rights struggles today.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
World of Coca-Cola
Save the tasting room for last and try the bitter Italian aperitif-style drink everyone talks about.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
Market · Old Fourth Ward
Ponce City Market
The huge 1926 Sears, Roebuck & Co.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · Midtown
High Museum of Art
Check which special exhibition is on; they often require a separate timed ticket.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 13°C, lows near 3°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Atlanta?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Atlanta in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Atlanta?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cool and sometimes rainy, with holiday lights and big college football games downtown.
+How warm is Atlanta in December?
Average highs are around 13°C (55°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Atlanta in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.