Month guide · Austin · United States
Austin in December
What December is really like in Austin: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mwyzykowski0821, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10.2 hours of daylight. Mild with occasional cold fronts; holiday lights in Zilker Park and on 37th Street.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10.2 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Austin: days average 18°C (64°F) against a yearly average high of 27°C (81°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with November (22°C (72°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 17°C (63°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:20
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:33
- Daylight
- About 10.2 hours
Winter (December–February). Mild and often sunny, with occasional cold fronts and rare ice storms; quieter and better value.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is March at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in March). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Trail of Lights in Zilker Park (usually December)
- Armadillo Christmas Bazaar (usually December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Garden · Southwest Austin
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The University of Texas botanical garden, founded by the former First Lady, showcases native Texas plants in meadows, gardens and an observation tower.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Nature · Southeast Austin
McKinney Falls State Park
Check the park's swimming status and day-pass availability before going on a weekend.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Park · Clarksville and Old West Austin
Deep Eddy Pool
The oldest swimming pool in Texas, a 1930s spring-fed pool with a shallow section for children and lap lanes, beside the hike-and-bike trail west of downtown.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Downtown
Texas State Capitol
Stand in the centre of the rotunda and look up at the star in the dome, then walk the grounds' monuments.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 18°C, lows near 6°C and 8 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 Austin?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–April and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Austin in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Austin?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Mild with occasional cold fronts; holiday lights in Zilker Park and on 37th Street.
+How warm is Austin in December?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Austin in December?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.