Month guide · Chicago · United States
Chicago in December
What December is really like in Chicago: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 2°C (36°F), lows of -5°C (23°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 9.1 hours of daylight. Cold and often snowy, with festive windows on State Street, skating in Maggie Daley Park and busy holiday weekends.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 2°C (36°F) / -5°C (23°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Chicago: days average 2°C (36°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about -5°C (23°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with November (9°C (48°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 0°C (32°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:12
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:21
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, windy and often snowy, with festive markets and skating in December and the lowest hotel rates in January and February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christkindlmarket (until about Christmas Eve)
- ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo (usually late November to early January)
- New Year's Eve fireworks at Navy Pier
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Zoo · Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park Zoo
Founded in 1868 and still free, Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in North America.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
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Waterfront · The Loop
Chicago Riverwalk
Look into the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum in the DuSable Bridge tower to see the gears that raise the bridge; it opens seasonally.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Food
- Outdoors
Park · Wicker Park and Bucktown
The 606 (Bloomingdale Trail)
This 4.3-km elevated trail on a former freight line links Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park and Logan Square, with access ramps every few blocks.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Hyde Park
Frederick C. Robie House
Combine it with a walk through the University of Chicago quadrangles and Rockefeller Chapel, a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Art
What to pack
For highs near 2°C, lows near -5°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Chicago?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 3 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Chicago in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Chicago?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and often snowy, with festive windows on State Street, skating in Maggie Daley Park and busy holiday weekends.
+How warm is Chicago in December?
Average highs are around 2°C (36°F) and lows around -5°C (23°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Chicago in December?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.