Month guide · Fort Lauderdale · United States
Fort Lauderdale in December
What December is really like in Fort Lauderdale: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Fort Lauderdale · Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is one of the best months to visit Fort Lauderdale. Expect average highs of 25°C (77°F), lows of 17°C (63°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10.5 hours of daylight. Pleasant, mostly dry and festive, with boats decorated in lights; Christmas and New Year are very busy.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 25°C (77°F) / 17°C (63°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
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Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Fort Lauderdale: days average 25°C (77°F) against a yearly average high of 28°C (82°F), and nights fall to about 17°C (63°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with November (27°C (81°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:01
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:31
- Daylight
- About 10.5 hours
- Sea
- 25°C (77°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild, sunny peak season with snowbirds, holiday boat parades and the highest hotel rates; the sea is cool but swimmable for many.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Winterfest Boat Parade on the New River and Intracoastal (usually mid-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 · Davie
Flamingo Gardens
A botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary in Davie, about 25 km west, with champion trees, a walk-through aviary, native Florida animals such as panthers, bobcats and black bears that cannot be released, and the flock of flamingos that gives it its name.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Waterfront · Hollywood Beach
Hollywood Beach Broadwalk
Rent a bike or surrey for an hour and ride the full length.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Food
Street · Las Olas and Downtown
Las Olas Boulevard
Las Olas runs from downtown to the ocean.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- After dark
Historic site · Fort Lauderdale Beach
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
Take the guided house tour, then walk the nature trails; it is a cool, shaded break from the beach across the road.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Nature
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
The sea averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Fort Lauderdale.
What to pack
For highs near 25°C (77°F), lows near 17°C (63°F) and 8 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Fort Lauderdale?
One of the best months to visit Fort Lauderdale, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are January–April and November. Compare every month.
Fort Lauderdale in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Fort Lauderdale in December?
At about 17:31 local time in mid-December, with sunrise at about 07:01: roughly 10.5 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Fort Lauderdale in December?
Average highs are around 25°C (77°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Fort Lauderdale in December?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.