Season guide · Kansas City · United States
Kansas City in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nightryder84, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cold, sometimes icy days and low prices, with the Plaza Lights in December and indoor sights at their quietest. Expect highs up to 6°C (43°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F), with about 18 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -7°C (19°F) to 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 18
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C (37°F) | -7°C (19°F) | 6 | 9.7 h | 2/5 |
| February | 6°C (43°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 6 | 10.7 h | 1/5 |
| December | 5°C (41°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 6 | 9.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 5°C (41°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 18 of the year's roughly 98 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: NFL playoffs if the Chiefs qualify (January)
- December: Plaza Lights (through mid-January)
- December: Holiday ice skating at Crown Center (usually November to January)
Good choices for winter
Gallery · Country Club Plaza
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
It is a ten-minute walk from the Nelson-Atkins; do both in one art-focused afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Westside
Boulevard Brewing Company
Founded in 1989 on Southwest Boulevard, Boulevard is the city's best-known brewery, makers of Unfiltered Wheat and the Smokestack Series.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
Aquarium · Crown Center
Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life at Crown Center
Combination tickets bought online cost less than paying for each at the door.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Crown Center
National WWI Museum and Memorial
Designated by Congress as America's official First World War museum, it opens with a glass bridge over a field of 9,000 poppies, each representing 1,000 combatant deaths.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · Country Club Plaza
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Start in the Bloch Building and finish on the south lawn so you see the Shuttlecocks in late-afternoon light.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Day trips in winter
- St. Joseph, Missouri (About 1 hour by car) — St.
- Independence, Missouri (About 20 minutes by car) — Harry S.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Kansas City?
It is a trade-off: Cold, sometimes icy days and low prices, with the Plaza Lights in December and indoor sights at their quietest. The best months overall are April–May and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Kansas City in winter?
Highs of up to 6°C (43°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F), with about 18 rainy days over the season.