Best time to visit · Key West · United States
The best time to visit Key West
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: CedarBendDrive from USA, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
The best time to visit Key West is December to May, when the weather is dry and sunny with highs around 24–28°C. March is the busiest and most expensive month. April and May bring calm, warm seas with fewer crowds. June to November is hot and humid, with hurricane season peaking from August to October, but prices drop sharply.
Key facts
- Best months
- December–May
- Shoulder season
- June and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 32°C (90°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 24°C (75°F))
- Rainiest month
- September (~13 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- September
Seasons
Key West has a tropical savanna climate and has never recorded frost: warm, dry winters, hot and humid summers with afternoon showers, and an Atlantic hurricane season from June to November, most active from August to October.
December–February
Winter
Dry, sunny and comfortable, the main season for visitors; occasional cool, windy spells can cancel boat trips.
March–May
Spring
Hot sun, calm water and the best diving conditions, with spring-break crowds in March and quieter weeks in May.
June–August
Summer
Hot and humid with brief tropical downpours, very warm sea and lower prices; hurricane season is under way.
September–November
Autumn
September is peak hurricane season and very quiet; October brings Fantasy Fest and November the start of the dry season.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C | 18°C | 6 | 23°C | 10.8 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| February | 25°C | 19°C | 5 | 23°C | 11.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| March | 26°C | 20°C | 5 | 24°C | 12 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| April | 28°C | 22°C | 4 | 26°C | 12.7 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 30°C | 25°C | 6 | 28°C | 13.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 31°C | 26°C | 10 | 29°C | 13.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 32°C | 27°C | 10 | 30°C | 13.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August | 32°C | 27°C | 12 | 31°C | 13 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 31°C | 26°C | 13 | 30°C | 12.3 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| October | 29°C | 25°C | 9 | 28°C | 11.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 27°C | 22°C | 6 | 26°C | 10.9 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 25°C | 19°C | 6 | 24°C | 10.6 h | 4/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Key West Food and Wine Festival (usually late January) |
| February | Old Island Days Art Festival (usually February) |
| April | Conch Republic Independence Celebration (usually late April) |
| May | Key West Songwriters Festival (usually May) |
| June | Key West Pride (usually June) |
| July | Hemingway Days, including the look-alike contest (usually around 21 July); Lobster mini-season for recreational divers (late July) |
| August | Key West Lobsterfest (usually August) |
| October | Fantasy Fest — adult costume festival and parade (usually the 10 days before Halloween) |
| December | Lighted boat parade at the Historic Seaport (usually December); New Year's Eve conch-shell drop on Duval Street (31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in September, and the sights are quietest in September. Many visitors avoid September.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Winter | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Spring | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Key West?
The best time to visit Key West is December to May, when the weather is dry and sunny with highs around 24–28°C. March is the busiest and most expensive month. April and May bring calm, warm seas with fewer crowds. June to November is hot and humid, with hurricane season peaking from August to October, but prices drop sharply.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Key West?
Usually in September. Peak hurricane season and the quietest month; some businesses close for staff holidays.
+What is the rainiest month in Key West?
September, with about 13 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Key West get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 32°C (90°F) and lows of 27°C (81°F).