Season guide · Key West · United States
Key West in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain
Quick answer
Dry, sunny and comfortable, the main season for visitors; occasional cool, windy spells can cancel boat trips. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 17 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 18°C (64°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 17
- Sea
- 23°C (73°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C (75°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 6 | 10.8 h | 5/5 |
| February | 25°C (77°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 5 | 11.3 h | 5/5 |
| December | 25°C (77°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 6 | 10.6 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 25°C (77°F) against a yearly 28°C (82°F), and 17 of the year's roughly 92 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Key West Food and Wine Festival (usually late January)
- February: Old Island Days Art Festival (usually February)
- December: Lighted boat parade at the Historic Seaport (usually December)
- December: New Year's Eve conch-shell drop on Duval Street (31 December)
Make the most of the weather
Waterfront · Old Town and Duval Street
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
Every evening the dock at Mallory Square fills with jugglers, tightrope walkers, musicians and food carts for the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
Beach · Truman Annex
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Wear water shoes; the beach is rocky and coral rubble underfoot, and fish gather around the rock groynes.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- History
- Nature
Experience · Historic Seaport
Snorkelling and diving on the Florida Reef
Catamarans and dive boats leave Key West Bight for reef sites such as Sand Key, where shallow coral heads hold parrotfish, angelfish and sometimes turtles and nurse sharks.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Landmark · Bahama Village
Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters
It is opposite the Hemingway Home, so climb it straight after your tour.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- History
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Garden · Old Town and Duval Street
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
A glass-domed tropical garden at the southern end of Duval Street where hundreds of butterflies from around the world fly freely among the plants, along with a few small birds.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Couples
Day trips in winter
- Dry Tortugas National Park (About 2 hours 15 minutes by ferry, 40 minutes by seaplane) — Seven remote islands in turquoise water, dominated by Fort Jefferson, a vast unfinished 19th-century brick fort on Garden Key.
- Bahia Honda State Park (About 50 minutes by car) — A state park in the Lower Keys with sandy beaches unusual for the Keys, clear shallow water and a section of the old Overseas Railroad bridge to walk on for views of both sea and gulf.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Key West?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Dry, sunny and comfortable, the main season for visitors; occasional cool, windy spells can cancel boat trips.
+What is the weather like in Key West in winter?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 17 rainy days over the season.