Month guide · Napa Valley · United States
Napa Valley in December
What December is really like in Napa Valley: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Napa Valley Wine Train, Napa Valley · Photo: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California Republic, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.5 hours of daylight. Cool and rainy, with holiday lights in the towns and lower rates outside the holidays.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Plan a trip to Napa Valley
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Napa Valley: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (19°C (66°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:19
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:50
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
Winter (December–February). Cool, rainy and quiet, with the lowest prices, cosy tasting rooms and mustard flowers between the vines.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is September at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in September). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade (usually early 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.
Architecture · Carneros
Domaine Carneros
A sparkling-wine house founded by the Champagne house Taittinger, built in the style of an 18th-century French château on a hilltop in Carneros.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Views
- Architecture
- Food
Nature · Calistoga
Old Faithful Geyser of California
Ask at the entrance about the expected time of the next eruption so you do not miss it.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Historic site · St Helena
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
A water-powered mill built in 1846 with a large wooden waterwheel, among the oldest of its kind in California.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Yountville
Hot-air balloon flight
Plan the flight early in your trip so it can be rescheduled if winds cancel it, and dress in layers for the chilly pre-dawn start.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours with transfers
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 14°C (57°F), lows near 3°C (37°F) and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Napa Valley?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Napa Valley in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Napa Valley in December?
At about 16:50 local time in mid-December, with sunrise at about 07:19: roughly 9.5 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Napa Valley in December?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Napa Valley in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.