Season guide · Phoenix · United States
Phoenix in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jedijoe82, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Mild, sunny days and cold nights; peak season for golf, resorts and events, with high prices. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 12 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 7°C (45°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 12
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C (66°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 4 | 10.2 h | 4/5 |
| February | 22°C (72°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 4 | 10.9 h | 5/5 |
| December | 19°C (66°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 4 | 9.9 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 20°C (68°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 12 of the year's roughly 37 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 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: Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in Scottsdale (usually late January)
- February: WM Phoenix Open golf tournament (usually early February)
- February: Heard Museum World Championship Hoop Dance Contest (usually February)
- February: Cactus League spring training begins (usually late February)
- December: Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden (December evenings)
- December: Fiesta Bowl college football game in Glendale (around New Year)
Make the most of the weather
Experience · North Phoenix
Sunrise hot-air balloon flight
Book for early in your trip so there is time to rebook if wind cancels the flight.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours including transfers
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Garden · Papago Park
Desert Botanical Garden
Set among Papago Park's red buttes, the garden displays tens of thousands of desert plants, from towering saguaros and boojum trees to agaves and wildflowers, along trails that explain how people of the Sonoran Desert used them.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
Nature · Arcadia
Camelback Mountain
Start at first light, carry more water than you think you need and turn back when half of it is gone; the city may close the trails on extreme heat days.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
Nature · Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Piestewa Peak
The Summit Trail up Piestewa Peak is a steep, popular climb of about 1.9 km with views over downtown and Camelback.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
Park · South Phoenix
South Mountain Park and Preserve
Drive up to Dobbins Lookout around sunset, then stay to see the city lights spread out below.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- History
- After dark
Day trips in winter
- Lost Dutchman State Park (About 50 minutes by car) — At the foot of the jagged Superstition Mountains, the park has desert trails through saguaros and wildflowers, including the steep Siphon Draw route, and views of the cliffs glowing at sunset.
- Montezuma Castle National Monument (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — A five-storey cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua people more than 800 years ago, set in a limestone cliff above Beaver Creek.
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 Phoenix?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Mild, sunny days and cold nights; peak season for golf, resorts and events, with high prices.
+What is the weather like in Phoenix in winter?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 12 rainy days over the season.