Best time to visit · Tampa · United States
The best time to visit Tampa
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa · Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
The best months to go are March–May and November. June to September is hot and humid with daily storms, and August to October is peak hurricane season, so book flexibly then.
Key facts
- Best months
- March–May and November
- Shoulder season
- October and December–February
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 33°C (91°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 22°C (72°F))
- Rainiest month
- July (~17 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- August–September
Plan a trip to Tampa
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Seasons
Tampa is humid and subtropical: warm, mostly dry winters, and hot, wet summers with near-daily afternoon thunderstorms from June to September. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the main risk from August to October.
March–May
Spring
The best beach weather — warm, sunny and dry — with spring training and spring break making March the busiest and most expensive month.
June–August
Summer
Hot, humid and stormy most afternoons, with the warmest Gulf water and the lowest hotel prices; mornings are best for outdoor plans.
September–November
Autumn
September is stormy and the peak of hurricane risk; by November it is dry and comfortable with stone crab season under way.
December–February
Winter
Mild, dry and sunny, with Gasparilla, the state fair and manatees in warm-water refuges; too cool for most people to swim.
Seeing more of United States? The best time to visit United States compares the best months of our 44 destinations there.
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 | 22°C 72°F | 11°C 52°F | 6 | 19°C 66°F | 10.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 23°C 73°F | 12°C 54°F | 6 | 19°C 66°F | 11.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 26°C 79°F | 15°C 59°F | 6 | 21°C 70°F | 11.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| April | 28°C 82°F | 17°C 63°F | 4 | 24°C 75°F | 12.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 31°C 88°F | 21°C 70°F | 4 | 27°C 81°F | 13.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 32°C 90°F | 24°C 75°F | 13 | 29°C 84°F | 13.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 33°C 91°F | 25°C 77°F | 17 | 30°C 86°F | 13.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August | 33°C 91°F | 25°C 77°F | 17 | 30°C 86°F | 13.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 32°C 90°F | 24°C 75°F | 13 | 29°C 84°F | 12.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| October | 29°C 84°F | 20°C 68°F | 5 | 26°C 79°F | 11.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 26°C 79°F | 15°C 59°F | 4 | 23°C 73°F | 10.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 23°C 73°F | 12°C 54°F | 5 | 20°C 68°F | 10.4 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Gasparilla Pirate Festival — pirate ship invasion and parade along Bayshore (usually late January) |
| February | Florida State Fair (usually February); MLB spring training — the Yankees play at Steinbrenner Field (late February to March) |
| March | Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (usually early March); Spring training games across the Tampa Bay area |
| July | Independence Day fireworks over the river and bay (4 July) |
| September | NFL season begins for the Buccaneers (September) |
| October | Guavaween — Ybor City Halloween street party (usually late October); Stone crab season opens (mid-October) |
| November | Cross-Bay Ferry to St. Petersburg usually resumes for the season (autumn) |
| December | Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum (usually December); Winter Village ice rink in Curtis Hixon Park (usually late November to early January) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in August–September, and the sights are quietest in August–September. Many visitors avoid August–September.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; 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, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | 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 Tampa?
March–May and November are the best months. Of those, May is usually both the least crowded and the warmest, with highs around 31°C (88°F).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Tampa?
Usually in August–September. The wettest, most humid stretch and the start of peak hurricane risk; hotel prices are at their lowest.
+What is the rainiest month in Tampa?
July, with about 17 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Tampa get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 33°C (91°F) and lows of 25°C (77°F).