Month guide · Tampa · United States
Tampa in January
What January is really like in Tampa: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Ybor City Museum State Park, Tampa · Photo: Peter K Burian, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 10.5 hours of daylight. Mild, sunny and dry; the coldest month but still shirt-sleeve weather by day. Manatees gather at the Apollo Beach viewing centre on cold mornings.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 10.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
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Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Tampa: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 28°C (82°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with December (23°C (73°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:22
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:56
- Daylight
- About 10.5 hours
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild, dry and sunny, with Gasparilla, the state fair and manatees in warm-water refuges; too cool for most people to swim.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 4 for crowds (the peak is March at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in March). Book accommodation early: January is one of the pricier months.
Events in January
- Gasparilla Pirate Festival — pirate ship invasion and parade along Bayshore (usually late January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Waterfront · Downtown
Tampa Riverwalk
Walk it north at sunset for the view of the Plant Museum's minarets across the river, finishing at Armature Works for dinner.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
- Iconic
Zoo · Lowry Park
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
A medium-sized zoo north of downtown known for its Florida section and its manatee critical care centre, which treats injured and sick manatees from across the state; visitors can watch through underwater windows.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Waterfront · Hyde Park
Bayshore Boulevard
Go at sunrise or sunset to avoid the heat, and look out for dolphins in the bay.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Active
Market · Tampa Heights
Armature Works and Heights Public Market
A brick depot built to maintain Tampa's electric streetcars now holds a food hall of local vendors, restaurants and bars, with a riverfront lawn where families spread out on weekend evenings.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 22°C (72°F), lows near 11°C (52°F) and 6 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Tampa?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and November are better overall. Compare every month.
Tampa in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Tampa in January?
At about 17:56 local time in mid-January, with sunrise at about 07:22: roughly 10.5 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Tampa in January?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tampa in January?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.