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Florida in December is warm and dry in the south and cool in the north. NOAA’s December normals run from a typical high of 77.7°F in Key West to 65.1°F in Pensacola. Hurricane season is over by then, so the real decisions are which region to pick and which week to go.
I would choose one region and stay in it. We have done Florida winter trips with nieces and nephews along, and the pattern holds: the Keys and the southeast coast give you the swimsuit days, while the northern half wants a fleece at breakfast.
Anyone who has lived through a Chicago winter knows that a sunny December afternoon in central Florida feels like cheating. Pack for that, then pack a jacket for the night a cold front rolls through.
Weather in Florida in December
Florida splits in two in December. The Keys and the southeast coast hold on to beach weather, while the Panhandle and the northeast coast cool into jacket weather. Cold fronts decide the days in between.
The table uses the NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for December at the nearest airport station to each region. Treat them as averages, not promises.
| Region (station) | Typical high | Typical low | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport) | 77.7°F | 64.7°F | Beach days, boat parade |
| Florida Keys (Key West airport) | 77.7°F | 68.3°F | Swimming, snorkeling, sunsets |
| Central Florida (Orlando airport) | 73.8°F | 52.9°F | Theme parks, manatee viewing |
| Gulf Coast (Tampa airport) | 73.9°F | 55.9°F | Shelling, sunsets, beach walks |
| Northeast Florida (Jacksonville) | 67.5°F | 45.8°F | Holiday lights, historic St. Augustine |
| Panhandle (Pensacola airport) | 65.1°F | 45.9°F | Quiet white-sand walks |
Read the lows more than the highs. An average low near 53°F in Orlando means sweatshirt weather after dark, while Key West’s 68.3°F means the night barely cools at all.
A cold front is the thing that breaks the averages. The wind swings north, the sky turns clear and dry, and a normally mild night can feel far colder than the table suggests, especially in the northern half of the state.
Fronts usually pass in a day or two. Check the forecast a few days before you leave and keep one warm layer within reach rather than at the bottom of a checked bag.
Water follows the air. I would count on the Keys and the southeast coast for comfortable swimming and treat the Panhandle’s Gulf as a look-but-don’t-wade proposition.
Where to Go in Florida in December
Match the region to the day you want, then book near it. Driving the length of the state in one December trip buys you a lot of highway for a few degrees of difference.
South Florida in December
This is the pick for a beach week. Fort Lauderdale’s typical high is 77.7°F, and the Atlantic side stays in beach weather.
The Winterfest Boat Parade is set for Saturday, December 12, 2026, with the parade and fireworks at 6:00 p.m. on a 12-mile route. The organizers expect more than a million people along the water, so pick one spot and stay put instead of chasing the boats.
Key West in December
Key West is the warmest corner of the state, with a typical high of 77.7°F and a low of 68.3°F. The sun goes down early in December, which suits the sunset crowd at Mallory Square.
The Keys also do the holidays on the water. Key West, Key Largo, Stock Island and Key Colony Beach hold lighted boat parades, Islamorada and Key Largo light big trees, and on December 31 Key West drops a conch shell, a high-heel shoe and a pirate figure. Dates shift each year, so check the Keys tourism calendar before you book.
New Year’s Eve in Key West is the night to book early. If that is your plan, reserve lodging well ahead and expect the main streets to be packed after dark.
Plan the rest with our Key West road trip guide and the list of the best beaches in the Florida Keys.
Everglades in December
December falls early in the Everglades’ dry season. The National Park Service says the season runs November through April, with low humidity, clear skies, average highs of 77°F and lows of 53°F.
Wildlife is the draw. Alligators sun themselves along the Anhinga Trail, and mosquitoes and biting flies can still turn up at dusk and dawn, so bring repellent.
Orlando in December
Central Florida is the theme-park pick, and it needs the most calendar planning. Walt Disney World’s holiday season runs from November 13 to January 6, and EPCOT’s holiday festival runs from November 27 to December 30 in 2026.
Orlando’s typical high of 73.8°F is easy walking weather, and the 52.9°F low means a jacket for the evening fireworks. Our two-day Orlando itinerary and Disney World with kids guide cover the parks.
The parks are calmest in the first part of December and busiest in the days around Christmas and New Year’s. If your dates are flexible, aim for the calm stretch and spend the evenings looking at the holiday decorations instead of standing in a line.
Manatees are the other December headline. Blue Spring State Park says hundreds gather in its spring run from mid-November to March to escape cold water, and the park charges $6 per vehicle. Our guide to the best time to see manatees in Florida has more.
Tampa in December
The Gulf coast is the shelling and sunset coast. Tampa’s typical high is 73.9°F and its low is 55.9°F, which makes it beach-walking weather more than swimming weather.
Winter is the shelling season farther south, and the morning after a cold front is the one to chase. Our Sanibel shelling guide covers the beaches, and Anna Maria Island is an easy beach town to pair with it.
St. Augustine in December
St. Augustine is where December earns its reputation. According to the city’s tourism site, Nights of Lights runs from November 21, 2026 to January 18, 2027, with the Light-Up! Night ceremony on November 21 at 4:00 p.m.
On select dates there is free parking and a free shuttle, and while the shuttles run the downtown garage fee is $40. Jacksonville’s typical December high is 67.5°F and its low is 45.8°F, so dress in layers and walk the lights on a weeknight if you can. Our St. Augustine weekend itinerary fills in the days.
Florida Panhandle in December
The Panhandle is the quiet one. Pensacola’s typical high is 65.1°F and its low is 45.9°F, so the white-sand beaches are for walking and photographs, not swimming.
The dunes at Pensacola Beach look the same in December as in July, only with a jacket on the people.
Is Florida Crowded in December?
It depends on the week. The first half of December is the calm stretch, and the days from Christmas through New Year’s are the busiest, with hotel rates and airfares climbing.
Winter is also snowbird season, so South Florida and the Gulf coast fill with long-stay visitors. If you want a quieter and cheaper trip, aim for the first two weeks of the month and book the holiday window as early as you can.
Prices follow the same calendar. Rates near the theme parks and in Key West jump for the holiday window. A beach town in the south costs more at Christmas than it does on December 5.
Weekdays beat weekends almost everywhere. That goes double for St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights and for any beach town with a boat parade, because the roads in and out jam before the show starts.
Our Florida Keys hurricane season guide has the storm calendar for a Keys trip.
What to Pack for Florida in December
Pack in layers, and decide your region before you decide your bag. The same suitcase does not work in Key West and Pensacola.
- A light jacket or fleece for evenings, even in the south
- A swimsuit and cover-up for the Keys and the southeast coast
- Sunscreen, because December sun still burns
- Insect repellent for the Everglades and dusk walks
- Comfortable walking shoes for theme parks and St. Augustine’s old streets
Leave room in the bag for the small things people forget. Socks for a cool evening in Orlando and a hat for a boat ride in the Keys are two of them.
I would pack for three Floridas and admit that two of them will stay in the suitcase. Our beach vacation packing list and Florida Keys packing list cover the rest.
Florida Weather Facts
Is it too cold to swim in Florida in December?
In the Keys and along the southeast coast, usually not. North of Tampa and across the Panhandle the water is cold, and the beach is for walking.
Is it hurricane season in Florida in December?
No. The National Hurricane Center lists the Atlantic season as June 1 to November 30, so it has ended before December starts.
Can you see manatees in Florida in December?
Yes. Blue Spring State Park says hundreds of manatees gather in its spring run from mid-November to March, and the park is open 8 a.m. to sunset. Swimming in the run is closed until April 1, so you watch from the boardwalk.
Is December a good time to visit Florida?
I would say yes, as long as you pick the region to match the weather. The south is warm and dry for beaches, the center suits theme parks and manatees, and the north is cool but full of holiday lights. Skip the Christmas-to-New-Year week if you want lower prices.
Does it get cold in Florida in December?
In the north it does. Pensacola and Jacksonville have typical December lows near 46°F, while Key West stays near 68°F overnight.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.
Published October 22, 2026.
Photo credits: (1) featured, Orange sunset sky over the water at Mallory… — Joe Parks from Berkeley, CA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (2) An alligator resting beside the water on… — National Park Service, U.S. Government work, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; (3) A manatee swimming in the clear water of… — No machine-readable author provided. Tetraminoe assumed (based on copyright clai, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (4) The Bridge of Lions crossing the Matanzas… — Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (5) A white sand beach on Santa Rosa Island at… — Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.