Best Time to Visit Key West: Dry Winter Sunshine, Lobster Season & Fantasy Fest

Key West holds a unique distinction in American geography: it is the only city in the continental United States that has never recorded a frost or freezing temperature (its lowest recorded temperature in 150 years is +5°C / 41°F in 1886). Instead of four seasons, this tropical coral island has two seasons: the breezy, low-humidity Dry Season (December to May) and the warm, calm-water Wet Season (June to November).

1. Peak Dry Season: Winter & Spring (December to May, Best Weather Overall)

• December to April (Winter Sunshine): afternoon temperatures sit at a pleasant 24°C to 27°C (75°F to 81°F) with low humidity, Atlantic trade winds and abundant sunshine. Because January to March is peak winter-sun season, Old Town hotel rates are at their highest, so book three to four months ahead.
• The Sweet-Spot Months, Late April & May: locals point to May as a favourite month, when winter crowds and rates drop, ocean water warms to 27°C (80°F) for Dry Tortugas and reef snorkelling, and summer humidity has not peaked yet.

2. Summer & Autumn: Glass-Calm Snorkelling, Hemingway Days & Fantasy Fest (June to November)

• June, July & August (Glass-Flat Water & Lower Hotel Rates): surrounded by open ocean breezes, Key West never gets as hot as mainland cities in summer, with typical afternoons around 31°C to 32°C (89°F). Summer trade winds die down, creating the flattest, clearest underwater visibility of the year on the coral reef and Dry Tortugas ferry.
  • Mid-July: Hemingway Days (featuring the 'Papa' Hemingway Look-Alike Contest at Sloppy Joe's).
  • Late July & Early August: Florida Spiny Lobster Mini-Season & Lobsterfest.
• September, October & November (Hurricane Watch & Fantasy Fest): September and early October are peak Atlantic hurricane season, so choose refundable bookings. During the final 10 days of October, 70,000 costumed revellers fill Duval Street for adults-only Fantasy Fest, followed by warm, breezy November. Check what to wear in Key West.