Best Time to Visit Key West, Florida

Winter and spring: the easy months

From November to April, Key West is at its best. Days are warm but not heavy, and nights stay mild. January and February score highest, with highs of 23°C and little rain. March and April are just as pleasant on paper, and you'll get more sun. The sea is warm enough for a swim by April, though January dips can feel brisk.

This is also high season, and you'll feel it. Duval Street is packed by early evening, and the crowd gathers at Mallory Square for the nightly sunset celebration. Hotels fill up and prices climb, especially around Christmas, New Year and spring break. Fantasy Fest isn't in this window, but the Key West Songwriters Festival in May and the Conch Republic celebrations in April are good reasons to come. If you want quiet, try early November or the weeks just after New Year.

May to June: hotter and wetter

May is a good in-between month. It's warm, the crowds thin, and rain falls on about half the days, usually in short bursts. By June the pattern changes. Rain is on most days, and June is among the wettest months at 213 mm. Showers are often heavy but quick, so you can still snorkel at the reef between them.

Travelling on a budget? Late May and June can be a fair deal. Summer lobster season opens in early August, and locals love it. Fishing charters stay busy through the warm months.

July to October: hot, wet and storm-prone

July to September are the hardest months. Highs reach 30°C, nights barely cool off, and it rains on nearly every day. August is the wettest on the list for rain days, with 26. September is close behind for total rainfall. This is also the peak of hurricane season, so keep your plans flexible and buy travel insurance that covers storms.

There's an upside. Rooms are cheaper, and you'll often have Smathers Beach and the Southernmost Point marker to yourself. Fantasy Fest, the big costume party and parade, takes over the island in late October. It's wild, loud and busy, so book well ahead. October is still rated Fair, with rain easing off by month's end.

Which month for which trip?

Want classic beach weather and long sunny days? Pick March or April. Travelling with kids? Go in the winter school break, but expect crowds. Keen on diving and don't mind showers? Try May. For a cheap, sticky getaway, choose June.