The Best Month to Visit Florida

Florida is known as the Sunshine State, which means that many people decide to visit in the summer months when the weather is hot and the sun is out. But it’s a destination that is great no matter what time of year you go, with hundreds of different things to see and do between places like Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and the Florida Keys.

With more sunshine than any other part of the USA, you’re hard-pressed to find a time to visit this state where you won’t get at least several days of good weather. If you’re wondering what time of the year to visit, here’s a guide to the best month to visit Florida.

Florida in January

The weather in Florida in January is technically the coldest of the entire year, but all this really means is that you’ll get an average of only seven hours of sunshine every day. Average temperatures range between 16°C and 22°C, and there’s usually only rain an average of nine days throughout the month.

Florida winters are much milder than most of those across the USA, which is why so many ‘snowbirds’ from other states come to Florida in January. The climate is perfect for outdoor activities and long days of sightseeing, with things like hiking, cycling and sailing being ideal ways to spend your time.

Florida in February

February in Florida is considered the start of the high season for tourism, as more and more tourists start to come to the beaches and resorts along the coast to enjoy the sunshine. It’s also the month when Mardi Gras is celebrated, with all kinds of events held across the cities and at Universal Studios in Orlando.

Many people hit the beach because of the weather in Florida in February; there are average high temperatures of up to 23°C in the middle of the day and the sea starts to get warm enough for swimming. Bear in mind that popular tourist spots will start to get busy from this time of year, which will also be reflected in flight and accommodation prices.

Florida in March

Spring arrives in Florida in March with warm and sunny weather, as average high temperatures start to climb to 26°C. It’s one of the driest months and the year and enjoys around 9 hours of sunshine each day, making beach destinations like Key West and Miami very popular, particularly with students on their Spring Break.

It can get really busy along the coast in Florida in March, so if you’re not a big fan of crowds then I’d recommend spending your time in cities like Orlando, Tallahassee, Lakeland and Ocala. As the tourist season starts to get going there are plenty of exciting events happening up and down the state, such as the Sarasota Jazz Festival and The Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City.

Florida in April

April is definitely one of the best months to visit Florida because of the combination of warm weather, minimal rain and relatively small crowds of tourists coming to visit the state. This lull in the high season makes it a great time to visit popular cities like Orlando and Miami, as well as being a great month in Florida to spend time at coastal destinations such as the Florida Keys and West Palm.

The weather in Florida in April is perfect, with average high temperatures around 28°C that only drop down to 16°C in the evenings. It’s the last month of the dry season before chances of rain increase and the climate starts to get uncomfortably hot, which is why this is one of my favourites times of year to visit.

Florida in May

Summer begins in Florida in May, with average temperatures climbing to 32°C and sending the majority of tourists to the beach when they come to the state on holiday. With this increase in temperatures also comes an increase in the chances of wet weather however, with around half the days of the month usually seeing heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Whilst you’re not trying to shelter from the bad weather, there’s plenty to enjoy across Florida in May. The summer holidays haven’t officially begun yet which makes it a good time to visit popular tourist attractions before the crowds really set in, or you can enjoy the periods of hot and sunny weather by spending time at one of the state’s many brilliant beaches.

Florida in June

If you’re visiting the sunshine state for a serious beach holiday then coming to Florida in June is a great idea. I personally find it too hot this time of year, with average temperatures in the low thirties for the majority of the day, but if you’re planning on spending time on the beaches at the Keys, Miami or Naples then you’ll get plenty of chances to swim and sunbathe.

As in the rest of the summer months, the weather in Florida in June is underpinned by the high chances of a thunderstorm during your visit. It’s a good idea to plan a range of indoor and outdoor activities to adapt to the unpredictable weather, combining trips to the beach with museums, galleries, shops and restaurants.

Florida in July

As with the last two months, the weather in Florida in July is characterised by very high temperatures around 33°C and a high chance of heavy thunderstorms. These storms are usually short-lived, which doesn’t stop the majority of travellers from enjoying the beaches along the state’s coast, but the humidity may be too much for people who are unused to such warm weather.

A key event in Florida in July is Independence Day, which takes place on the 4th of the month and is celebrated almost everywhere in the state. You can expect fireworks displays, live music, celebratory food and drink and a very lively atmosphere, so if you’re in Florida during the holiday you’ll find plenty to see and do.

Florida in August

I wouldn’t recommend visiting Florida in August unless you’re prepared for very high temperatures and humidity, with the peak of the hurricane season starting around halfway through the month. That said, the very warm weather means that it’s not as busy a month across the state as earlier in the summer, making popular destinations a little less thronged with crowds.

It’s a good idea to be somewhere with excellent air conditioning when you’re visiting Florida at this time of year, so I’d suggest staying in one of the hotels or resorts I’ve previously recommended. You can read my guide to the Best Places to Stay in Florida here.

Florida in September

September in Florida is the last month of the summer season, meaning that the weather is still hot, humid and often stormy. It’s right in the middle of hurricane season so prepare for your plans to be disrupted by weather warnings, but in between the storms there will be sunshine and high temperatures of up to 32°C, particularly in the south of the state.

September is a great time to spend your trip in the more central cities in Florida, enjoying the attractions of places like Jacksonville and Tampa Bay as well as Orlando. It’s likely to be quiet in Sarasota and Venice on the Gulf Coast, so if you’re looking for a more relaxed holiday to these locations then this could be the perfect time.

Florida in October

Hurricane season continues throughout the first half of October, making this one of the less popular months to visit Florida. However, when the storms have quietened down the temperatures are in the high twenties and the sun is shining for around 8 hours every day, allowing for plenty of trips to the beaches along the coast if you time it right.

There are plenty of Harvest and Halloween events happening across Florida in October, offering lots of chances to try everything from pumpkin picking to brewing your own apple cider.

Florida in November

The weather in Florida in November signals the start of the dry season, with only an average of only 10 days experiencing rain and a much lower chance of thunder or tropical storms. The average high temperature during the month is 25°C, gradually getting cooler as December approaches but still providing ideal weather for getting out and about.

Thanksgiving falls in November in Florida, so if your trip coincides with this holiday then you can expect to see lots of locals leaving the state to visit family as well as plenty of Americans arriving to celebrate. It’s also one of the best times of the year in Florida to enjoy fresh seafood, as the annual Florida Seafood Festival takes place in Apalachicola and is not to be missed if you enjoy this kind of cuisine.

Florida in December

The final month of the year is a very popular time to visit Florida, as the state has much warmer and sunnier weather than most other places in the USA and is ideal for those who want to enjoy a beach break before the new year. The average high temperature is 22°C, which is cold by Florida’s standards but will feel very pleasant even if you’re spending the whole day outdoors!

Christmas in Florida in December is a big deal, with plenty of events organised across the state right from the start of the month. It is a busy time of year in terms of tourism, so places like Orlando and Miami are likely to be packed, whilst coastal towns and cities will be quieter.

Summary

Overall, my favourite time of year to visit Florida is in the Spring, before the weather has gotten too hot or too wet but it is still warm enough to enjoy trips to the beach. The southern towns and cities in the state will always experience hotter weather throughout the year so are more suited to those who enjoy high temperatures, whereas places like Orlando, Jacksonville and Panama City will be a little cooler and a better choice for any traveller who isn’t as bothered about spending time at the beach.

I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best month to visit Florida. You can read more of my recommendations for this state in my Florida Travel Guide here.