Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys (Weather, Crowds, and More)

If you are interested in the Florida Keys, one of the main questions you are probably asking yourself is: When is the BEST time to visit?! Truth is, there’s no bad time to visit the Keys, but each season has its pros and cons!

In this post, I’ll provide my personal opinion on when the best time to visit the Florida Keys is… but I will also give you a breakdown by season, including what you can expect for weather patterns, festivals and events, crowds, and more! Your preferred time to visit is going to depend on so many things, like your budget, interest, travel style, and this guide should help you narrow it down.

So keep reading if you would like to know more about what the Florida Keys are like in summer, fall, winter, and spring, and when I think the best time to visit is!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link or book through an affiliate program, I receive a small commission at no cost to you!

A Detailed Guide on the Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys

Florida Keys Weather

Like I mentioned above, there’s really no bad time to visit the Florida Keys. This is because the Florida Keys weather is tropical year round!

To start, I wanted to give you a quick overview of what type of temperatures you can expect in the Florida Keys across all four seasons! I’ll go into more specific details (about hurricanes, rain, etc.) in the later sections, but this is a great starting point!

I chose Key West to pull data from, but the average across all the Keys is typically very similar!

As you can see, temperatures in the Keys are quite warm year-round. It rarely dips below 60, and most days are filled with sunshine.. sounds perfect right?! Almost… but keep reading to find out the cons of each season!

Quick Look at the Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys

Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys For Events

Due to the wonderful weather, the best time to visit the Florida Keys for events is between January and April. During this time, you can attend famous festivals and events like the Seven Mile Bridge Run, Conch Republic Independence Celebration, and the Florida Keys Seafood Festival!

Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys For Weather

In my opinion, the best time to visit the Florida Keys for weather is March – April. Of course, this is totally subjective to what you define as “good weather”. Some people prefer the extremely mild temperatures in December and January.

In general, avoid visiting in June, July, August, and September if you want to avoid sweltering temperatures, afternoon rain storms, and hurricanes! 😉

Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys For Low Prices

Naturally, the cheapest time to visit the Florida Keys is when the weather is the worst.. aka June, July, August, and September! As mentioned above, summer in the Florida Keys are hot and humid. Afternoon rain storms are extremely common. Plus, you run the risk of having your vacation cancelled by a hurricane.

Some might call summer the worst time to visit the Florida Keys. However, I disagree. As a Floridian, I can put up with the soaring temperatures. If a hurricane comes, I can simply cancel my vacation! I love visiting the Florida Keys in the summer because the crowds are small and hotel prices are low!

Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys For Boating

Similar to the above, the best time to get out on the water in the Florida Keys is summertime. In the summer, the ocean temperature in the Keys is nice and warm (around 86ºF in August!). You’ll typically be blessed with calm seas and sunny days. In addition, summer is the start of mini lobster season, which is a very popular time to visit the Keys!

Visiting the Florida Keys: Breakdown by Season

Below I’ll provide an overview of what it’s like to visit the Florida Keys in each season! This includes a more detailed breakdown of the weather patterns, plus a list of different events you can attend!

Visiting the Florida Keys in the Spring

Months: March – May
Weather: Cool with little to no rain!
Crowds: Minimal, except for spring breakers
Events: Seafood festivals & fishing tournaments!

Spring Weather in the Florida Keys

Let’s start with Spring time, because it’s personally my favorite time to visit the Keys.

From March through May, the weather in the Keys is just perfect. Highs typically stay under the mid-80°s, and it’s nice and cool in the evenings. Plus, rainfall is pretty low, and so are crowds!!

Hotels shouldn’t be too pricey in March – May, as you are coming off high season (winter). However, there may be some crowds in Key West due to Spring Break, so keep that in mind!

Spring Events in the Florida Keys

Here are a list of the most popular events in the Keys that take place from March – May:

March:
Key West Orchid Fair
Islamorada Seafood and Art Festival
Marathon Seafood Festival
St. Patrick’s Day Key West Bar Stroll

April:
Florida Keys Island Fest
Seven Mile Bridge Run
Underwater Easter Egg Hunt
Key West Southernmost Air Show Spectacular
Jimmy Buffett Day at Margaritaville Beach House
Conch Republic Independence Celebration
Marathon Sailfish Tournament
7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix

May:
Key Largo Triathlon
Mother’s Day Dolphin Tournament
Key West Dolphin Fishing Tournament

Visiting the Florida Keys in the Summer

Months: June – August
Weather: HOT and HUMID (also hurricanes)
Crowds: Minimal!
Events: Pride, Key Lime Festival, Lobster Season

Summer Weather in the Florida Keys

Unlike a lot of places, summer is actually low season in the Florida Keys!

Why… you might ask? Two words. Heat. and. Humidity

If you’re not used to them, summers in south Florida can be particularly brutal! We are talking highs in the upper 90s and humidity up to 80%. So, it can be very unpleasant if you’re not used to this type of weather.

This is why a lot of people avoid visiting the Florida Keys in the summertime and why summer is the cheapest time to visit. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, summer is the perfect time to visit the Florida Keys.

Summer is also the best time for snorkeling and scuba diving in the Keys. The ocean is warm, the seas are calm, and the water is clear!

In addition to the temps, June 1st marks the beginning of hurricane season. I’ll dive more into hurricane season in the next section, but one tip here: make sure you book refundable tickets and hotels if you are planning to visit during hurricane season!

In terms of events, one of the biggest draws to visiting the Florida Keys in the summer is the start of Lobster season! Mini season is the last Wednesday and Thursday in July, followed by the regular season stretching from August 6 through March 31.

You will normally see an uptick in hotel prices and crowds during mini season and the beginning of lobster season, but then it levels out!

Summer Events in the Florida Keys

Here are a list of other events that take place in the Keys during the summer season:

June:
Skipper’s Dolphin Tournament
Coralpalooza
Key West Pride Week

July:
Key West Mermaid Festival
Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks
Key Lime Festival
Underwater Music Festival
Key West Lionfish Derby

August:
Lobsterfest Key West
Key Largo Triathlon
Key West Tropical Heat

Visiting the Florida Keys in the Fall

Months: September – November
Weather: Rainy then Cool
Crowds: Moderate
Events: Fantasy Fest, Key West Seafood Festival

Fall Weather in the Florida Keys

Fall in the Florida Keys should really be split into two seasons..

During the first half, from the beginning of September to about mid-October, it’s basically just a continuation of summer.

Hurricane season is in full swing. It’s still extremely hot. And it rains almost every afternoon..

If you’re visiting this time of year, like I mentioned above, make sure to have a Plan B and book everything refundable. The reason is, 95% of hurricanes pop up in August – October, and they really pop up out of nowhere.

Unfortunately, I have had to cancel trips within a few days’ notice because of hurricanes, so it’s best to be prepared! Again, if you’re looking for less crowds and lower hotel prices, this can still be a great time to visit! Just expect some rain, and be prepared if things go awry!

However, from mid-October through November, temperatures start to cool and rain chances fall. October – November can be a beautiful time to visit the Keys – everything is pretty mild during this time. Plus, there are not many crowds!

Fall Events in the Florida Keys

Here is a list of other events that take place in the Keys during the fall season:

September:
Womenfest Key West
Florida Keys Lionfish Derby
Big Gay Key West

October:
Key West Fantasy Fest

November:
Key West Offshore World Race
Backcountry Fishing Tournament
Key West Film Festival

Planning a trip to the Florida Keys? Don’t forget to check out my other Florida Keys blog posts:
Key Largo vs Key West: Which Key to Choose
25 Epic Things to Do in Key West, Florida
14 Best Restaurants in Islamorada
Miami to Key Largo Road Trip Guide

Visiting the Florida Keys in the Winter

Months: December – February
Weather: Cool/Mild
Crowds: HIGH
Events: Fantasy Fest, Key West

Winter Weather in the Florida Keys

Ahh.. winter in the Keys.. the snow on the ground…

JUST kidding 😉

Winter in the Keys is very similar to Spring in the Keys, except you might need a light jacket!

For real, the weather in the Florida Keys from December to February is absolutely to die for.. With highs in the 70s, and lows in the mid-60s, you will still see plenty of people in shorts and flip flops.

The water temperature is still swimmable (although you might want a wetsuit!)

And it BARELY rains..

Sounds too good to be true right? All of these perks come at the cost of higher hotel prices, more crowds, etc. So if you’re trying to save money on your trip to the Keys, winter might not be the best time to visit.

Winter Events in the Florida Keys

Not surprisingly, there are TONS of festivals in the Keys during this time of year thanks to the great weather. Here are some of the most popular:

December:
Key Largo Bridge Run

January:
Islamorada Sail Fly Tournament
Orange Bowl Swim Classic
Florida Keys Celtic Festival
Key West 5K and Half Marathon
Nautical Expo
Florida Keys Seafood Festival
Key West Food and Wine Festival
Key West Craft Show
The Southernmost Regatta

February:
Nautical Flea Market
Cuda Bowl
Florida Keys Pup Crawl
Fl Keys Brewing Festival

Packing for the Florida Keys

Luckily, your packing list for the Keys won’t vary much from season to season. Here is what I recommend bringing along! Don’t forget to check out my guide on What to Wear in Key West for all my packing tips!

Sunscreen (Supergoop is my favorite!)
Snorkel Gear (if you don’t have your own, you can rent some)
Polarized Sunglasses (these are adorable and inexpensive!)
Bathing Suits
GoPro
Waterproof sandals (I love my Reefs!)
Kimono/Cover Up
Floppy Hat (this one rolls up for easy packing)
Umbrella/rain jacket
Bug Repellent

Other Things You Should Know

Hotels in the Keys can fill up FAST in high season or around major events and festivals. I recommend booking six months in advance if you know you’ll be visiting during one of these times. Make sure you read the reviews on TripAdvisor before choosing a hotel!

Like I mentioned above, if you’re planning to visit the Keys during hurricane season, make sure to book a refundable room. I always use Booking.com because they have great cancellation policies!

If you’re visiting the Florida Keys for the first time, I highly recommend renting a car and driving from Key Largo to Key West so you can really see all that the Florida Keys have to offer. But if you’re short on time, a weekend trip from Miami to Key Largo also fits the bill!

Finally, don’t forget to check out my Ultimate Florida Keys Travel Guide, which has even more details on where to stay, things to do, and other helpful tips to help plan your epic Florida Keys adventure!!