December is the best month to stop overthinking a trip and just book one. If you're hunting the best places to visit in December, the USA has a full range: you can be skiing powder in Colorado or snorkeling in the Keys on the same weekend.
Whether you're dreaming of a snowy mountain retreat in a charming Christmas town or craving a sunny beach getaway, we've got you covered. From chasing the northern lights in Alaska to exploring the coral reefs of the Florida Keys, the United States has something for everyone.
Don't let your December slip by. Here are the 21 best places to go in December in the USA for 2026, sorted by the weather you're after.
Related: Most Magical Christmas Towns in the US | Best Places to Visit in November
The Most Asked Questions on December Travel in the US
Where Is the Best Place to Travel in December in the USA?
For a quintessential winter wonderland experience, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is one of the best places to travel in December. With world-class skiing, scenic wildlife tours, and stunning views of the Teton Mountains, it's perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. For those who prefer a tropical escape, Honolulu, Hawaii, offers warm temperatures, beautiful beaches, and festive luaus, ideal for a sunny holiday twist.
If you're looking for a tool to help you plan your US December trip, know that Away.ai handles the flight and hotel.
Which US State Is Best to Visit in December?
Utah is one of the best states to visit in December, particularly for those who love winter sports. Park City, known for its ski resorts and charming holiday atmosphere, is perfect for a magical, snowy escape. If you're looking for something warmer, Florida is a great option, offering sunny beaches and festive events in cities like Miami and Key West.
Where Is the Warmest Place in the US in December?
The warmest place in the US in December is typically Key West, Florida. With balmy temperatures, clear blue waters, and a laid-back island vibe, it's the perfect tropical escape during the holiday season. Expect highs in the 70s and 80s, making it ideal for beach lounging, snorkeling, and festive island celebrations.
Related: Not traveling in winter? Here are top places to visit in the US in May, a month for great weather.
The 21 Best Places to Visit in December in the USA 2026
Warm:
- Miami, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- San Diego, California
- Orlando, Florida
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Palm Springs, California
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Snowy:
- Aspen, Colorado
- Vail, Colorado
- Park City, Utah
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
- Stowe, Vermont
- The Adirondacks, New York
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Festive cities:
Warm Places to Visit in December in the USA
If a coat isn't part of the plan, the southern third of the country stays comfortable all month. These are the warm places to visit in December that USA travelers book when they want sun instead of snow.
Miami, Florida
Average temperature: 65°F - 75°F
Miami is the warm-weather default for good reason. You get beaches, Art Deco architecture, and Little Havana without ever reaching for a jacket, plus a holiday season that plays out on the water instead of in the snow.
- Best known for: South Beach, Ocean Drive, and Cuban food in Little Havana.
- Don't miss: Art Basel in early December and the holiday boat parades on Biscayne Bay.
Related: Christmas in Miami
Key West, Florida
Average temperature: 65°F - 75°F
Key West is the warmest spot in the continental US this month, and the pace matches. Days are for snorkeling, sailing, and doing very little, with Holiday Fest adding lighted boat parades and island-style events to the mix.
- Best known for: Duval Street, the Hemingway House, and Key lime pie.
- Don't miss: The Holiday Fest lighted boat parade and sunset at Mallory Square.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Average temperature: 70°F - 80°F
Honolulu runs the warmest numbers on this list and pairs them with a holiday season that's genuinely its own. Honolulu City Lights transforms downtown, and boat parades carry the cheer out onto the water.
- Best known for: Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, and Pearl Harbor.
- Don't miss: Honolulu City Lights downtown and snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.
San Diego, California
Average temperature: 55°F - 65°F
San Diego trades heat for mildness and empty beaches. December Nights at Balboa Park is the anchor event, and whale watching peaks from mid-month.
- Best known for: The San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, and the Gaslamp Quarter.
- Don't miss: December Nights, the Boat Parade of Lights, and gray whale season.
Related: Best Christmas Towns in California
Orlando, Florida
Average temperature: 50°F - 70°F
Orlando does the holidays at theme-park scale, with cooler temperatures and smaller crowds than the summer rush. The parks decorate hard, and downtown holds its own around Lake Eola.
- Best known for: Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Lake Eola Park.
- Don't miss: The holiday overlays at both resorts and the Lake Eola lights.
Related: Best Christmas Towns in Florida
New Orleans, Louisiana
Average temperature: 50°F - 65°F
New Orleans pairs mild weather with a holiday season that sounds different from everywhere else. Jackson Square and Canal Street light up, and the city's Creole Christmas traditions run through December.
- Best known for: The French Quarter, live jazz, and Creole cooking.
- Don't miss: A Reveillon dinner and the lights in Jackson Square.
Phoenix, Arizona
Average temperature: 45°F - 65°F
Phoenix is at its best in December, when daytime highs around 70°F make desert hiking genuinely pleasant instead of punishing. The city layers festive events on top of the outdoor draw.
- Best known for: Camelback Mountain, the Desert Botanical Garden, and Sonoran Desert hiking.
- Don't miss: Las Noches de las Luminarias and Holidays at the Heard.
Palm Springs, California
Average temperature: 50°F - 70°F
Palm Springs delivers warm days, cool nights, and a mid-century streetscape that photographs well under holiday lights. It's the low-effort desert option, with Joshua Tree an hour away when you want more.
- Best known for: Mid-century modern architecture, desert spas, and Indian Canyons.
- Don't miss: The Festival of Lights Parade and a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park.
Charleston, South Carolina
Average temperature: 46°F - 60°F
Charleston, SC, is at its most walkable in December, when the summer humidity finally lifts. You can cover centuries-old streets and the waterfront on foot, then eat your way through the city's Southern cooking.
- Best known for: Rainbow Row, antebellum architecture, and shrimp and grits.
- Don't miss: A horse-drawn carriage ride and the gardens at Magnolia Plantation.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Average temperature: 39°F - 58°F
Las Vegas drops the summer heat for dry highs in the mid-60s, which is ideal for getting out of the city during the day. Pair desert hiking with a Strip decked out in holiday lights after dark.
- Best known for: The Strip, casino spectacle, and day trips to the Grand Canyon.
- Don't miss: Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and the Hoover Dam.
Where to See Snow in the US in December
If you want the opposite trip, the mountain West and northern New England are reliable by early December. These are the best December vacations in the US for powder, sleigh rides, and cold air.
Aspen, Colorado
Average temperature: 17°F - 27°F
Aspen blends serious skiing with a town that decorates like it means it. Non-skiers get sleigh rides, ice skating, and tubing, plus hot springs within driving distance.
- Best known for: Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, and high-end après-ski.
- Don't miss: The 12 Days of Aspen and the New Year's Eve torchlight parade.
Related: Best Christmas Towns in Colorado
Vail, Colorado
Average temperature: 15°F - 30°F
Vail has some of the best terrain in the country attached to a Bavarian-style village that handles the off-mountain half of the trip. Expect decorated streets and lodges built for collapsing into after a long day.
- Best known for: Vail Mountain's back bowls and the pedestrian villages.
- Don't miss: The Kris Kringle Market and the New Year's Eve torchlight parade at Golden Peak.
Park City, Utah
Average temperature: 20°F - 35°F
Park City puts world-class skiing 35 minutes from a major airport, which makes it the easiest ski trip on this list. Main Street handles the holiday atmosphere.
- Best known for: Park City Mountain, Deer Valley, and the Utah Olympic Park.
- Don't miss: Snowfest, when Santa arrives by ski lift, and the New Year's Eve torchlight parade.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Average temperature: 10°F - 28°F
Jackson Hole sits beneath the Tetons and offers the most dramatic scenery of any ski town here. December is prime wildlife season, which sets it apart from the rest.
- Best known for: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and the Teton Range.
- Don't miss: Elk, bison, and moose spotting, plus a soak at Granite Hot Springs.
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Average temperature: 25°F - 35°F
Lake Tahoe gives you a dozen resorts around one alpine lake, so you can ski a different mountain every day. The scenery alone justifies a cabin weekend even if you never click in.
- Best known for: Heavenly, Northstar, and skiing with a lake view.
- Don't miss: Snowshoeing the north shore and the Heavenly Gondola.
Related: Not a winter traveler? These April destinations offer milder weather and fewer crowds.
Stowe, Vermont
Average temperature: 10°F - 28°F
Stowe is the New England answer to the mountain West: snow-covered streets, sleigh rides, and inns with fireplaces, all at the base of Mount Mansfield.
- Best known for: Stowe Mountain Resort and the Trapp Family Lodge.
- Don't miss: The Spruce Peak Lights Festival and the Ben & Jerry's factory tour.
Related: Best Christmas Towns in Vermont
The Adirondacks, New York
Average temperature: 17°F - 32°F
The Adirondacks offer six million acres of quiet, which is the appeal. Skiing and snowshoeing fill the days, and the villages scattered through the park handle the rest.
- Best known for: Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain, and two Winter Olympics.
- Don't miss: A sleigh ride through the forest and the Olympic bobsled track.
Anchorage, Alaska
Average temperature: 0°F - 20°F
Anchorage is the most extreme option here and the only one where the northern lights are a realistic goal. Long nights are the trade-off, and also the point.
- Best known for: Aurora viewing, glacier tours, and Chugach State Park.
- Don't miss: A dog sledding tour and the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Average temperature: 30°F - 50°F
Gatlinburg splits the difference, with snow at elevation and mild afternoons in town. It's the cheapest mountain option on this list by a wide margin.
- Best known for: The Great Smoky Mountains and millions of holiday lights.
- Don't miss: Winter Magic downtown and Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas next door.
Related: Christmas Towns in Tennessee | The Christmas Town in Washington State
Festive Cities and Places to Visit During Christmas in the USA
Some December trips aren't about weather at all. These two cities are worth the cold for what they do with the season.
New York City, New York
Average temperature: 32°F - 43°F
New York City is the most transformed city in the country come December, from Fifth Avenue window displays to the tree at Rockefeller Center. It's crowded and expensive, and still worth it once.
- Best known for: Rockefeller Center, the Fifth Avenue windows, and Central Park.
- Don't miss: Ice skating in Central Park and the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Average temperature: 34°F - 46°F
Philadelphia, PA, gets you most of what New York offers at a fraction of the cost and the crowds. The historic sites are noticeably emptier in winter, too.
- Best known for: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the LOVE sculpture.
- Don't miss: The Christmas Village in LOVE Park, the Macy's light show, and skating at Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest.
Related: Best Christmas Towns in Pennsylvania
December Travel in the USA: FAQs
Where Is It Warm in the US in December?
South Florida, Hawaii, and southern Arizona are the reliable bets. Key West and Honolulu both hold highs in the 70s and 80s all month, Miami sits in the mid-70s, and Phoenix and Palm Springs run around 70°F by day with cool desert nights. Southern California and the Gulf Coast are mild rather than hot, usually in the 60s.
What States Are Warm in December?
Hawaii and Florida are the warmest, followed by Arizona, southern California, Texas and Louisiana. Hawaii is the only state that stays genuinely tropical in December. In the continental US, southern Florida is the warmest region, which is why Key West tops most lists.
Where Can You See Snow in the US in December?
The Rockies and northern New England are the most dependable. Aspen, Vail, Park City, and Jackson Hole are near-certain by mid-December, as are Lake Tahoe, Stowe and the Adirondacks. Anchorage is the surest bet of all. Lower-elevation spots like Gatlinburg get snow on the peaks but not always in town.
When Should You Book a December Trip?
As early as you can for the week between Christmas and New Year's, which is the most expensive stretch of the year in both ski towns and warm-weather destinations. Early December is the cheapest window and the least crowded. If your dates are flexible, our guides to the best places to visit in January in the US cover the quieter weeks right after the holidays.
Experience December in the US with Hotelgift
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