Florida in February might be the prettiest month of the year to visit if you are basing your trip on the weather.
People from all over the world escape their snow-filled homes and come to Florida for sunny, yet dry and cool weather that is extremely mild.
Growing up in Florida, I never realized how lucky I was to have sunny weather in the mid-70s in February. Now that I am older and have traveled to northern states during February I now realize just how lucky I was!
If you are thinking to visit Florida in February, it is a great time to go! Here is everything you need to know!
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Is February a good time to visit Florida?
February is a great time of the year to visit Florida. Some may argue that it may be the best month to travel to Florida. The weather in Florida is some of the mildest and most pleasant weather in the entire country during February.
Festivals, markets, and events are in full swing as locals try and take advantage of the dry, sunny weather before summer begins, bringing with it the regular afternoon thunderstorms.
It is also one of the most popular months to travel to Florida. You may see a small spike in spring break tourists towards the end of the month, but the real swarm of college kids, and young kids with parents typically doesn’t begin until March.
If you tend to avoid crowds when you travel, February might not be the best month for you to visit Florida. The beaches tend to be packed with northern residents seeking relief from a blustery winter.
Florida Weather in February?
If you visit Florida in February, you will enjoy the perfect weather for boating, exploring parks, and sunbathing at the beach. During the daytime, it is typically dry, mild, warm, and sunny. At night, it is still dry, if not drier, and the temperature cools down a little bit.
Nighttime in February offers the perfect kind of weather to have a fire on the beach. Many beaches require that you purchase a low-cost permit in advance to have a fire. So, be sure to do your research before setting anything ablaze. It’s not miserably hot and humid like other months in Florida.
Florida is a very long state. Therefore, your location within the state largely affects the climate that you will experience.
For instance, if you visit Tallahassee in the northwest corner of the state, the average low temperature in February is 42°F (6°C). However, Key West, the southernmost city in the state, has an average low temperature of 66°F (19°C).
What is the Rainfall in February?
February is typically one of the driest months of the year, and storms are infrequent. The probability of it raining in Florida during February is 29%.
The further north you are in the state, the more likely you will experience rain. The southern side of the state is typically much more mild and dry. Cities across Florida have rainfall ranging from 1.3 inches to 5 inches, with an average of 2.4 inches statewide. The average amount of daily sunshine in February is eight hours per day.
If you aren’t a fan of rain or thunderstorms, February is a great month for you to visit Florida. The lack of rainfall during February is another reason that boating and watersports are so popular during February. Each year, February tends to get warmer and warmer. However, the rainfall has been becoming less and less.
What is the heat and humidity in Florida in February?
The average high temperature in Florida in February is 77°F (25°C). During the day, it is typically pleasant, sunny, and mild. However, it tends to cool down during the nighttime.
Florida’s weather seems to transition to spring weather throughout February. Therefore, the later in the month that you decide to visit, the warmer the weather will be. Humidity is rather low during February. It is typically more humid in the morning than in the afternoon.
In the morning the humidity ranges from 80% to 88% across Florida. In the afternoon the humidity ranges from 49% to 56%, except for Key West which has an average low of 67%. This is a considerably low humidity percentage for Florida. February is one of the least humid months of the year to come to Florida.
Water temperature?
In the Gulf of Mexico, off the western coast of Florida, the water temperature ranges from 50°F to 60°F (10°C to 20°C). This is one of the coldest months of the year in the Gulf of Mexico, although it is still some of the warmest weather in the country during February.
The water temperature in the Atlantic Ocean off of the eastern coast of Florida varies depending on how far south you are in the state. In the northern end of the state, the average water temperature ranges from 59°F to 63°F (15°C to 17°C).
However, in the southern end of the state, the average water temperature ranges from 70°F to 72°F (21°C to 22°C). Coming from the northern states, this water feels comparably warm to back home. Although, it is one of the coldest months of the year to go in the ocean.
What are the best things to do in Florida in February?
Because the weather is so beautiful in February, you really can’t go wrong with what you put on your itinerary for your trip to Florida. I still have some suggestions in case you need a little inspiration.
If you would like to treat your special someone to a trip, you might be interested in booking a Valentine’s Day vacation to one of Florida’s luxurious hotels. Although it is a rather expensive stay, the Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is the best option in the whole state. This is a separate island located south of Key West.
If you are looking for something slightly less expensive, although still extravagant, the Four Seasons in Orlando offers a lovely Valentine’s Day spa package.
Other fantastic options for your trip down to Florida include scuba diving in the Florida Keys, visiting Busch Gardens or Universal Studios theme park, and getting your heart racing on some rollercoaster rides.
Will it be hot in Florida in February?
It is not hot in Florida during February, but it is sunny and warm. It tends to cool down a bit at night. It’s the perfect kind of weather for hanging out on the beach or going for a boat ride.
It’s warm and pleasant, but you won’t be melting because of the heat and humidity, unlike the summer months in Florida. Although, February does seem to be getting warmer over time. In 2023, Florida had ground-breaking high temperatures. Twenty out of the twenty-eight days in the month saw a high temperature of 80°F (27°C) or above.
It was one of the hottest February’s in Florida’s history. However, February 2018 still holds the record for the hottest February in Florida history.
The further south you go in Florida, the warmer the weather will be. So, it’s no surprise that Key West, Florida’s southernmost city, is the warmest place to visit in February. If you are looking for something a little different, most cities in southern Florida will have warm temperatures similar to Key West’s temperature.
Key West is known for having pretty consistent weather. They often boast that they have no seasons, just summer all year long. The water temperature in Key West is also typically the warmest in the state during February.
So, if you’re hoping to fill your trip with swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and other water sports but you’re sensitive to colder water, Key West is a great place for you to visit. It also tends to be one of the busiest months of the year for tourism in Key West, so be sure to keep that in mind while making arrangements.
What are some other warm cities to visit in Florida in February?
Most cities in southern Florida will also have warm weather and warm water temperatures, especially compared to the rest of the country. Any of the Keys north of Key West are typically very close temperature to Key West, with Key Largo being the coolest out of all of them.
Other great options to visit in southern Florida on the east coast include Miami. Miami Beach, Biscayne Key, Jupiter, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca Raton. Again, the further north you go the cooler it gets so Key Biscayne, Miami, and Miami Beach will likely be the warmest options on the east coast.
If you are hoping to explore Florida’s west coast, there aren’t too many options as the Everglades covers a large portion of southwestern Florida. However, Ten Thousand Islands is a string of islands south of Marco Island that are worth checking out, especially if you are a nature lover.
Is February a good time to visit Orlando Florida?
February is arguably one of the best months of the year to visit Orlando. If you’ve visited Orlando in its warmer months, you know how heavy and hot the humidity can become while you’re in the middle of the state. February is much cooler and drier, so you won’t get burnt out too quickly.
February also provides great weather for visiting the theme parks. If theme parks aren’t your thing, it’s also perfect weather to go zip lining, horseback riding, ATV rides, airboat rides, fishing, and so much more. You will also encounter a slightly less crowded Orlando if you decide to visit in February.
The holiday months, October through December tend to be the busiest months of the year. By the time February rolls around the tourism industry has slowed down quite a bit. Temperatures typically range from the low to mid-70s, and the chance of rain is very low.
Is February a good time to visit Universal & Disney?
February is a fantastic time of year to visit the theme parks. As I said above, out-of-state tourism typically slows down after the main holiday season is over. This allows you to enjoy some cool theme parks without having to fight your way through large crowds with families that have screaming children.
The Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Studios begins in February and is a wonderful experience. I remember my first time visiting Universal when I was a little girl was during their Mardi Gras celebration and I was blown away. It feels like you’ve teleported to New Orleans.
Epcot also hosts an International Festival of the Arts. This festival includes a range of three different types of art: visual, culinary, and performing arts.
Is February a good time to visit the Florida Keys?
The Florida Keys are the most popular place in Florida to visit in February. The weather and water are warm and mild, and people from all over the country flock to the keys to escape their aggressive winters back home.
You will find some of the warmest weather and water in the Florida Keys out of the entire country during February. The Florida Keys might be the only place you can snorkel in February without needing a wetsuit.
You will also see fewer crowds if you visit in February, as the craze during the holiday season has come to an end. It is still a bit more pricey to visit the Florida Keys during February compared to the summer months, but November-December and March-April are the busiest and most expensive months of the year.
Is February a good time to visit the Everglades?
Due to the cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels, February is an awesome month of the year to visit the Everglades. The skies are usually a little more clear in February.
So, if you are planning a camping trip, make sure to sneak away from the lights to catch a glimpse of the night sky littered with bright constellations. Backcountry camping permits cost $21 in addition to $2 per person per night, this does not include the fee to the park, which is $30 per vehicle, or $15 per person if you are on foot.
Campsite costs range from $33 to $60 depending on the number of people in your party, the type of vehicles, and whether or not there is an electrical hook-up. If you’d truly like to be immersed in Florida wildlife, you can rent a houseboat on Whitewater Bay, and get to see the sunset over the water every night if you’d like.
Can you spot the baby alligator?
Is February a good time to visit Sarasota?
Depending on what type of traveler you are, February may either be a great month to visit Sarasota, or tiresome and unpleasant. The weather in Sarasota during February is beautiful.
It is sunny and breezy, and thunderstorms are rare. However, this gorgeous weather attracts a lot of Northerners referred to as “snowbirds”. Snowbirds are people who live up North but spend their winters in Florida. It is often a second home. Snowbirds also tend to be older and retired.
This can cause backups in traffic and crowds throughout the city. Prices are typically slightly higher between December through February.
The weather just might be worth the crowds and elevated prices. February has an average high temperature of 74°F (23°C) and an average low of 55°F (13°C). The average rainfall for February is only 2.6 inches (6.6 centimeters), with most of its days being sunny and breezy.
Is February a good time to visit Tampa?
Similar to Sarasota, Tampa is a great place to visit in February if you are basing your trip on the weather. Although, February also happens to be one of the busiest and most expensive times of the year to visit February.
There’s no shortage of activities in February, no matter what your interests are. There is an aquarium, amusement park, pirate ship, zoo, and tons of luxury retail stores and restaurants.
You can also visit historic Ybor City to see the wild roosters and enjoy authentic Cuban cuisine. If wild nightlife is your kind of entertainment, visit Ybor City for the party of your life.
Tampa is also just a short drive or Uber to the beach, where you can sunbathe along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida State Fair is also held in Tampa in February if you’d like to feast on carnival food and test the strength of your stomach on carnival rides.
What other part of Florida should I visit in February?
The weather is beautiful across the whole state of Florida during February, but some gems are worth a visit. Daytona is a diverse city with a variety of activities.
The Daytona 500 is held in February, which is a 500-mile-long NASCAR Cup Series race held every year and attracts viewers from all over the world. Another great choice for a February trip is Cape Canaveral, particularly if you’re interested in space and science.
It is home to the Kennedy Space Center, Air Force Space and Missile History Center, and NASA’s launching center for rockets. If you’re looking for a laid-back, “island-time” sort of vacation, Atlantic Beach, located north of Jacksonville Beach would be a great destination for you.
You can enjoy fresh seafood, beach vibes, and big beautiful beaches that aren’t quite as crowded as Jacksonville Beach.
What activities or events are held in Florida in February?
Events happen across Florida because of how pleasant the weather is. I’ve chosen two events across Florida in February that I think are worth the detour, and they also all happen to be free.
Florida’s strawberries are delicious red morsels. Learn more about them at the Melbourne Strawberry Fest, held February 17th-18th in Wickham Park, Melbourne. The fest is a gathering consisting of strawberry shortcakes, pony rides, a pie-eating contest, delicious food vendors, and tons of Florida strawberries.
The Seawalk Music Festival is held on February 24th-25th in Jacksonville and features many local musicians. The festival is family-friendly, but not pet-friendly and there are VIP tickets available for purchase.
Is February a good time to see manatees?
During the winter time, the manatees tend to flock towards Florida’s freshwater springs located around Central Florida, as they stay 72°F (22°C) all year round, which is usually warmer than most other coastal cities during the middle of winter. Crystal River is a popular spot to search for manatees at the springs.
The peak season for getting to check out manatees there is November through April. The months of the year that have the highest population of manatees are December through February. If you aren’t able to make it to Central Florida and happen to be further south or north, you still have a chance at seeing the manatees.
If you go to your nearest power plant that is located on the water, the warm water generated from the plant will attract manatees in search of relief from cold winter water.
What to pack and wear in February when visiting Florida?
Even though it is the middle of winter, you will mostly need shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, flip-flops, and sneakers, as it can get pretty sunny and warm during the daytime.
Although, be sure to bring a jacket and a pair of pants or two because it cools down considerably at night. Even if you think that the temperature of the ocean is too cold for you, I would recommend still bringing a bathing suit because most hotel pools are heated.
I like to wear a large, wide-brimmed straw hat to protect my face and shoulders from the sun. Speaking of the sun, it is important to put on sunblock daily, you can still get burned in cooler weather and the sky is typically clear and sunny in February.
How does February fare for hotel rates?
Florida’s high season is from mid-December through mid-April. This is because those are the coldest months of the year around the country, and the snowbirds flock down to Florida to escape the frigid temperatures.
Locals tend to call this time “snowbird season”. Therefore, February is not the most cost-effective month to visit Florida, It is one of the most expensive months of the year because everyone is trying to enjoy the beautiful, mild weather.
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Are you planning to go to Florida in February? Let us know!
