Best Times to Visit Destin, Florida: A Month-by Month Guide

When is the best time to visit Destin, Florida?

Most people would say the best time to visit Destin is October or May if you want the perfect combination of beautiful beach weather, fun events and amazing sunsets without the higher crowds of summer.

The actual answer of the best times to visit Destin will be different for everyone. It depends mostly on your overall vacation priorities. Crowd levels, events, weather, and beach conditions are also considerations.

The best time to visit Destin also depends on when you can travel, whether you are traveling with kids, and what activities you want to experience.

Every month and season is covered in detail here so you can pick the best time for you to visit Destin, Florida (updated for 2023).

The Best Times to Visit Destin, Florida

Things have changed a lot in the last 3-5 years regarding the best time to visit Destin. Off season used to be more noticeable, but every year the difference gets less and less since more people work from home now. This gives them greater flexibility for travel and vacation times.

Most schools are back to normal now, so we should see a return to the more traditional family vacation travel times. This seems to be the trend of last summer and fall. Destin becomes more popular every year though, so there will probably be plenty of couples, snowbirds and solo travelers to fill in the void.

The Seasons of Destin, Florida

An overview of the seasons of Destin is provided in this post first followed by every month of the year ranked in order taking into consideration all the variables that are typically important to the Destin visitors.

I have made some minor adjustments for the expected fall increase in crowds. Fall used to be considered off season and sort of a local’s secret.

The secret is out now about what a great time fall is in Destin (other than the hurricane risk) so we see an increase in crowds every year in those months.

These rankings should help you decide when is the best time to visit Destin based on your preferences and your vacation priorities.

It’s impossible to rank the months in the best way for everyone, since we all have different vacation priorities. I’ve done my best based on my own preferences and those of the many visitors I have spoken with and mixed that with what I think people expect and enjoy in a Destin vacation.

Every possible factor was been considered including the weather, crowds, events and beach conditions to decide when I think is the best time to visit Destin.

We don’t have the typical four climate seasons here in Destin, but we do have four distinct tourism seasons.

Below I will start with an overview of those and follow with my rankings and a month-to-month guide in order of what I would consider the best and worst months to visit Destin.

Summer in Destin: Mid-May through Mid-August

• Weather = Hot
• Crowds = Busy
• Tourist demographic = Mostly Families
• Prices = Peak

Summer is the best time to visit Destin if you love hot sunny beach weather, comfortable swimming temperatures, and a packed schedule of events and things to do, especially aimed at families.

Summer Crowds in Destin

Destin will see the highest crowds during the summer and traffic is heavy, especially in the evenings and all day on the weekends.

As far as the summer tourists go, the crowd will consist of mostly families with children and there will be no shortage of activities and events aimed towards them. There are pirate shows, movies on the lawn, pirate ship excursions, fireworks, and all sorts of other events to entertain and delight families who visit Destin.

Destin Summer Traffic

Traffic in Destin gets worse every year due to the increase of visitors so be sure to leave plenty of time to get everywhere.

There is constant road construction on highway 98 in the last few years to widen the roads and bridges to accommodate more people and this only added to the traffic congestion problems.

There has been a huge uptick in the number of golf carts being used for travel, especially along the 5 miles of Scenic 98 so that can slow things down a bit too in those areas. Scenic 98 is the popular beach road that stretches from Henderson Park Inn all the way to the east end of the road past Surf Hut restaurant.

Street Legal golf carts are allowed on all roads where the speed limit is 35mph or less but most of them only go 15-25mph so that can definitely slow traffic down too in the summer.

There are also people walking and riding bikes and scooters everywhere, especially on Scenic Highway 98 and Holiday Isle, so just leave yourself a lot of extra time to get anywhere in the summer months if you are driving.

Summer is the ideal time to consider large resort accommodations where you have the beach, activities, restaurants and excursions all in one place.

It might seem appealing to save some money and stay off the beach or down the road from everything, but your time also needs to be factored in on your Destin vacation.

Spending precious vacation time in the car frustrated with traffic and parking will lead most people to spend extra for more convenient accommodations on their next visit.

Summer Prices in Destin

Prices in Destin will be at their highest in summer as far as lodging, activities and everything else goes. A few days in July will be similar priced to a week in winter season. Be prepared for this spike in rates from Memorial Day through mid-August.

It will be harder to find discounts or deals in summer because Destin will max out on occupancy even at peak rates during this time. Many vacation rental owners are even reporting that they are selling out for summer in the spring so be sure to book ahead if you are planning a Destin visit during this time. It’s not the time to wait for last minute deals.

Summer Activities in Destin

Besides events and excursions, there are also tons of activities and water sports adventures to enjoy in summer with new stuff added every year.

You can try everything from parasailing, bungee jumping, zip-lining, free fall jumping, fishing, boating, fly-boarding, jet-skiing, stand up paddle boarding, banana boat rides and so many others. Here are some guides I wrote to these activities if you need more details:

• Parasailing in Destin: 6 Tips for a Great Flight
• My Jump off the Harborwalk Village Free Fall Tower
• My Fishing Trip on the Vera Marie Party Boat
• Stand up Paddle Boarding on Destin Harbor Complete Guide

Summer is also the best time to visit Crab Island in Destin. Crab Island will have the most clear water days and comfortable swimming/wading temperatures than any other season. Summer is also when Crab Island will have vendors and tours operating daily.

For more information about Crab Island in Destin, including how to get the clearest water and everything else you need to know, check out my guide here: Crab Island in Destin, Florida: Complete Visitors Guide

Summer Fireworks in Destin

Summer is also the season for weekly fireworks in Destin. The only place I know of in Florida with more fireworks than Destin is Disney World.

The summer fireworks shows in Destin take place from Memorial Day through mid-August on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. These are my guides to the different shows if you need more details:

• When and Where to Watch Fireworks at Baytowne Wharf
• When and Where to Watch Fireworks at the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk
• When and Where to Watch Fireworks at Harborwalk Village

I want to be clear that these are not some tiny fireworks shows. I have traveled to other places and gone to the fireworks shows and been unimpressed compared to the size and intensity of the fireworks shows here in Destin.

The three weekly fireworks shows here range from 6-10 minutes long and there are also holiday shows on 4th of July that are even bigger and better, so don’t miss the fireworks if you visit Destin in the summer.

Summer Weather in Destin

As far as the weather, it is hot but the humidity is not as uncomfortable as it can get in August and September here.

Summer will see the most rainfall of the year but most of the time it will be just short afternoon showers that wouldn’t normally be too disruptive to a vacation.

For this reason, it is usually not advisable to cancel plans based on the weather forecast since even a high rain prediction percentage is often just a brief shower.

Most of the 10-day Destin weather forecasts in summer will show a 40-50% chance of rain almost every day and this causes a lot of people to postpone their trip when often it doesn’t rain at all or it’s brief.

Sometimes it’s so hot in summer that the rain is a welcome way to cool off in the afternoon after a long day at the beach. Also summer beach storms are one of the most beautiful sights, especially if you are staying somewhere with a beach view.

In summary, summer is the best time to visit Destin if you love great beach weather for swimming, family activities, excursions, events, fireworks and watersports activities.

Fall in Destin: Mid-August through Mid-November

• Weather = Hot and Humid in early fall but less humidity and cooler evenings in later months
• Crowds = Moderate
• Tourist Demographic = Adults, Couples and Families during Fall Break
• Prices = Moderate

Fall is an amazing time of year to visit Destin and the Emerald Coast. This is when locals come out of hiding after the crazy summer to enjoy all the festivals and fishing events the season has to offer.

Fall Crowds in Destin

The greatness of fall in Destin used to be a bit of a locals secret but the word has gotten out in the last few years. More and more visitors are taking advantage of the slightly lower prices and less crowds by choosing this time of year for a getaway instead of the crazy summer.

Traditionally fall has always seen more adult visitors then families since the kids would have just recently gone back to school after being out all summer. However, more and more schools have added a fall break now so there will be an increase in families visiting in mid-October.

Fall Beach Landscape in Destin

The beaches in Destin and the Gulf Coast are absolutely beautiful during the fall months. The water is still warm enough to swim and the heaviest summer crowds have left.

The beach landscape is particularly stunning in early fall with the sea oats in full bloom adding so much beauty to the landscape.

The sea oats start blooming in June and they are hitting their peak of fullness between July-September before they start to fade in late fall and winter.

Fall Sunsets in Destin

One of the most exciting things about the fall season in Destin is the beautiful sunsets. Fall is when the sun begins to rise and set over the water at the beach again.

It is unfortunate that summer holds some of our best cloudy and colorful sunsets but the sun rises and sets from the northeast or northwest that time of year so it falls over land and behind the buildings if you watch from the beach.

It is only in the panhandle of Florida where sunset and sunrise happen this way. The east coast of Florida gets sunrise over the water all year but the sunset is always over the land. The west coast of Florida has sunset over the water all year but the sunrise is always over land.

Here on the south-facing beaches of the Emerald Coast, we get to see both the sunrise and the sunset over the water but only during half the year.

Sunrise and Sunset can be seen over the Gulf of Mexico on the beach from approximately late September through mid-March in Destin. The rest of the year they both will fall over land.

I explained this in more detail and gave some ideas for the best summer sunset spots in this post: Best spots for a summer sunset in Destin

Fall Prices in Destin

In early to mid-August, most hotels will start to drop into their fall season pricing which will generally be somewhere between the high rates of summer and the lower rates of winter.

Fall pricing is higher than it used to be given the increase in demand for travel during these months but it is still going to be lower than summer in most cases. You can expect another drop into even lower winter rates to start in early November.

It will still be more crowded then you would expect in “off-season” thanks to the great events and amazing weather during this time, but the crowds, much like the prices, will still be nothing even close to that of summer.

Many people are surprised to find that October especially has become a pretty popular time here if they arrive with expectations of a quiet and uncrowded vacation.

Fall Activities in Destin

Another thing that makes fall so popular is it’s the season with the most events and festivals that are more aimed at adults, unlike the summer events tend to be.

Fall in Destin holds beer festivals, art festivals, fishing tournaments, and so many others this time of year to enjoy along with the cooler temperatures. These events are discussed in more detail below in the month-to-month guide further down in this post.

Hurricane Season in Destin

There are still downsides to fall, the biggest of which is it being the height of hurricane season.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November but the highest hurricane and tropical storm activity is in the fall months when the gulf water temperatures are at their peak warmth in temperature.

We don’t get many hurricanes here that would completely ruin a whole vacation but they definitely do happen. Many people, myself included, enjoy riding out a tropical storm or a category 1 or 2 hurricane and would consider this more of a vacation adventure.

Tropical storms and small hurricanes can be fun if you are somewhere safe with a beach view. You won’t get to enjoy the typical beach vacation activities during this time but it’s still an amazing force of Mother Nature to witness.

Being in Destin during a storm is a personal decision so I can’t advise on whether you should keep your vacation plans in place or not in the event of a storm in our path, but I usually ride out all storms unless it’s a mandatory evacuation.

I don’t always insist on advising people to get hurricane insurance like some people do. I have found them to have so many stipulations that they can be tough to collect on for the most common hurricane scenarios.

If you do get insurance, make sure you are clear on what it covers. If they say you are covered in the event of a “hurricane warning” that doesn’t necessarily mean you are covered in the event of a hurricane watch, which can be just as problematic for travel plans.

Also sometimes they will only cover it if your accommodations are inside the predicted track but that doesn’t help if the track is nearby and you would have to drive or fly through it to get here. Basically just know exactly what you are covered for when purchasing hurricane insurance otherwise it’s a waste of money.

If you can figure all that out and feel safer spending the money then go for it. Otherwise just make sure to at least discuss the cancellation policies directly with your condo or resort when making the reservation.

Ask them what options you will have as far as refunds or rescheduling in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane. Also ask what the policy is if a storm affects your ability to travel to Destin by car or plane. Book with people who have a policy you feel comfortable with.

Fall Stingrays and Jellyfish

Another slight downfall of fall is that there are more critters in the water since the Gulf of Mexico will reach its peak water temperatures during this time.

Always be on the lookout for stingrays at the beach, especially in August and September. They are usually harmless and even exciting to swim with but they can sting you when startled.

It is recommended in these hot fall months to do the “Stingray Shuffle” when walking into the water where you drag your feet in the sand to alert them of your presence. This way they can swim off before you accidentally step on them since they like to hide out camouflaged in the sand and shallow water.

Jellyfish are another common concern in the fall in Destin. They aren’t usually a huge issue but there can be a few weeks in fall, especially in August and September, where there is a particularly bad outbreak and they are all over the beach, Destin Harbor and Crab Island.

In summery, fall is the best time to visit Destin if you love beer festivals, art festivals, fishing events, warm humid beach weather, and possibly some storms.

Winter in Destin: Mid-November through Mid-February

• Weather = Unpredictable. Some days are chilly but they are mixed with nice sunny days
• Crowds = Lower
• Tourist Demographic = Mostly Snowbirds
• Prices = Lower

Winter in Destin is a great time for quiet walks on the beach and the most amazing sunrises and sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.

Winter Crowds in Destin

Winter is the slowest time of year in Destin as far as beach crowds are concerned. Many of our winter tourists are retired people from northern states (aka “snowbirds”) who take advantage of the lower cost of accommodations to stay for several months and escape the harsh winters back home.

The exception to the low crowds is during Christmas break (mid-December through the first week of January) when there will be a spike in families visiting while kids are out of school.

There will also be several events during December themed around Christmas, Santa visits, and New Year’s Eve. Here is my guide to Christmas here in Destin if you want to know more: Christmas in Destin: Ultimate Guide to the Holiday Season

Winter Activities in Destin

Most tourist activities, watersports companies, boat tours, beach services and even a few restaurants will close for some or all of this time.

Some fishing, parasailing and dolphin cruises in Destin will operate all year, even if it’s on limited schedules. Many fishing charters will still be running on the weekends or available for private charters too.

Winter is also a great time for beach bonfires which are allowed in the neighboring town of Miramar Beach and all along 30a in Santa Rosa Beach.

You can do your own bonfire or hire a company to do it. I wrote an article about the requirements and everything you need to know to have an amazing beach bonfire here: How to Have a Beach Bonfire in Destin, Miramar Beach and 30a

Winter Weather in Destin

Even though the weather is nicer than most of the country is experiencing, it is still far colder at times than you would ever expect to feel in Florida. Sometimes the temps will get below freezing at night but for the most part, winter is pretty mild here.

Winter is the best time for sunrises and sunsets over the water when the sun is all the way out over the Gulf of Mexico.

In summery, winter is the best time to visit Destin if you love quiet walks on the beach, beach bonfires, holiday events, and beach sunsets over the water.

Spring in Destin: Mid-February through Mid-May

• Weather = Nice but still chilly at times
• Crowds = Mixture of busy and slow
• Tourist demographic = Mostly Families and College Spring Breakers
• Prices = Moderate to Peak

I have always had a love/hate relationship with spring in Destin. It’s exciting to welcome the warmer weather and fun spring events that it brings but I have mixed feelings about it overall and would personally place it last on my favorite times to visit.

My mixed feelings about spring in Destin is mostly because it will have crowds that rival summer at times but without the warm water, consistently warm weather, to accompany it. Spring is also missing the beautiful sunrises and sunsets over the water that we get in fall and winter.

Spring Weather in Destin

It can be unexpectedly cold in March and April depending on whether the sun is out or not. There will be some nice beach days if the sun is shining but if it’s overcast, most will find it too cold to enjoy.

It does warm up significantly in April and early May and it starts to become more comfortable to swim in the Gulf of Mexico.

I usually wait until Memorial Day to get in the water unless it’s a really hot day but everyone has different levels of cold tolerance. You will mostly see people in the water starting in early May although some people will swim all year in Destin.

You will definitely see plenty of spring breakers out swimming and unaffected by the cold temperatures. I guess it depends where you are from and how much alcohol you drink. Children will also be out enjoying the water unbothered by the cold if it’s a hot day.

Early May is the exception to my reluctance to love Spring in Destin. The first 2 weeks of May (the final days of spring season here) have a winning combination of lower crowds, beautiful beach weather, and water that starts to feel comfortable for swimming on a sunny day.

Spring Crowds in Destin

College age spring breakers will start to arrive in late February continuing through early April. Most hotels and condos in the Destin area will impose a minimum age of 21 or 25 in order to attract more families and cut back on some of the issues that come with a younger college crowd.

Panama City Beach has been cracking down on alcohol laws on the beach in the past few years so that has undoubtedly contributed to the upswing in spring breakers that Destin has now.

The Destin law enforcement is usually prepared for spring break and does a great job keeping the order in town. You will see more police presence in Destin during spring break than any other time of the year, mostly looking for incidents of underage drinking.

Even though we do get our share of spring breakers, it is nowhere close to the levels that other Florida cities will see. This is because Destin is generally less tolerant of the college spring breaker shenanigans than other places.

Still, there will be more trash left on the beach than usual during the height of college spring break time and many locals will organize clean-up groups to help with it.

Spring Sunsets in Destin

Spring is when the sunsets will start to move from being over the water to setting over land again. So if you are here in March, enjoy them while you can!

Spring Activities in Destin

Spring will have a decent amount of activities for families to enjoy and there will even be some fireworks at Baytowne Wharf for the busiest weeks. Spring is also when the fishing charters, parasailing, tour boats, and all the activities will start to operate on normal schedules.

In summary, Spring is the best time to visit Destin if you are trying to escape the cold in other places or to enjoy a family spring break with activities for the kids.

The Best Time to Visit Destin Ranked by Month

All things considered, here is how I would rank the months in order of best to worst times to visit Destin:

1. October in Destin

Average High = 80 degrees
Average Low = 55 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 77 degrees
Average Rainfall = 5.3 inches

I doubt there would be much argument that October is probably the best time to visit Destin rivaled only by May. The weather has cooled off enough to not be miserably hot but the water at the beach is still plenty warm enough for swimming.

Popular events in October include the Destin Seafood Festival, Fireworks at Harborwalk Village, the Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival, and the Destin Fishing Rodeo which takes place for the entire month of October on Destin Harbor.

Be sure to visit the Destin History and Fishing museum while you are in town to learn more about the rich history of the Destin Fishing Rodeo and how Destin became known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”. Check out my post here for more about the museum: Things to Do: The Destin History and Fishing Museum

If there were a downside to October, it would be that it’s prime time for hurricanes and tropical storms. The changes are not high that you will be affected by one but some of the largest storms I can recall happened in October.

Here is my most recent October information and events article if you want more details about October in Destin. This article will be updated to the current year as the month draws closer so you can bookmark it and keep refreshing periodically for updates: October in Destin: Best Things to Do

2. May in Destin

Average High = 83 degrees
Average Low = 61 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 77 degrees
Average Rainfall = 4.3 inches (lowest of the year)

May is the best time to visit Destin to enjoy both moderate temperatures and moderate crowds. It is sort of the Spring version of October. The locals like to say that October and May are why we live here.

The spring break crowds have left town by May and the summer crowds have yet to fully arrive. The weather is warming up, although it can sometimes still be a little chilly in the evening during the first part of the month.

May is when the Gulf has usually finally warmed up enough to be a comfortable swimming temperature (although some people do swim all year).

Memorial Day weekend at the end of May is considered the official start of summer season and Destin will be non-stop busy from that point until the kids go back to school in August.

Harborwalk Village and The Village of Baytowne Wharf will both host Memorial Day weekend kick-off parties complete with live music, kids activities, and fireworks on the Sunday night of the holiday weekend.

May holds the popular annual Taco and Tequila festival at Baytowne Wharf which is a really fun event if you love tacos, and who doesn’t? Also in May will be one of my favorite events and one of the oldest traditions in Destin, the annual Blessing of the Fleet event on Destin Harbor.

Here is my most recent May information and events article if you want more details about May in Destin. This article will be updated to the current year as the month draws closer so you can bookmark it and keep refreshing periodically for updates: May in Destin: Weather, Events, Activities, and Crowds

3. September in Destin

Average High = 87 degrees
Average Low = 67 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 82 degrees
Average Rainfall = 6.2 inches 

Even though September is hot and there is less to do in terms of festivities, I’m still giving it the number 3 spot if we are assuming you are here mainly for the beach.

September is usually amazing beach weather minus all the crowds of summer. If people complain about anything in September, it’s that the humidity is particularly high and sometimes the biting flies are out at the beach. Bring bug spray in September just in case and they won’t bother you.

September feels quiet following the chaos of the summer when the kids go back to school and we all breathe a collective sigh of relief as things start to settle down. The exception to the September Crowds will be Labor Day weekend when they will spike.

One of the most popular events in September is the the Baytowne Wharf Art Walk. Harborwalk Village, Baytowne Wharf, and the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk will also have have fireworks shows on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend even though the regular weekly summer fireworks shows will have ended a few weeks prior.

Here is my most recent September information and events article if you want more details about September in Destin. This article will be updated to the current year as the month draws closer so you can bookmark it and keep refreshing periodically for updates: September in Destin: Weather, Events, Activities, and Crowds

4. April

Average High = 76 degrees
Average Low = 52 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 66 degrees
Average Rainfall = 5.0 inches

The first few weeks of April will typically see the last of the spring break crowds so the second half of April will quiet down a bit.

Late April is a nice time to visit for moderate temperatures and lower crowds. The water in the Gulf of Mexico is still a bit chilly but many people will find it comfortable for swimming on a hot sunny day.

The reason I didn’t rank April higher is because the weather can be unpredictable (similar to November in many ways) and there will still be spring break crowds in early April. It’s also the time between spring break and summer when there aren’t as many events or fun things happening.

The most popular event in April is the annual Sandestin Wine Festival–a weekend of wine and food that takes place annually in The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Here is my most recent April information and events article if you want more details about April in Destin. This article will be updated to the current year as the month draws closer so you can bookmark it and keep refreshing periodically for updates: April in Destin: Weather, Events, Activities, and Crowds

5. June in Destin

Average High = 88 degrees
Average Low = 69 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 82 degrees
Average Rainfall = 6.7 inches 

Summer will be in full swing all of June as schools are out and families will be vacationing in Destin. The weather is warm, the water temps are warm and there will be no shortage of summer festivities and events.

Even though June in Destin is a busy time, I still ranked it high if we are assuming that most people come to Destin to enjoy the beach and activities that the busy season has to offer.

The weekly summer events at Harborwalk Village, Baytowne Wharf, and the Boardwalk will also be taking place during all of June.

One of the most popular events in June is the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Fishing Tournament at the Sandestin Baytowne Marina.

These events are mostly aimed at families including weekly fireworks shows, pirate shows, concerts on the lawn, hydroflight shows, movies on the beach and much more.

The downside to June besides the crowds, is that sometimes we get June Grass seaweed on the beaches that can last a few days or sometimes a few weeks. It’s impossible to predict when and where it will come, but check out my post here to keep an eye on beach conditions as your visit approaches: The 5 Best Beach Web Cams from Okaloosa Island to Destin to Miramar Beach

June Grass does not only arrive in June, despite the name. It can show up during any of the warm summer months from May to October, however June and July are the most common time when you might see it.

Here’s my most recent June information and events article if you want more details about June in Destin. This article will be updated to the current year as the month draws closer so you can bookmark it and keep refreshing periodically for updates: June in Destin: Weather, Events, Activities, and Crowds

6. July in Destin

Average High = 88 degrees
Average Low = 69 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 84 degrees
Average Rainfall = 9.1 inches (highest of the year)

July used to be further down on my list because it’s such a crowded time to be here but I moved it up this year after going to the beach for sunrise almost every day last summer and observing that the water clarity was more consistent than I saw for any other month in Destin.

The water was crystal clear almost all of July, even on overcast stormy days. For this reason I moved it up because if you can deal with the intense crowds, you will be rewarded with some of the most reliable beach conditions of the year.

The exception to this water clarity is if any June Grass or seaweed arrives. See the June section above for more information.

July is the most crowded and high-traffic month of the year paired with the highest amount of rainfall. If you decide to visit in July, make sure to leave plenty of time to get anywhere and always be prepared for an afternoon rain shower.

The beaches will be very crowded in Destin in July so if you aren’t staying beachfront, be sure to arrive early to find parking and claim your patch of public beach. I would highly recommend staying somewhere with private beach access if you come to Destin is July.

The public beach situation in Destin gets worse every year but you can still find a good spot if you know where to go and arrive early. My guide to all 13 public beach accesses in Destin is here if you need more information: Find your Perfect Beach: A Guide to all 13 Public Beach Accesses in Destin, Florida

On the upside, July is actually pretty good weather, thanks to the afternoon showers often taking the edge off the humidity.

July will also have the best fireworks shows of the year for the 4th of July Holiday with special holiday shows at both Harborwalk Village and The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

July is also when the Smoke on the Coast BBQ & Fireworks Festival at Destin Commons takes place. I don’t eat BBQ but I still go because it is one of the most stunning fireworks shows around here rivaled only by the midnight New Years Eve show at Baytowne Wharf.

Details about the July 4th fireworks shows are here: July 4th in Destin, Miramar Beach, Sandestin, Navarre and 30a.

7. August in Destin

Average High = 89 degrees
Average Low = 71 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 84 degrees
Average Rainfall = 7.6 inches

The first few weeks of August feel a lot like July as far as heat and crowds go, with a bit more humidity in August but less crowds than July.

Weekly summer fireworks and events will continue for the first 2 weeks of August but then everything will start to drop off as kids go back to school and occupancy rates decrease dramatically starting the 3rd week of August.

August is a hot and humid month in Destin but prices start to fall mid-August so you can often get some good deals on accommodations while still enjoying the beautiful beach weather.

Popular events in August include Shark Movie Night at Crab Island and the Emerald Coast Poker Run. Shark Movie Night at Crab Island is a really unique event that I wrote about in more detail here: Shark Movie Night at Crab Island

Here is my most recent August information and events article if you want more details about August in Destin. This article will be updated to the current year as the month draws closer so you can bookmark it and keep refreshing periodically for updates: August in Destin: Weather, Events, Activities, and Crowds

8. November in Destin

Average High = 71 degrees
Average Low = 46 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 72 degrees
Average Rainfall = 4.8 inches 

November in Destin can be full of some surprisingly warm days. While the water temperature isn’t exactly ideal for swimming, it’s still warmer than most of the spring months. I think November is one of the best times to visit Destin.

Most hotels will go into their winter pricing November 1st so it’s a great time to overlap beautiful weather with a great deal. Snowbirds from the northern states will also begin to arrive in November.

One of the best events in November is the Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights Festival at Baytowne Wharf where they light up the trees in the village for the first time of the season.

Participants enjoy the festive atmosphere while sampling various bites and sparkling wine. It’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit. I wrote more about this event here: Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights Festival

The other best event is Half Shells on the Harbor at Harborwalk Village. This event allows you to sample oysters and creative cocktails prepared by local and regional restaurants.

I wrote more details about that event and others in this post: 11 Amazing Destin Food and Drink Festivals not to Miss

Harborwalk Village and Baytowne Wharf will also have events celebrating Santa’s arrival. Thanksgiving is also a pretty popular week here, with many families choosing to gather at the beach instead of home for the holiday. There will be plenty of restaurant choices in Destin for Thanksgiving Day meals.

9. March in Destin

Average High = 70 degrees
Average Low = 46 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 66 degrees
Average Rainfall = 5.8 inches 

March will see the bulk of our spring break crowds in Destin and surrounding areas. It can be surprisingly cold in March and most people would consider the water too chilly for swimming.

March does have a really good vibe around town though as the locals and tourists get excited about the nice weather and the excursions starting back up. Even if we enjoy the quiet of off season, it’s still fun to see it all come alive again.

March will be the start of the popular Wednesday night concert series at Baytowne Wharf which will continue through the summer. Baytowne Wharf will also have some spring break events toward the end of the month including Hydroflight Mondays, Boomin’ Tuesdays and Magical Thursdays.

Harborwalk has spring break events as well including a sunset celebration, a pirate and mermaids event, and a silent disco.

Here is my most recent March information and events article if you want more details about March in Destin. This article will be updated to the current year as the month draws closer so you can bookmark it and keep refreshing periodically for updates: March in Destin: Weather, Events, Activities, and Crowds

10. December in Destin

Average High = 62 degrees
Average Low = 40 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 68 degrees
Average Rainfall = 5.4 inches

December is the best time to visit Destin if you want a warmer climate for the holidays. The weather is unpredictable but it’s similar to March with a mixture of warm sunny days and some chilly nights at times.

Destin is really pretty magical in December with the Christmas events and lower overall crowds. Holiday festivities are combined with much nicer weather than most of the country is experiencing making it a great time to be in Florida.

There are chilly days in December but more often the temperatures are quite comfortable. There are moderate crowd levels in December with the highest levels at Christmas and New Years weeks when a lot of families visit for the school break.

There are lots of wonderful holiday events in December including weekly Christmas concerts and the 12 nights of Christmas at Baytowne Wharf where for several nights a week the holiday lights around the village are synchronized with Christmas music.

Harborwalk Village will also hold some fun holiday events including the Destin Lighted Boat Parade, weekly Santa visits, and Olde Holiday Market.

I love December in Destin because there are all these fun holiday events to enjoy and more. Here is my article outlining everything you need to know about the Christmas season in Destin: Christmas in Destin: Ultimate Guide to the Holiday Season

New Year’s Eve in Destin is celebrated with several festivities around town. A ball drop at Harborwalk Village, kids activities at Baytowne Wharf, and also plenty to do at the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk.

There are special extended fireworks shows for New Years Eve so they will be some of the best displays of the year that night outside of July 4th. I wrote more details about those here: New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Destin

The midnight show at Baytowne Wharf is one of the best fireworks shows I have seen around here. The bursts are synched to a soundtrack of popular songs from that year and the addition of extra launch spots really take it to the next level.

11. February in Destin

Average High = 64 degrees
Average Low = 40 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 64 degrees
Average Rainfall = 5.7 inches

Mid-February will start to see some spring break crowds towards the end of the month which will liven things up around town after the quiet of slow season. Snowbirds usually stay in town until about March 1st when most accommodations go into their higher season pricing.

There’s not much else to say about February except it’s mostly pretty chilly and uneventful. It’s the last month of winter here so most people are ready to see spring arrive after it ends.

Events in February include the Mardi Gras parades and festivities all over town later in the month (although Mardi Gras sometimes falls in early March) and Baytowne Wharf will also have their popular Sandestin Gumbo and Bloody Mary Festival in mid-February.

Here is my most recent February information and events article if you want more details about February in Destin. This article will be updated to the current year as the month draws closer so you can bookmark it and keep refreshing periodically for updates: February in Destin: Weather, Events, Activities, and Crowds

12. January in Destin

Average High = 60 degrees
Average Low = 37 degrees
Average Gulf Water Temperature = 64 degrees
Average Rainfall = 5.4 inches

January is typically the coldest month of the year in Destin. The activities and tourist offerings in January are at an all-time low making this the worst time of year if you are here for those things.

January is the best time to visit Destin if you enjoy peaceful walks on the beach and amazing sunsets over the water.

The empty beaches and low prices on accommodations are certainly the upside of January and often there are some really beautiful warm days mixed with the chilly ones.

The sunsets and sunrises over the gulf are at their best this month with the sun reaching the furthest spot it will get to over the water. I wrote more about that here: Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Destin

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I hope this post helps you find the perfect time to visit Destin! What is your favorite month in Destin?

Be sure to comment below if you have any questions or feedback. I love hearing from you and prefer to answer questions on here so my answers can help others as well. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss any posts!

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Hi, I’m Sarah–the creator, writer and photographer behind this site. I sell prints, books, journals, and calendars all made from my Emerald Coast photography and I also manage a few vacation rentals on beautiful Holiday Isle in Destin if you want me to be your helpful, knowledgeable host when you visit.…..🌴😃🐬 I have a few rentals including a large house with a boat slip, a 2-bedroom condo, and a 1-bedroom apartment. All are directly on Destin Harbor with private gated access to the most beautiful beaches in Destin. If you enjoy my posts, please consider supporting my blog by shopping my products. I appreciate every sale, and it helps me continue to put out quality free content for you. Thank you SO much 🙂