Winter in Destin, for snowbirds and long stays
What November to February is like in Destin, from the weather to the events, and why a week or a month at the cottage suits the quiet season.
From November through February, Destin is at its quietest. Crowds and demand are at their lowest of the year, and the beaches are at their emptiest.
The weather
Winter here is mild, not tropical. Typical highs are in the 60s in December, January and February and in the low 70s in November, with lows in the mid-40s to low 50s. The Gulf is cool, roughly 58 to 68 degrees, so the heated private pool is the place to swim. Bring a jacket for the evenings.
What is on
- Destin Snowbirds club: a club for winter visitors, with golf days, tours, pickleball, classes and weekly Tuesday meetings, November through February.
- Holiday on the Harbor: the lighted boat parade on a Sunday evening in mid-December, and the Destin Christmas Parade on a Saturday morning around the same time.
- New Year’s Eve at HarborWalk Village, on the harbor.
- 30A Songwriters Festival: Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in mid-January, about 40 to 60 minutes east along Scenic Highway 30A.
- Mardi Gras on the Harbor: a Friday evening just before Fat Tuesday.
- Stone crab claws are in season through the winter.
Dates move a little every year, so check each event’s own page before you plan around it. Our month-by-month guide lists them all, with sources.
Staying a week, or a month
The cottage allows long stays of 28 days or more.
Book direct and the owner takes 20% off weekly stays (seven nights or more, checking in from November through February) and 40% off monthly winter stays (28 nights or more, checking in during January or February). Ask about them when you request your dates.
Before you come
From October through May, pool heating is required at $250 per stay. Check-in is from 4:00 PM, and the house has a full kitchen and a full-size washer and dryer, which matter more the longer you stay.