What Is the Best Time to Travel to Destin, Florida?
Despite spring offering the best weather, summer is the most popular time of year to visit Destin, FL.
Written by Sarah Gray
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
- The best times of year to travel to Destin
- The cheapest time to travel to Destin
- Find the best month for your visit to Destin
- How to find savings on car and rental insurance
- FAQs
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If you’re longing to lounge on the white-sand beaches, the best time to travel to
Destin, Florida
is in April and May. Summer is the most popular season for the Emerald Coast's beautiful beaches, but in April and May, the weather’s warm and the crowds haven’t hit town yet.Destin is a popular summer vacation spot—unfortunately, everyone seems to want to head there at the same time. When the tourists descend, Destin gets packed fast, so the peak season can get pretty competitive.
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The best times of year to travel to Destin
The best time to travel to Destin depends on what kind of atmosphere you’re looking for. If you’re hoping to enjoy fireworks over the harbor, concerts in the park, and even a pirate festival, you’ll want to come during the peak season: summer.
But if getting a good deal on travel and lodging is your goal, shoot for the winter months of December through March.
Peak season: June to August
The good: Most activities and general summer-vacation vibe
The bad: Crowded and most expensive
The weather: Upper 80s to mid-90s
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, it’s all about the salty air and sandy hair. That’s why June through August are the most popular months to visit the soft, sugar-white-sand beaches of Destin, Florida.
Throughout the summer season, Destin and the Emerald Coast are in full vacation mode with Thursday night concerts in the park at the
Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village
.Peak season events include the annual
Smoke on the Coast BBQ and Fireworks Festival
for the Fourth of July holiday and the undisputed crown jewel of Boat Week: the Emerald Coast Poker Run
.Pro Tip If you’re planning a trip to Destin in the summer, make your reservations well in advance. Give yourself at least two to three months' lead time.
Off-season: December to March
The good: Lowest rates and few crowds
The bad: Too cool for the beach and very few activities
The weather: 50s to 60s
If you’re just looking for a getaway and don’t need to bask in the beachy sun to enjoy it, you can get some great deals on your Destin vacation.
There’s not much in the way of event programming in the winter in Destin, but
fishing, golfing, shopping, and restaurants are available year-round
. You’ll avoid the heat and crowds of the summer and enjoy some of the cheapest rates on everything from hotels to resorts.Shoulder season: April to May
The good: Low rates left over from winter season
The bad: Fewer attractions and potential for cooler-than-ideal beach temperatures
The weather: Mid-70s to 80s
April and May make up Destin’s short shoulder season between the low traffic of winter and the exceptionally high traffic of the summer. If you visit during these two months, you’ll enjoy lower rates and more food and drink specials without the hassles of bumper-to-bumper traffic and huge crowds.
Just because it’s not the peak season, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do in Destin. If you’re looking for food and fun, visit during late April to enjoy the annual award-winning
South Walton Beaches Food and Wine Festival
or early May for the Tequila and Taco Fest
. If cars are more your speed, come down during the annual Burning Up the Beaches
three-day car show.The cheapest time to travel to Destin
To get the cheapest rates you can find, book your visit to Destin in the winter months. Cooler temperatures mean the usual beach crowds have flown, so hotels and resorts are offering enticing bargains that make a trip that might otherwise be pretty expensive totally affordable.
If you still want a chance to enjoy the beaches, but you want to make sure you get a great deal, visit in April or May. You’ll get the great prices still left over from the off-season, but the days are often warm enough to allow for some beach time. Plus, the anticipation for summer is high and entertainment abounds!
Find the best month for your visit to Destin
Ready to start making some reservations? Check out the table below to find the ideal time for your Destin vacation based on the activities you’re planning.
Activity | Best month to visit | Why? |
|---|---|---|
Lounging on the beach | May through August | The days are warm and so is the water, and the fall rains haven’t yet hit the coast. |
Fishing | Late May to early November | This is the peak season for Destin fishing, which is some of the best in the world! |
Boating | Year-round | Destin is a destination for everything from speed boats to yachts year-round. |
Live music | Summer | All summer, Mattie Cultural Arts Foundation hosts outdoor concerts in the park. |
Golf | December through August | While any time of year is good for golfing in Destin, the best time is winter through summer since fall rain is unpredictable. |
Shopping | Year-round | It’s always a good time for shopping in Destin. Enjoy all the shopping up and down 30A. |
Seafood | October | Visit Destin in October to take advantage of the award-winning Destin Seafood Festival. |
Pro Tip Destin is a great place for boating, food, and shopping year-round, so if the beach isn’t your jam, time your trip in the shoulder- or off-season to save money.
How to find savings on car and rental insurance
Whether you’re road-tripping to Destin or
renting a car
at the airport, you need to be sure your car insurance
is up to the task of handling Destin’s often heavy traffic. Jerry
can help with that—Jerry is not only the best at finding solid car insurance at affordable prices, but it’s also the No. 1-rated insurance app. Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete and you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan.
Jerry customers save an average of $887 a year on car insurance. That’s a lot of savings you can put toward your Destin beach vacation!
MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals
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FAQs
What is the worst time to travel to Destin?
That’s a tough question since Destin always has something to offer. If you’re looking for beach time, avoid booking your vacation in fall or winter. If you hate crowds, visit during April or May rather than peak summer months.
What months are hurricane season in Destin?
Hurricane season
on the Gulf Coast generally runs from June 1 to November 30. Mid-May through early June tend to see the heaviest rains of the year.
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