Best Places to Visit in December in the USA 2025

December turns the United States into a calendar of rays of lights, snow, music, and food. In case you desire the best places to visit in December in USA to see Christmas lights or want to see the best places to visit during Christmas in USA at a warm beach, the country offers a clear selection for you.

The following guide provides the list of spots, which combine affordability, weather, and fun during holidays to book in advance and not to experience the stress of last-minute.

Why Visit the USA in December?

Air seats and hotel rooms cost less in the first two weeks of the month. Airports run on time because summer storms are gone. Cities add free light shows, outdoor skating, and night markets that do not run at any other time of year.

Mountain resorts show new trails, whereas southern beaches remain to be sandal-wearing. You will be able to ride in a sleigh in the morning, and eat lobster at the sea at night, without going out of the country. You also have all of December off, which is a great week of national holidays, which can be you can extend paid days off into a vacation.

10 Best Places to Visit in December in USA

The following ten places combine traditional Christmas with the yearly occasions. Every location is accessible to non-stop flights and has rooms at the low-end to high-end. The following are the best places to visit in usa in December:

1. New York City, New York

The tree is also lit up in Rockefeller Center on the first Wednesday of December and is lit until the beginning of January. Stroll under the statue of gold Prometheus and take a stroll of 5 blocks and view the Saks Fifth Avenue light show, which occurs every ten minutes after dark. Bryant Park goes down into an ice rink free which is surrounded by a holiday market where hand-blown glass and hot maple cider are being sold.

Reserve a table at the Rainbow Room on the 65th floor, which has a fixed price lunch, and you will also have the Empire State Building in your view, and this will save you a dinner upcharge. Rides on subways are equally expensive throughout the day, hence staying in Queens or Brooklyn, and riding in to avoid the hotel tax due to the lights.

2. Chicago, Illinois

The German open-air market is replicated in the Christkindlmarket of Daley Plaza. Tonga vendors are selling steins, nutcrackers, and potato pancakes around a wooden shed with a cinnamon smell. Skating rink at Millennium Park remains open till 10 PM and also rents skates for twelve dollars.

The Art Institute has free access on a Thursday evening, and therefore warm up in the building after skating. The snow on the road to Lake-effect begins in mid-December; wear footwear that sticks. There is the L train that goes directly between the two airports and downtown, meaning that you do not have to own a car.

3. Aspen, Colorado

Aspen Snowmass resorts break open Thanksgiving week and continue to work through April. During December, the snow is light and dry, and it is empty until the following week after Christmas. A day lift ticket is cheaper when purchased online before November 10.

You can ride the 11,212-foot lunch on the free gondola either way, town to Sundeck or Sundeck to town. The city lights are kept burning throughout the night, and the stores are giving free cocoa. Reserve a condo that has a kitchen; restaurants are full and are also being billed at holiday prices.

4. New Orleans, Louisiana

It is around sixty degrees, and you do not need summer sweat to walk through the French Quarter. Celebration in the Oaks transforms City Park into a one-mile path of lights, which you can ride by renting a bike or riding in a horse-drawn carriage. There are Reveillon dinners every night; restaurants have historic Creole menus at a fixed price below sixty dollars.

Flights decline post-Thanksgiving and Canal Street hotels, with attractive deals of the third night free. The fare for the streetcars is 1.25 precisely and directly into the Garden District, which will show you free porch-lights.

5. San Francisco, California

The first three weeks have clear skies, and there is minimal rainfall. The ice rink of the Union Square is a site adjacent to an 83-foot tree with luxury shop windows. Alcatraz tours have a shorter schedule during the winter season, and therefore, the night trip will give the island a wintery and less crowded look.

The location where fresh crab is onboard ships can be found in Fisherman's Wharf. It is more convenient to take BART, near the stations in Oakland or Berkeley; the ride is less than half, and the room charge is less.

6. Orlando, Florida

Theme parks are open all night and have a parade at night. Disney Other Disney Christmas tickets, such as Mickey Very Merry Christmas Party, are needed; though there are not as many people as in summertime. Universal presents a Christmas procession and floats covered with peppermint. The resort hotels have the option of down-seasoning until the 18th of December and free airport pickups. Carry a light jacket on nights when it is 50 degrees.

7. Washington, D.C.

On the first Thursday, the National Christmas tree is lit, and the White House holiday decor is open to visiting, although you must request White House tickets in October. There are no charges, and the museums of Smithsonian museums are open every day. ZooLights performance will take place between 5 PM and 9 PM, and will have no entry fee. In Metro, the highest fare is eight dollars per day pass; therefore, you can spend the day in Virginia and travel on Metro.

8. Santa Fe, New Mexico

On Christmas Eve, the Farolito Walk installs thousands of lanterns of paper lanterns up and down the Canyon Road, and not one single automobile passes by. There is fire in adobe walls, pinon fire going on, and galleries in free hot cider. Ski Santa Fe opens in mid-December, and it is only 16 miles away from downtown. The rooms inside the historic area are cheaper than ski lodges, and the free shuttle to the mountain is usually once a day on a regular basis.

9. Nashville, Tennessee

The Grand Ole Opry relocates its radio show to the Ryman Auditorium during the month of December. Buying early was very important as tickets go on sale in October. Broadway bars leave the door open and do not charge a cover; however, holiday tips increase.

Gaylord Opryland Hotel covers nine acres, which is under glass; there, you will walk through tropical gardens without a room key. However, it will cost you 30 dollars to park unless you have eaten at a restaurant and will get validation. Southwest flights into Nashville tend to be the lowest cost in the market.

10. Leavenworth, Washington

It is a town that is Bavarian-themed and 2 hours east of Seattle. November onwards, the snow begins and makes the village a postcard. On weekends, Front Street is closed to cars, and it involves walking between nutcracker shops and sledding hills. The Christmas Lighting Festival takes place the three weekends and provides free horse-drawn wagon rides. Stay in adjoining Cashmere or Wenatchee at cheaper rates; come in on a daily basis and park at the city lot for five dollars per day.

Traveling in December is exciting, but leaving your home unattended can be stressful. Reolink security cameras, like battery-powered or 4G-connected cameras, let you monitor your property from anywhere using your smartphone. With features like motion detection and night vision, you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind.

5 Best Warm Places to Visit in December in USA

If you want to trade snow for sand, these five spots stay above 70 degrees and still give you a holiday feel. Here are the best places in USA to visit in December:

1. Miami Beach, Florida

Ocean water holds at 76 degrees. The first week brings the world's galleries to Art Basel Miami Beach, but you are able to view free public art on the beach. Hotels in South Beach end up dispensing their rates below December 15 when you spend three days. Take the free trolley up and down the beach; it services every ten minutes.

2. Phoenix, Arizona

Daytime highs reach 72. To extend its hours to 8 PM and line its walks with luminarias, Desert Botanical Garden is open. Mountain Hike Camelback Mountain in the morning and relax by the pool in the afternoon. You can buy day passes for less than fifty dollars at resort spas in case you get a treatment. A three-day stay in a rental car is less expensive than rideshares.

3. San Diego, California

The whale-watching season starts in December. Hornblower cruises will ensure that you get a free second or third ride. Federal street museums are free to enter on Tuesdays; choose a museum and then roam the gardens. The Mission Bay hotels offer packages of a fifth night free, and the Airport is within a ten-minute taxi ride.

4. Key West, Florida

The Lighted Boats Parade is in mid-December on the island. The locals decorate their shrimp boats and yachts using LEDs and fish around the dollar draft bars. The sea is smooth and the temperature is approximately 78, which is appropriate as far as snorkeling is concerned. Fly to Fort Lauderdale and rent a car; The Overseas Highway sightseeing will require three hours, and will give you a view to die for that you have never had anywhere.

5. Honolulu, Hawaii

The waves of the north shore of Oahu are as high as 30 feet, and, therefore, the surfers congregate at the Triple Crown contests. Waikiki is also small and can be swum in. There is a 50-foot palm tree that is lit up in front of the Moana Surfrider by the city. Flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday and receive 150 off weekend fares. Book a condo in Waikiki that has a kitchen; food is as costly as on the mainland, and you will not even pay resort fees.

5 Best Snowy Places to Visit in December USA

In geographic terms, Miami is virtually too warm, and these 5 destinations make you think you are in real winter, deep snow, cozy fires, and lift ticket sports.

1. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

The average amount of snowfall in December is 30 inches. Valleys such as North Shore resorts as Northstar, receive an early start and offer deals on lodgings during midweeks. Nevada side casinos offer discounted rooms during midweek and a free casino shuttle bus to the lifts. You get a free tour of the lake; it lasts 2 hours, and you find pines covered by snow and on the blue water.

2. Park City, Utah

Historic Main Street keeps gas lamps and Victorian windows. Sundance Resort opens limited skiing and sells cheaper tickets before Christmas. Fly into Salt Lake City and ride the shuttle; the canyon is closed to private cars on heavy snow days. Book a condo with a garage so you can store skis.

3. Stowe, Vermont

On Christmas Eve, there are candlelight carols in the village church. Even without needing to ski, Mount Mansfield receives sightseers on the gondola. The family that inspired The Sound of Music owns Trapp Family Lodge, which rents out cross-country skis at twenty dollars per day. Next best stay at the nearby Waterbury at a lower rate, and then drive 15 minutes to the mountain.

4. Breckenridge, Colorado

The town is elevated at more than 9600 feet, thus assuring a cover of snow. Riverwalk Center provides weekends with free concerts. Main Street stores keep open as late as they can and very late to pass out cocoa. The Peak 9 is very accommodating to beginners as it opens early, and the Free shuttle is every 15 minutes. Gift a book, a lift-and-lesson by October 31 to receive a discount of twenty percent.

5. Mackinac Island, Michigan

Cars stop at the dock; you ride horse-drawn cabs over the snow. The Grand Hotel has 300-foot lights in its porches, and it provides thirty-five-dollar lunch tours. In case the ice is secure, snowmobile trails run across the frozen lake. Remain on the mainland in St. Ignace, and get there by the 20-minute ferry; rooms in winter half the price in summer.

How to Find Best Places to Visit in December in USA?

Start with what you want most: a warm beach, deep snow, or city lights. Then use these steps to narrow the list.

• Set a firm budget first. Include flight, room, food, and one paid activity per day. Write the number down so you do not drift.
• Check flight maps from your home airport on airline websites. Non-stop flights save a day and lower stress.
• Read the city event calendar for December 2025. Many festivals return to the same weekend each year. Book the hotel before you buy show tickets; rooms sell out faster.
• Check temperature. Compare average high and low temperatures for the exact week you plan to go. Use the National Weather Service archive, not travel blogs.
• Look for free days. Museums, zoos, and national parks often waive entry on holidays or weekdays.

FAQs

Which US state is best to visit in December?

The state of New York provides an ideal December list. Begin with the towering tree in Rockefeller Center and take Metro-North to Hudson Valley wine villages or Amtrak north to powder-packed Adirondack skiing. The recent flights into NYC make the fares affordable, and the comprehensive rail and bus systems allow enjoying the city's bling and snow-covered countryside without using a car.

Where is the best place to vacation in December?

In the United States, the all-purpose getaway in December is New York City. It takes Saks with its projection image, Rockefeller Center big tree, and a Giant to lighten up your night, and the free ice-skating rink in Bryant Park. Weekends are filled with Broadway Matinees, museum warm-ups, and pop-up markets. Logistics are minimized with three big airports and 24-hour transit, making the most of sightseeing time.

What is the warmest place to visit in the US in December?

To be sure of experiencing warm American December sun, visit Miami Beach. Daytime temperatures have been in the low 78 degF with actual swimming being possible, but most of the coasts shiver. The beginning of the month will see Art Basel, new Wynwood Walls, and salsa evenings on a rooftop. Flights to more than forty American cities fly directly; Everglades and Keys tours expand your choice.

Conclusion

The most favored spots to see in the USA during December are snowcapped Vermont towns, sunny Miami beaches, and a sunset getaway. Riding a sleigh in Aspen, watching the whales in San Diego, or having free light shows in Chicago does not require you to spend a fortune. You can begin with your budget, choose warm or cold, and reserve before November 10 to score cheaper prices. Let readers learn how you will use your own plans in December in the comments, or tell them what you are planning to do and how.