Visiting Miami in February
Stand at the top of the Shark Valley observation tower on a February morning and you can see why the Everglades are called a river of grass: pale gold sawgrass running flat to the horizon under a sky with not a cloud in it, a crocodile dozing in the canal below, a ranger in a fleece jacket telling a school group where to look. Forty miles east, the Rickenbacker Causeway is lined with yachts arriving for the boat show, Coconut Grove is putting up tents for its arts festival, and South Beach hotels are quoting some of their highest rates of the year. Miami in February is the city at the top of its game — near-perfect weather, one of the busiest event calendars of the year, and a price tag that reflects both.
This guide covers how to plan a February trip well: when in the month prices and crowds peak, the festivals worth timing a visit around in 2027, what is at its best right now, Valentine’s Day in a city built for romance, and how to make peak season go further. Event dates are for February 2027, and prices and hours were checked in September 2026; treat them as the right order of magnitude. For temperatures and rainfall in every month, see our Miami weather by month guide.
February at a Glance
| What | February in Miami |
|---|---|
| Crowds | Very high, especially Presidents’ Day week and festival weekends |
| Hotel prices | Peak season — among the highest of the year |
| Hurricane risk | None |
| Weather in brief | Highs around 78°F, lows around 64°F, about 2 inches of rain, low humidity |
| Sea | Still cool but warming — low 70s |
| Big events 2027 | Miami International Boat Show (10–14 Feb), Coconut Grove Arts Festival (13–15 Feb), Valentine’s Day, South Beach Wine & Food Festival (25–28 Feb) |
| Best for | Food lovers, couples, festival-goers, winter-sun seekers, nature lovers |
Is February a Good Time to Visit Miami?
For weather, February is close to perfect. It is slightly warmer than January, still dry and still comfortable, with low humidity and very little rain. Afternoons are warm enough for the beach, evenings are pleasant for dining outside, and the Everglades, gardens and walking tours are all at their best. If you are escaping winter, February delivers exactly what you are hoping for.
It is also one of Miami’s best months for events. The boat show, one of the largest in the world, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival all fall in February, along with Valentine’s Day and the Presidents’ Day holiday.
The catch is that everyone knows this. February is peak season, and alongside March, it is when Miami hotels charge the most outside the Christmas holidays. You will pay more for rooms, restaurants will be full, and traffic will be heavy. If value matters more than perfect weather, look at November or the late spring. Our guide to the best time to visit Miami compares every month.
The Weather, Briefly
Expect highs around 78°F and lows around 64°F, with about 2 inches of rain in the whole month. Humidity stays low, typically between 65 and 72 percent, which is about as dry as Miami gets. Most days are sunny with a light breeze.
Cold fronts still pass through in February, though they are usually weaker and less frequent than in January. Expect perhaps one or two cooler, windier days, followed by a return to sunshine. The ocean, still in the low 70s, begins to warm by the end of the month. For more detail, see our weather by month guide.
Crowds and Prices
February’s price curve is shaped by its events and its holiday. Knowing the pattern lets you pick your dates.
Early February
The first week or so of February is the least busy part of the month. The marathon crowds have gone, and the big festivals have not yet begun. Prices are still peak-season, but availability is better. If you want February weather without the busiest weekends, aim here.
Boat show and Presidents’ Day (about 10–21 February 2027)
The middle of February is the busiest stretch. The Miami International Boat Show runs from 10 to 14 February 2027, bringing a huge influx of boating enthusiasts and industry visitors, and it runs straight into the Presidents’ Day long weekend (13–15 February) and school winter breaks in many northern states. Hotels fill, prices climb, and flights are expensive. Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of it, on a Sunday in 2027.
SOBEWFF weekend (25–28 February 2027)
The last weekend of the month brings the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and its thousands of food lovers to Miami Beach. South Beach hotels are especially busy.
Restaurants
February is high season for Miami’s restaurants. The best tables book up well in advance, and Valentine’s weekend reservations disappear weeks ahead. Book before you travel.
February Events Worth Planning Around
February’s calendar is one of the richest of the year. See our Miami events and festivals guide for the full annual picture.
Miami International Boat Show (10–14 February 2027)
The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is one of the biggest boat shows in the world, and in 2027 it runs from 10 to 14 February across five venues in Greater Miami and Miami Beach. Expect everything from fishing boats and family runabouts to enormous superyachts, plus marine gear, demonstrations and seminars. Even if you are not buying, walking the docks among multimillion-dollar yachts is quite a spectacle. Check the show’s official site for venues, tickets and transport between sites before you go, and allow plenty of time: the Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne and the approaches to the waterfront venues can be very busy. Our Miami boat show guide covers it in detail.
Coconut Grove Arts Festival (13–15 February 2027)
The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is one of the most respected outdoor arts festivals in the country, and 2027 is its 63rd edition. It takes over the Coconut Grove waterfront over the Presidents’ Day weekend, 13 to 15 February 2027, with hundreds of juried artists showing painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography and more, alongside food and live music. It is ticketed, it is busy, and the shade under the Grove’s banyan trees is welcome by early afternoon. Go early, and check parking and shuttle options on the festival’s site. Our Coconut Grove guide covers the neighborhood.
Valentine’s Day (Sunday 14 February 2027)
Miami is one of the most romantic cities in the United States, and Valentine’s Day is a big occasion here. Restaurants run special menus, sunset cruises on Biscayne Bay sell out, and the spas and luxury hotels are fully booked. Book everything well ahead, and consider celebrating on a different night to avoid inflated set menus. Our romantic Miami guide and romantic restaurants guide have ideas.
South Beach Wine & Food Festival (25–28 February 2027)
The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, known as SOBEWFF, returns for its 26th edition from 25 to 28 February 2027. Over four days, it brings celebrity chefs, winemakers and thousands of food lovers to a packed program of tastings, dinners, late-night parties and hands-on events across Miami and Miami Beach, with its biggest events set up in tents right on the sand. Each event is ticketed separately, prices range from moderate to eye-watering, and the most popular sell out early. Proceeds support Florida International University’s hospitality school. Our SOBEWFF guide has tips on choosing events.
Winter Party and more
The Winter Party Festival, one of the biggest LGBTQ+ events of the Miami year and a fundraiser for the National LGBTQ Task Force, usually runs over late February and early March; in 2026 it ran from 26 February to 2 March. Check the 2027 dates if you plan to attend. Our LGBTQ+ Miami guide covers the scene.
Sports
February is a great month for sports fans. The Miami Heat play at Kaseya Center, the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, and Major League Baseball’s spring training gets underway in Palm Beach County, a drive of an hour and a half or so north. Inter Miami’s new MLS season typically kicks off in late February. Our Miami sports guide has venue and ticket advice.
What to Do in Miami in February
February’s weather makes almost everything in Miami a pleasure. These are the experiences at their very best this month.
The Everglades
February is deep in the dry season, and the Everglades are superb. Wildlife is concentrated around the remaining water, wading birds are abundant, mosquitoes are minimal and the weather is ideal for walking and cycling. At Shark Valley, the closest entrance to Miami, a 15-mile loop road leads to an observation tower with sweeping views across the sawgrass; you can cycle it, walk part of it or take the tram tour, which is popular in February and worth booking ahead. The Anhinga Trail, near the Homestead entrance, is the best place for close-up alligator sightings. Our Everglades tour guide covers all the options.
Beaches
February is a better beach month than January. Afternoons are warm, the sun is strong, and the water is beginning to warm up, though it is still cool by summer standards. South Beach is busy; Crandon Park on Key Biscayne and Haulover in the north are calmer. After a front, check the flags. Our Miami beaches guide compares them all.
On the water
Calm, dry February days are perfect for being out on Biscayne Bay. Sunset cruises, sailing trips and boat tours past Star Island and the downtown skyline are all excellent now. Kayaking and paddleboarding at Oleta River State Park, where entry is $6 per vehicle, or from Crandon Park are lovely in the cool of the morning. For something more ambitious, Biscayne National Park’s snorkel and boat trips run on calm days. Our Miami boat tours guide covers the options.
Gardens and estates
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables — 83 acres and more than 3,400 species, open daily from 10am to 5pm, with adult tickets at $24.95 — and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Coconut Grove are both at their most pleasant in the dry season. Combine them with a long lunch in Coral Gables or Coconut Grove.
Neighborhoods and nightlife
Dry evenings make February perfect for exploring Wynwood’s murals and bars, the Art Deco District, Little Havana and the Design District on foot, and for rooftop bars and outdoor dining everywhere. Our rooftop bars guide is a good place to start.
Day Trips in February
The dry, settled weather makes February one of the best months to explore beyond the city, as long as you set out early to beat the traffic.
The Florida Keys are at their best, with calm seas and clear water for snorkeling off Key Largo and beach time at Bahia Honda. Key West is a long drive, around three and a half hours each way, and its hotels are at peak prices, so an overnight is worth planning well ahead. Our Key West day trip guide has the route and the stops.
Fort Lauderdale, about 40 minutes north, makes an easy half day, with the Riverwalk, Las Olas Boulevard and a long, less frantic beach. Palm Beach County, farther north, is where baseball fans go for spring training, and the mansions and Worth Avenue shops of Palm Beach itself make a stylish day out. Our Fort Lauderdale from Miami guide and day trips from Miami guide cover the options.
February With Children
Many schools in the Northeast and Midwest take a winter break around Presidents’ Day, so family crowds peak in the middle of the month. Family attractions such as Jungle Island, Zoo Miami and Frost Science are busiest then; buy timed tickets online and arrive when they open.
The good news is that February’s mild weather makes long outdoor days easy for children. Zoo Miami’s walkways are comfortable, an airboat ride and the alligators of the Anhinga Trail are unforgettable, and Crandon Park’s calm, shallow water on Key Biscayne suits young swimmers on warm afternoons. A hotel with a heated pool is still a good idea, because the ocean remains cool for small children. Our things to do with kids guide has more ideas.
Is Presidents’ Day Week Worth It?
If your only chance to travel is the Presidents’ Day week, go — the weather is excellent and the city is buzzing. Just go with your eyes open. Book flights and hotels as early as possible, because the best-value rooms go first. Reserve restaurants and tours before you arrive. Plan outdoor days such as the Everglades or Fairchild on weekdays rather than the holiday weekend itself. And build in a few unhurried beach afternoons, which need no booking and cost nothing.
If you have any flexibility, though, the first week of February or the week after Presidents’ Day delivers almost identical weather with shorter lines, easier reservations and noticeably lower hotel rates.
A Plan for a Windy Day
February’s cold fronts are usually mild, but if one brings a gray, breezy day with red flags on the beach, switch to the indoor side of Miami. PAMM and Frost Science sit side by side on the bay downtown, the Institute of Contemporary Art is in the Design District, and the Rubell Museum is in Allapattah. Vizcaya’s house works in most weather. A long Cuban lunch in Little Havana or an afternoon at Aventura Mall or Bal Harbour Shops fills the rest of the day, and a Heat game makes a good evening. Our rainy day activities guide has more.
Where to Stay in February
In February, booking early matters more than anything else. Miami Beach is the most popular and most expensive base; mid-Beach and North Beach offer the same sand for less. For the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, a hotel in the Grove puts you within walking distance. For SOBEWFF, South Beach is the place to be. Downtown and Brickell hotels are often cheaper on weekends and handy for the boat show venues and Heat games.
Consider a vacation rental for longer stays or groups, particularly if you want a kitchen. Our guide to where to stay in Miami compares the neighborhoods.
Getting Around in February
Peak-season traffic is heavy. The Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne gets especially busy during the boat show, and the roads around Coconut Grove are congested over the arts festival weekend. South Beach is packed during SOBEWFF. Walk, cycle and use the free Metromover in downtown and Brickell where you can, and allow extra time for rideshares. A rental car is useful for the Everglades and day trips, but expect high parking costs in Miami Beach. Our Miami transportation guide covers every option.
What to Pack for February
- Summer clothes and swimwear for warm afternoons.
- A light sweater or jacket for evenings and the occasional cooler day.
- Smart-casual outfits for restaurants, Valentine’s dinner and festival events.
- Comfortable walking shoes for festivals, the boat show and the Everglades.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat; outdoor festivals offer little shade.
- Binoculars for wildlife in the Everglades.
Our what to wear in Miami guide has more.
A Sample Long Weekend in February
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Arrive; Art Deco District walk | South Beach | Dinner on Española Way |
| Saturday | Coconut Grove Arts Festival (13–15 Feb) or Vizcaya | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden | Sunset cruise on Biscayne Bay |
| Sunday | Everglades: Shark Valley tram or cycle | Lunch in Little Havana | Valentine’s dinner (14 Feb) or Wynwood |
| Monday | Kayak at Oleta River State Park | Boat show (10–14 Feb) or Key Biscayne beach | Brickell rooftop bar |
Our Miami itineraries lay out other plans.
Making Peak Season Go Further
February is expensive, but a few tactics make a real difference. Book flights and hotels as early as possible, ideally several months ahead. If you can, travel in the first week of February or midweek, avoiding Presidents’ Day week and festival weekends. Look beyond South Beach to mid-Beach, North Beach, downtown or Brickell, and compare vacation rentals for longer stays.
Many of February’s best experiences are free or cheap: the beaches, the bayfront, Wynwood’s murals, Domino Park in Little Havana, the Metromover and the parks. The Everglades and Biscayne National Park charge per vehicle, and state parks such as Oleta River cost a few dollars per car. Eat your main meal at lunch, look for happy hours, and skip Ocean Drive’s tourist-trap restaurants, where automatic service charges of 18 to 20 percent are common. Our Miami budget tips have more.
Who February Suits
February is ideal for
- Food lovers timing a trip for SOBEWFF.
- Couples for Valentine’s Day and the city’s romantic side.
- Art and boating enthusiasts for the arts festival and the boat show.
- Nature lovers for the Everglades’ peak dry season.
- Winter-sun seekers who want reliable, comfortable weather.
Consider another month if
- You are on a tight budget. November or late spring cost far less.
- You want warm-water swimming. Come between June and October.
- You dislike crowds. Avoid Presidents’ Day week and festival weekends, or choose another month.
Our guide to Miami in January covers the month before: cooler, a touch calmer and even better for the Everglades.
FAQ
Is February a good time to visit Miami?
Yes — it has some of the best weather of the year and a packed event calendar. It is also peak season, so book early and expect high prices.
How warm is Miami in February?
Typical highs are around 78°F and lows around 64°F, with low humidity and little rain.
Can you swim in Miami in February?
Yes, though the ocean is still cool, in the low 70s. Many visitors swim happily on sunny afternoons; heated hotel pools are an alternative.
When is the South Beach Wine & Food Festival 2027?
From 25 to 28 February 2027, at venues across Miami and Miami Beach.
When is the Miami International Boat Show 2027?
From 10 to 14 February 2027, across five venues in Greater Miami and Miami Beach.
When is the Coconut Grove Arts Festival 2027?
Over the Presidents’ Day weekend, 13 to 15 February 2027, on the Coconut Grove waterfront.
Is Miami expensive in February?
Yes. February is one of the most expensive months, especially during Presidents’ Day week and the big festivals. Early February and midweek stays offer better value.
March keeps the weather and turns the volume up: warmer water, later sunsets after the clocks change, Calle Ocho, the Miami Open, Ultra and spring break on Miami Beach. Our guide to Miami in March covers the month that follows.
If soccer is part of a February 2027 trip, note that MLS is switching calendars: the season that starts that month is a short sprint of 14 matches, only seven of them at home, which makes every Inter Miami home match harder to get into. Our Inter Miami tickets guide explains when to buy and what to expect to pay.
Related Miami Guides
- Miami Travel Planning — everything you need to plan the trip.
- Miami Weather by Month — temperatures, rain and humidity all year.
- Best Time to Visit Miami — how February compares.
- Miami Events and Festivals — the full annual calendar.
- Visiting Miami in January — the month before.
- South Beach Wine & Food Festival — choosing events and tickets.
- Miami International Boat Show — venues and planning.
- Romantic Miami — Valentine’s Day and beyond.
Photo Credits
Visitors and a ranger on the Shark Valley observation tower, Everglades National Park: Everglades Shark Valley Program (55338414057) by evergladesnps, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
An American crocodile at Shark Valley: American Crocodile at Shark Valley Observation Tower (40616706242) by evergladesnps, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Remaining photographs from the miamitourism.org library.