Best Places to Travel in December with Kids (2026)

December is a funny month for a family trip. The first two weeks are one of the best times of the year to travel. The last two are some of the worst.

The Christmas lights are up all month. What changes is everything else. In the week before Christmas, crowds and prices jump, and they stay high until New Year's Day.

So the best places to travel in December with kids come down to two things: the kind of trip and your dates. Here's how to choose.

Our top picks at a glance

When to go in December (this matters more than where)

The first two weeks of December are the sweet spot. The lights, the trees and the Christmas shows are already up. Most kids are still in school, so crowds are smaller and hotels cost less.

The week before Christmas is when it changes. Schools let out, families start traveling, and prices climb.

Christmas to New Year's is the hardest week of the year at the big theme parks and beach resorts. Lines are long, hotels are full, and prices are at their highest. New Year's Day can be the most crowded day of all.

What this means for you:

• If your kids aren't in school yet, go in early December. You'll get the Christmas magic for less.
• If you're tied to winter break, book as early as you can, and plan your days around early mornings.
• If you want to be away on Christmas Day, that's fine. Just know which restaurants are open, and book Christmas dinner ahead.

Best Christmas vacations for families

These are the trips with the most Christmas magic. Every date below is for the 2026 season and was checked on the official site.

Walt Disney World, Orlando

Best for: ages 3 to 8. December weather: a high of 74°F and a low of 53°F on average.

Disney at Christmas is hard to beat for little kids. EPCOT's holiday festival runs daily from November 27 to December 30, and it's included with park admission. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party runs on 25 nights from November 8 to December 22, from 7pm to midnight. Party tickets cost $189 to $229 plus tax, depending on the night.

The catch: the party runs late. A toddler will likely be asleep before the fireworks, so treat it as a 4pm-to-9pm night and you won't feel cheated. The last two weeks of December are packed. If those are your only dates, plan short park mornings and a pool break every afternoon.

When to go: the first two weeks of December. See every Christmas event in Orlando, or our full guide to Orlando with kids.

New York City

Best for: ages 4 and up. December weather: a high of 44°F and a low of 34°F on average.

New York at Christmas is a movie come to life. The Rockefeller Center tree is lit on Wednesday, December 2, and stays lit into January. Viewing is free. The Winter Village at Bryant Park has holiday shops and a free ice rink if you bring your own skates.

The catch: crowds. Midtown on a December weekend night is a lot for small kids, and a stroller is hard to push through it. See the tree at 8am on a weekday and it's a different city. Pack waterproof shoes, because slushy curbs are everywhere.

When to go: a weekday in early to mid December. Skip the tree lighting night itself with little ones. See every Christmas event in New York, where to ice skate, and our guide to NYC with kids.

Chicago

Best for: ages 3 and up. December weather: a high of 37°F and a low of 24°F on average.

Chicago does Christmas in a big, cozy way. Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza is free to walk in and runs from November 20 to December 24. ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo runs most nights from November 20 to January 3, and it's free on a few Monday nights in November and December. It works in a stroller, even for babies.

The catch: it's cold, so plan to go inside. Museums and holiday displays fill the coldest afternoons.

When to go: early December, on weekdays. See every Christmas event in Chicago and our guide to Chicago with kids.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Best for: ages 2 to 8. December weather: a high of 50°F and a low of 29°F on average.

This is the best drive-to Christmas trip in the Southeast. Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood runs from November 6, 2026, to January 3, 2027, on park operating days. Pigeon Forge's Winterfest lights run from November 6 to January 31.

The catch: it gets much busier closer to Christmas, especially on weekends once school is out. Do the big things on weekdays.

When to go: a weekday stay before schools let out. See Christmas events in Gatlinburg and our Christmas towns guide.

Nashville and Gaylord Opryland

Best for: ages 4 and up for ICE!, any age for the lights. December weather: a high of 52°F and a low of 33°F on average.

A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland runs daily from November 6 to January 2. The decorated indoor gardens are free to walk through, which makes it a great cold or rainy day. ICE! and other activities cost extra, and self-parking is $37.

The catch: ICE! is kept very cold inside, and many little kids last only a few minutes. For babies and toddlers, the free lights and gardens are often enough. On busy dates, only hotel guests and ticket holders can come in after 3pm.

When to go: a weekday in early December. See Christmas events in Nashville and our guide to Nashville with kids.

San Antonio

Best for: any age, including babies. December weather: a high of 65°F and a low of 42°F on average.

San Antonio is the easiest Christmas lights trip with a baby, because December is mild. The River Walk lights are free and on nightly from November 27, from sundown to sunrise, into early January. The Ford Holiday River Parade kicks things off on Friday, November 27, at 6pm.

The catch: the River Walk gets busy on weekend nights, and steps and narrow paths make big strollers hard. A carrier is easier.

When to go: a weeknight in early December. See Christmas events in San Antonio.

Leavenworth, Washington

Best for: ages 3 and up. December weather: a high of 34°F and a low of 20°F on average, and a good chance of snow.

This Bavarian-style mountain town looks like a snow globe. The Village of Lights runs from November 26 to February 28, and the lights are on daily.

The catch: weekend crowds are intense. Stay overnight on a weekday, book dinner ahead, and bring a carrier or a sled for a baby instead of a stroller.

When to go: a weekday in December. See Leavenworth in our Christmas towns guide.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Best for: ages 4 and up. December weather: a high of 53°F and a low of 34°F on average.

Spend one night at Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It's open on select dates from November 13 to January 3. Then take a daytime walk through Colonial Williamsburg. The Grand Illumination fireworks are on Saturdays, December 5, 12 and 19.

The catch: Grand Illumination nights are very crowded. With toddlers, pick a weekday Christmas Town night instead.

When to go: early December, on a weekday. See Williamsburg in our Christmas towns guide.

Disneyland, California

Best for: ages 3 to 7. December weather: a high of 71°F and a low of 48°F on average.

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort run daily from November 13 to January 6, included with a park ticket. The holiday parade and fireworks don't run every day, so check the app for times.

The catch: late December crowds are tough with a stroller.

When to go: the first two weeks of December, on weekdays, at park opening. See our guide to Anaheim with kids.

Short on time? A Christmas weekend getaway can be just as magical. See the best Christmas towns in the USA or find a Polar Express train ride near you.

Warm places to visit in December with kids

Here's the most important thing to know: sunny and swimming-warm are not the same.

Most of Florida, San Diego and Arizona are sunny in December. But the ocean is too cool for most kids, and mornings can be cold. A heated pool is your swim. For warm ocean water, you need to go farther south: the Florida Keys, Hawaii, the Caribbean or the Cancun side of Mexico.

Average highs and lows are NOAA 1991-2020 normals (Cancun from Mexico's national weather service). Water temperatures are rounded long-term December averages from NOAA water data. Any single week can run warmer or colder.

Around 70°F is where most kids happily stay in the ocean. Below that, plan on the pool.

One more thing: a cold front can turn a warm Florida week chilly for a few days. Pack a warm layer for every warm trip.

San Diego

Best for: ages 2 to 10.

San Diego in December is a zoo, theme park and sunshine trip, not a beach swim trip. December Nights in Balboa Park, a free holiday festival, is on Friday, December 4, from 4 to 10pm, and Saturday, December 5, from noon to 10pm. December averages a high of 66°F and a low of 50°F.

The catch: the ocean is cold. Bring a hoodie for the beach.

See Christmas events in San Diego and our guide to San Diego with kids.

Phoenix and Scottsdale

Best for: ages 4 and up.

Arizona is sunny, dry and great for easy hikes and desert light shows in December. ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo runs nightly from November 25 to January 15, and kids 2 and under are free. December averages a high of 66°F and a low of 45°F.

The catch: mornings and nights are cold, and an outdoor pool can feel chilly. Ask the resort how warm it keeps the pool before you book.

See Christmas events in Phoenix.

The Florida Keys and Miami

Best for: any age.

This is the warm-water part of Florida. Key West averages a high of 78°F in December, and Miami 78°F too, with ocean water in the mid-70s. That's warm enough for most kids to swim. Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami runs on select nights from November 27 to December 30.

The catch: Christmas week is expensive and busy. Early December gets the same weather for less.

See Christmas events in Miami.

Hawaii (Oahu)

Best for: ages 5 and up is easiest, because of the long flight and time change. Toddlers do fine in calm lagoon water.

Hawaii is the warmest, surest bet for swimming in December, and the most expensive. Honolulu averages a high of 82°F in December, and the water is in the high 70s. Humpback whale season runs from November into spring, so December is the start of it. Honolulu City Lights, a free holiday display downtown, opens on Saturday, December 5, 2026, and the displays are open daily from 8am to 10pm through December.

The catch: price. Families who go at Christmas book many months ahead. North shore beaches can have big winter waves, so pick calm, protected beaches for little kids.

See our guide to Honolulu with kids.

Cancun and the Riviera Maya

Best for: ages 4 and up if you want the kids' club. Any age for pool time.

An all-inclusive on the Caribbean side of Mexico means warm sun, calm water and no meal planning. Cancun averages a high of 85°F in December, and the sea is in the low 80s. Hurricane season ends on November 30, so December is past it.

The catch: Christmas week is the most expensive week of the year. Big resorts are busy, and quality varies a lot, so read recent guest reviews before you book. Large families should check the room rules early, because rooms for five or more can be hard to find.

See our guide to kid-friendly all-inclusive resorts.

The Caribbean

Best for: ages 3 to 10 for character-themed kids' programs. Teens love the freedom.

The Caribbean is the most reliable place for warm water in December. The sea stays warm all winter. Near San Juan, it averages in the low 80s in December. Hurricane season ends on November 30.

The catch: at Christmas, expect waits for dinner and long lines at the airport. Book dinner times early, and get to the airport early on the way home.

See our guide to kid-friendly Caribbean resorts.

Puerto Rico (no passport needed)

Best for: any age.

Puerto Rico is the easiest warm-water trip for US families without passports. If you fly straight from the US mainland, US citizens don't need a passport, though adults need a REAL ID-compliant ID to fly. San Juan averages a high of 84°F in December, and the sea is in the low 80s.

The catch: Christmas week fills up, so book flights and hotels early. Expect some rain, too. San Juan averages about 11 rainy days in December.

Cheap December trips with kids

The cheapest December trip is one you can drive to, in the first half of the month.

• Go early. Flights and hotels usually cost more from the week before Christmas through New Year's.
• Drive. Gatlinburg, San Antonio, Williamsburg and Leavenworth are all road-trip Christmas towns for many families.
• Use the free stuff. City light displays, the River Walk lights, tree lightings and parades are free. See free Christmas events and parades near you.
• Pick one paid splurge. One big ticket, like a Christmas party night or ICE!, plus free lights, makes a great trip.

Christmas away from home: Santa, presents and Christmas Day

Kids often ask one thing: will Santa find us? Here's what works for many families.

• Write Santa a letter with the hotel or rental address.
• Bring a stocking and fill it when you arrive.
• Ship gifts ahead to where you're staying, or pack them unwrapped and wrap them there.
• Or move Christmas morning. Some families tell kids that Santa will come to their house a day or two after they get home.

On Christmas Day, many restaurants close or fill up. Book Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals ahead, or plan a simple meal in your room. At resorts, ask what's planned for kids. Many hold Christmas events, but don't assume a sit-down Christmas dinner is included.

Flying in December with kids

December weather can delay flights, and on busy holiday days it's hard to rebook.

• Book the earliest nonstop you can. A nonstop can't miss a connection, and an early flight leaves more time to rebook if something goes wrong.
• Pack 24 hours of supplies in your carry-on: diapers, milk or formula, snacks, medicine and a change of clothes.
• Price Christmas Day. Airports are quiet that day, but the fare isn't always cheaper. Check before you plan around it.
• Bring passports for international trips. Every child, even a baby, needs their own passport book to fly to Mexico or the Caribbean islands outside the US. A passport card doesn't work for flights.

More tips: flying with a toddler.

What to pack for a December trip

• For cold trips: waterproof shoes or boots, warm gloves plus a spare pair, a hat, and layers.
• For warm trips: swimsuits, rash guards, sunscreen and a warm layer for cool evenings.
• For every trip: a stocking, small wrapped gifts or a plan for Santa, and snacks for long lines.

Looking for more ideas? See the best places to travel with kids for every season, or plan ahead with our spring break destinations for families.