Tacoma in December
Not the best time
December wraps the year with classic wet, gray Pacific Northwest weather. Holiday events add warmth but this isn't prime visiting season unless you're escaping somewhere colder.
Weather
December brings full winter conditions with temperatures in the 40s and about 14 rainy days. Occasional snow flurries dust Mount Rainier views while persistent drizzle blankets the city. Daylight shrinks to barely 8 hours.
9°C high3°C low14 rain days
Crowds & Cost
low crowds
~$92/day average
Events & Festivals
- •Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park
- •Holiday events at Point Defiance Zoo
- •New Year's Eve celebrations downtown
December Tips
- •Holiday events provide indoor alternatives to gray weather
- •December hotel rates drop except around New Year's Eve
- •Point Defiance Zoo's Zoolights runs all month - drive through the rain for the experience
All Months
Summer in Tacoma means festival season and Mount Rainier in full glory. June through September gives you the best weather, with July and August offering the most sunshine. The Tacoma Night Market runs Thursday evenings downtown from May to October, but peak season means crowds and higher hotel rates. Here's a local secret: September might be perfect. The weather stays warm, summer tourists head home, and the city settles into a comfortable rhythm. Spring brings cherry blossoms to Wright Park and fewer crowds at the museums. Winter can be gray and drizzly, but indoor attractions like the Museum of Glass and Tacoma Art Museum shine brightest when the weather's gloomy outside.
Tacoma Scores
Solo
6/10
Couples
5/10
Families
7/10
Adventure
6/10
Budget
8/10
Luxury
4/10
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