The Best Warm Beaches to Visit in February in the USA
If you're looking for a warm weather getaway in the United States during February (or any of the winter months), keep reading! I'll share my favorite beautiful beaches to visit this time of year.
As a former Florida resident, I have visited so many incredible beaches around the state where the weather is still warm enough for lounging on the beach and even swimming in the ocean!
I've also had the opportunity to travel all around the US to experience other amazing beach destinations where you can still feel the sun on your skin in February.
Nowadays we live in the Midwest where February is cold and gloomy, and we're still looking at 2-3 more months of cold weather, snow, and slush. I know firsthand that February is a great time to escape the winter for destinations closer to the equator.
It's also the best time to go to miss the spring break crowds of March and April while still getting that sunny weather and sand between your toes.
Here are the best places to go in February if you're looking for a beach vacation!
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Best Beaches with Warm Weather in February in the USA
Key West
Key West is a top-rated destination in February since the average highs are around 76º this time of year. We've been to Key West twice with our young kids, and I love that it has the feel of a tropical island getaway without having to leave the country!
The Florida Keys, in general, are such a special place, so I recommend hopping in a car and road-tripping from Miami down to Key West and stopping in places like Key Largo, Islamorada, and Marathon Key. We especially love Robbie's Marina in Islamorada where you can feed the giant tarpon or do some souvenir shopping! We stayed at Hadley House, a nearby hotel with an ocean-view room.
In Key West, you can visit the Southernmost Point in the Continental United States, attend a sunset celebration in Mallory Square, or visit Hemingway House and see Ernest Hemingway's office and the descendants of his cats! Check out 19 Super Fun Things to Do in Key West with Kids!
If it's beaches you're looking for, we found Smathers Beach to be a family-friendly spot to enjoy the sand and saltwater. We stayed right across the street from this beach at Margaritaville Resort Key West, so we had easy access to both a pool and a beach. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park has a historic fort and nice wide beaches, plus a cafe and beach chairs to rent!
If your family likes outdoor activities, take a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park where you can snorkel, walk around the island, camp, or just relax on the beach. I have tons of tips for visiting Dry Tortugas National Park with kids, too!
San Diego
Though San Diego has milder average temperatures in February than Key West, it's still a relief from the biting cold of the Midwest or Northeast. With an average high temperature of 66, you'll still be able to tip your toes in the ocean with just a light sweater.
One of our favorite beaches to visit in San Diego was La Jolla Cove, an inlet along the coast where you can see sea lions in the wild! You can stay on the boardwalk on the cliffs above the ocean, or head down the stairs to get a closer view with your toes in the sand. Coronado is also a popular destination for beautiful beaches in San Diego!
February is also a great time to go tide pooling in San Diego when the low tide is more likely to occur during the daytime. Take your kids to look at (but not touch!) the sea creatures in the tide pools at low tide. Here's a list of the best places to go for tide pooling in San Diego!
San Diego is a great place to go if you love nature, history, and theme parks since you'll be close to LEGOLAND California, Disneyland, and Universal Studios Hollywood. Balboa Park is home to the world-famous San Diego Zoo plus tons of other museums. Check out these 39 fun things to do with kids in San Diego!
We stayed at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel for a few days, then headed down to the Hyatt Regency La Jolla!
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is one of the warmest places to go without a passport (for US citizens) where you can experience a rich cultural heritage. Temperatures can get up to the low 80s in February, and the island has so many incredible beaches to choose from.
The rugged coastline of the west coast of Puerto Rico is popular for surfing while beaches close to San Juan are great for other water sports like kayaking and SUP. You can even the smaller islands of Culebra and Vieques!
History lovers will love wandering Old San Juan and checking out the forts and colorful buildings while nature lovers will want to head to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the United States!
The Caribe Hilton in San Juan is a nice upscale place to stay with kids with beautiful pools, and one area specifically for kids, plus access to a private beach area! To me the only downside of this hotel was that there were not many affordable food options on site.
We’ll be staying at the Hyatt Place San Juan next time since it fits a family of 6 in one room and has free breakfast! I’ll report back after our visit.
Miami
Miami was one of our favorite places to escape to when we got a few weeks of "chilly" weather in northern Florida. The weather in Miami is almost always warm, and you'll still get to enjoy lots of sunny days since it's still dry season.
Miami Beach is a popular (and crowded spot), but still worth a visit! South Beach has the iconic Art Deco style. We also loved Key Biscayne beaches with great views of the Miami skyline in the background. Miami is one of the best warm places to visit during the winter months.
In addition to its great beaches, Miami has a wonderful children's museum and zoo, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, and some great cultural neighborhoods like Little Havana and Little Haiti. Check out my Miami Family Travel Guide here!
St. Augustine
We lived 30 minutes away from St. Augustine for 5 years, and this historic city is near and dear to my heart. Average highs hover around 70 degrees during February, but you'll get a few hotter days sprinkled in there, too!
St. Augustine has white sandy beaches, splash pads, and tons of water activities, not to mention a plethora of historical landmarks like the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, the Fountain of Youth, and Castillo de San Marcos. The Colonial Quarter is located on pedestrian-only St. George Street, so you can learn about history to your heart's content.
St. Augustine is a great destination for warm temperatures, history, outdoor activities, and family-friendly beaches. Here are the 17 Best Things to Do in St. Augustine with Kids!
Santa Barbara
I've been fascinated by Santa Barbara for as long as I can remember. I think it's the Spanish-style whitewashed buildings that drew me in, and thankfully the city was just as magical as I had imagined!
We stayed at Hotel Milo which is right across the street from West Beach between Stearn's Wharf and the harbor. The beach is perfect for lounging, has a wide walking or biking path, and has lots of water sports for active types!
If you need a break from lounging at the beach, check out the Old Town Trolley Tour, the missions, the courthouse, and the MOXI children's museum. Like San Diego, Santa Barbara averages mild temperatures in February, but you may get lucky with some warmer days for lounging on the beach. Plus, with the Santa Ynez mountains in the background, there are views and outdoor activities for days.
Read What to Do in Santa Barbara with Kids!
South Padre Island
South Padre Island is a barrier island off the Gulf Coast of Texas. The weather is typically in the upper 60s or lower 70s during February, but even if it's too cold to swim you can go fishing, take a dolphin cruise, visit Sea Turtle, Inc., or take a Pirate Cruise.
There's also a kid-friendly outdoor Beach Park at Isla Blanca with water slides, a zipline, and a scuba experience!
This is one beach we haven't visited yet as a family, but it's high on our list! South Padre Island looks like the perfect place for a relaxing family vacation.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is home to one of our family's favorite beach resorts in Florida - The Diplomat Beach Resort! Just a short drive from Miami, Fort Lauderdale has plenty of sunshine, beaches, and warm weather even in February.
Use the Diplomat as your home base since they have multiple restaurants on-site, multiple pools (one of which is heated in case the weather isn't as hot as you'd like), plus kids' toys, and beach umbrellas on the beach available to the hotel guests.
One of the beaches in Fort Lauderdale that we loved was Las Olas Beach with its wide pedestrian walkway and white sand. Other than the beach, you can take a boat tour among the yachts along New River, visit the butterfly gardens, or take a day trip to Everglades National Park!
Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is known for the "Sanibel Stoop" which is the posture of beachgoers as they hunt for shells! Sanibel and nearby Captiva are shaped like boomerangs in the Gulf of Mexico, catching millions of shells on the Gulf side of the island. If you do nothing else on Sanibel Island, get up early with the kids and go shelling on one of the gulf side beaches - just bring a mesh bag with you to collect the shells but leave the sand!
There are so many other things to do on Sanibel and Captiva, or in nearby Fort Myers, like biking around the island, going on a dolphin tour or island hopping, vising Cabbage Key which inspired Jimmy Buffet's "Cheeseburger in Paradise," visiting Mound House to learn about the indigenous people that populated the area years ago, or attending Sanibel Sea School!
I truly can't think of a more relaxing February vacation than Sanibel Island in February, where the temperatures reach into the 80s! I went in February and can attest to the fact that it is truly sunny and hot during this time of year. And you must stay at the beautiful South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island.
Hawaiian Islands
February is the perfect time to visit the Hawaiian Islands with an average high of around 80º and fewer crowds.
The winter months are a great time to see humpback whales, and early February is actually cherry blossom season on the Big Island!
The only thing left to do is decide which island to visit on your trip! Our family has not had a chance to visit Hawaii yet, but I have so many Hawaii experiences on my bucket list!
For Disney fans, the Aulani resort on the island of O'ahu is the perfect place to experience that Disney magic in a different setting. History buffs will also love O'ahu for a visit to Pearl Harbor and the Dole Plantation. Plus any family can enjoy the Waikiki Aquarium or the Honolulu Zoo!
Nature lovers will love visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawai'i. Maui is known for its incredible beaches, and Kauai, the Garden Island, has incredible hiking trails to explore!
I'm no expert on Hawai'i, so the Go Hawai'i Tourism Board can point you in the right direction for planning a trip to the islands in February!
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is certainly not the warmest destination to visit in February, but you can still enjoy the beautiful beaches without the crowds of peak tourist season.
Head to the Santa Monica Pier for some beachy fun without having to get in the water. You can play carnival games, ride a carousel, or visit the aquarium.
If you happen to get lucky with some warm days, Laguna Beach has some very family-friendly beaches like Diver's Cove. You could also go tide pooling at Main Beach and Treasure Island.
Apart from the beach, don't forget to visit the Hollywood sign, visit the Griffith Observatory, check out the LA Zoo, or go hiking on one of LA's many kid-friendly trails.
Sarasota
Sarasota is a popular destination with snowbirds, but it's also a fun winter getaway for families, too! The beaches are consistently ranked among the best in the country, especially Siesta Key Beach off the coast of Sarasota. Lido Beach also has the iconic white sand and calm Gulf Coast waters, which I love when I'm visiting with little kids.
The average high in February is in the mid-70s, so chances are good that you'll get a day or two warm enough to hit the beach!
We loved the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium with toddlers! The sea otters loved our red wagon and really put on a show for the kids. Bayfront Park is a perfect (and free!) place to visit, and grab a meal at O'Leary's Tiki Bar where kids can play in the sand while you eat at picnic tables. Other fun spots are Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Big Cat Habitat, and Ringling Circus Museum.
You can also take day trips to St. Pete, Clearwater, and Tampa for some more family fun and white-sand beaches! Check out all of the fun things to do in Sarasota with kids!
US Virgin Islands
If you want high temperatures in February in the United States, the US Virgin Islands are going to be one of your best options. With average high temperatures around 82 degrees Fahrenheit, you're all but guaranteed ideal beach days.
The US Virgin Islands are made up of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas. St. Thomas is the most visited island of the three, so it may have the best infrastructure for visiting with kids if that's what you're looking for. St. Croix has great rum distilleries and scuba diving, while St. John, the smallest island, has Virgin Islands National Park.
Our family has not yet visited the Virgin Islands, but it's a great place to experience the Caribbean culture and heritage without needing a passport! It's high on our list of places to visit and would make a perfect place to go to escape our Midwest winter weather. Check out VisitUSVI for more information about planning a trip!
Best Warm Winter Vacations (Without Beaches)
So maybe you had your heart set on the beach for your February getaway, but the options for beaches in the United States, especially the continental United States, with truly warm swimming weather are sparse. I'll offer a few suggestions for destinations that are warm, or even hot, in February that don't have a beach, but you could still do some swimming in a hotel pool.
Palm Springs
If you plan a beach trip to San Diego, Los Angeles, or even Santa Barbara, consider pairing those chillier destinations with balmy Palm Springs. This desert oasis offers an average high of 75 degrees in February, with plenty of days reaching into the 80s. Mornings and evenings are cooler, so make sure you bring a warm sweater!
Many people think of Palm Springs as a getaway destination for adults with plenty of golfing and shopping, but we loved visiting with kids, too!
Visit the Living Desert Zoo, take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up the cliffs of Chino Canyon, hike Palm Canyon, see the Cabazon Dinosaurs, or take a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park!
We stayed at the Hyatt Palm Springs, but for more family fun with water slides and a lazy river stay at Indian Wells Resort and Spa just outside of Palm Springs.
Death Valley National Park
February is a great time to visit Death Valley National Park. With average temperatures in the mid-70s, it's a perfect time of year to go hiking before the weather gets too hot. Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest National Park in the United States, so many of the hiking trails close during the day in the summer months for safety reasons.
We visited in March, and the mornings and evenings had a slight chill, but the sun came out during the day and warmed us up.
Death Valley is home to the lowest place in North America, Badwater Basin Salt Flats at 282 feet below sea level. We visited this area right around sunset, and there were no crowds, and plenty of space for the kids to run around.
You can hike Golden Canyon or Artist Palette with pastel-colored rocks, take in the views at Zabriskie Point (many people like to do this at sunrise), climb the dunes at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, or just take a scenic drive anywhere in the parks, but specifically Artist Drive and 20 Mule Team Canyon Drive.
We flew into Las Vegas, rented a car, and drove 2 hours to get to Death Valley National Park (find our road trip itinerary here). We stayed at The Ranch at Death Valley inside the national park. You can find all the things we did with kids in Death Valley here!
San Antonio
The weather in San Antonio in February can be hit or miss. Average highs hover between 65 degrees and 72 degrees during February, so packing layers would be a great choice!
I love exploring San Antonio, and there are so many kid-friendly things to do there! Of course, you have to visit the Alamo and take a tour, walk along the Riverwalk (and maybe stop for a margarita and some Mexican food), visit San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, play at LEGOLAND Discover Center, visit the Pearl District, explore Natural Bridge Caverns, or experience some thrills at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
San Antonio is such a family-friendly destination, and a perfect choice for escape the frigid winters up north. Between the historic sites and kid-friendly attractions, you will never run out of things to do. You could even add a road trip through the Texas Hill Country and enjoy the area's natural beauty while you're in the area!
Orlando
Orlando is a popular vacation destination for good reason. The weather is absolutely perfect in February, hovering around 75 degrees. You can visit Disney World, and Universal Orlando, take a short drive to LEGOLAND Florida, or swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove.
The crowds at Disney are low to moderate in February (other than President's Day Weekend), so you can maximize your time inside the theme parks. If you need a break from the action, the weather is warm enough for a swim at your hotel pool. I have so many tips for visiting Walt Disney World Resort with babies, toddlers, and little kids, so be sure to browse all of my articles here if you plan to take a Disney Vacation in February!
We are big Harry Potter fans, so whenever we go to Universal Orlando we like to spend most of our time in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter sipping butterbeer and immersing ourselves in a world of magic!
LEGOLAND Florida always seems to fly under the radar, but if you have kids between the ages of 2 and 12 (especially around ages 6-8), I would highly recommend spending some time here if you have kids with even a small interest in LEGO. It's much more relaxed than the other theme parks, and just as exciting for kids! I splurged on a stay at the Pirate Island Hotel on the property, and it was worth every penny to be steps away from the park.
Finally, even after living in Florida for several years, I had never heard of Discovery Cove until we were invited to come visit in 2019. It's an all-inclusive day resort where you can swim with dolphins, snorkel, pet a sloth, relax in a lazy river, and more. All food is included during your visit, and everything from life jackets to sunscreen is provided. As a parent, it was such a relief to not have to pack a huge bag for a day at Discovery Cove. I would highly recommend this park if your kids enjoy the water or marine life!
Phoenix
Phoenix is a wonderful winter getaway destination for families in February! With temperatures in the 70s, this city in the desert is the perfect choice.
I visited with my 2 youngest children in February of 2021 to visit a friend from college, and I was so happy to see the sun after our winter in Wisconsin.
Desert Botanical Garden was one of our favorite experiences during our visit, along with the Phoenix Zoo which is nearby. We walked up to Hole-In-The-Rock for a view of Papago Park, and wandered around Scottsdale.
Phoenix is also a great home base for outdoor adventure in Saguaro National Park, the Grand Canyon, or Sedona.
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Emily Krause is a Wisconsin-based travel content creator who writes about exploring the world with kids.
On A Mom Explores you’ll find the best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
