Key West in November: Weather, Events, and What to Expect

You hear the first week of November in Key West before you see it. The offshore powerboats are in town, 40-foot catamarans with enough engine to shake the windows on Front Street, and on race days the harbor thunders like an airfield. A few days later the clocks go back, sunset at Mallory Square jumps to twenty to six, and the evening air has a softness it hasn’t had since April. The humidity has broken, the hurricane season is winding down, the water is still warm enough to swim, and the winter crowds haven’t arrived. Key West in November is one of the most underrated months of the year, and anyone who has spent a week here in mid-November tends to come back at the same time.

This guide covers November weather and water, the end of hurricane season, the powerboat championships, the Key West Film Festival, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, stone crab and lobster both in season, the start of sailfish season, crowds and prices across the month, what’s worth doing and what isn’t, and how November compares with October and December. Weather figures are NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Key West International Airport. Prices and dates were checked in September 2026; treat prices as the right order of magnitude and confirm 2027 dates before booking.

§ 01

Key West in November at a glance

§ 02

What a November trip costs

November sits in the middle of the price range. It’s more than September, much less than February, and in the weeks between the races and Thanksgiving it’s arguably the best value of the year for this quality of weather. Here are the benchmarks, checked in September 2026:

§ 03

November weather: the switch flips

November is when Key West’s climate changes gear. The wet season ends, rainfall drops to about 2.1 inches on around six days, well under half of October’s, and the humidity that hung over the island from May to October finally lifts. The average high is about 81°F, the average low about 72°F, and on most days that feels close to perfect: warm enough for the beach, cool enough to walk Old Town at noon, and pleasant enough at night to eat outside without breaking a sweat.

The weather is now driven by cold fronts rather than thunderstorms. Every week or so, a front pushes down from the mainland. On the day it passes you might get a band of showers and a gusty wind shift. Behind it come two or three days of clear skies, a fresh north or northeast breeze and noticeably cooler nights, sometimes into the mid-60s. Then the wind settles, the warmth creeps back, and the cycle repeats. The fronts are the one thing that can spoil a November boat day, since a brisk breeze makes the reef choppy, so keep reef trips flexible.

The clocks go back

Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November, November 7 in 2027, and sunset at Mallory Square jumps from about 6:45 p.m. to about 5:45 p.m. overnight, settling around 5:40 by the end of the month. It changes the rhythm of the day. Sunset drinks turn into a pre-dinner ritual rather than a late-evening one, and it’s worth planning your afternoon so you’re near the water by five. Our Key West sunset spots guide lists the best places to watch.

§ 04

The end of hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on November 30, and in practice the risk falls sharply once October is over. November storms do happen. Tropical Storm Eta came ashore at Lower Matecumbe Key in November 2020, a reminder that the season isn’t over until it’s over. But they’re uncommon, usually weaker, and a November trip carries a small fraction of September’s risk. A flexible booking is still sensible early in the month, but for most travelers November is the first month since May you can book without thinking hard about the tropics. Our best time to visit Key West guide explains the full seasonal picture.

§ 05

The water in November

The sea cools through the month, averaging about 78°F: still comfortable for swimming and snorkeling, though noticeably fresher than summer’s bathwater. If you chill easily, a thin wetsuit top or long-sleeved rash guard makes a long snorkel more comfortable. Between fronts the reef can be excellent, with clear water and far fewer boats than in winter. The day or two after a strong front, seas can be lumpy and visibility down. Sargassum is usually a non-issue by November, and the Atlantic-side beaches, Smathers included, are often at their cleanest of the year. See our Key West reef snorkeling trips guide.

§ 06

November events

The powerboat championships

For one week at the start of November, Key West hosts the Race World Offshore Key West World Championships, the loudest week of the year. The world’s top offshore powerboat teams, in classes from twin-engine Super Cats to the big UIM Class I catamarans, race laps of a course off the island at speeds well over 100 mph. The 2026 championships run November 1–8, the season finale of the UIM World Championship Series, with the race village, team displays and fan events at Truman Waterfront Park. The week opens with the World’s Fastest Boat Parade, when the race boats are towed down Duval Street at 4:00 p.m. on the Sunday.

Watching from the harbor front is free, and it’s a genuine spectacle: roostertails of spray, a noise you feel in your chest, and boats that seem to fly over the chop. Race days are spread through the week, so check the schedule. The honest trade-off: hotels near the harbor fill up and put their rates up, Old Town is busier, and if you came for quiet, the race days aren’t it. Stay mid-month instead.

Veterans Day (November 11)

Key West has deep military roots, from Fort Zachary Taylor and the Civil War to Naval Air Station Key West today, and Veterans Day is marked with ceremonies around the island. It’s a Thursday in 2027, so some visitors make a long weekend of it.

Key West Film Festival

In mid-to-late November, the island becomes a small, friendly film festival, screening independent features, documentaries and awards-season contenders at the art deco Tropic Cinema on Eaton Street, the historic San Carlos Institute on Duval and other venues around Old Town. The 2026 festival runs November 18–22. It’s an easy, grown-up way to spend a few evenings, with talks, parties and screenings that rarely sell out as fast as big-city festivals. Look for the 2027 dates in the same slot.

Thanksgiving (November 25, 2027)

Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest few days of the month. Families come down for the long weekend, many restaurants serve Thanksgiving menus (book ahead), and room rates jump for Wednesday through Sunday. Holiday lights start going up around town, and the island’s festive season begins. It’s a fun, warm alternative to a cold family Thanksgiving, but book early. For a quieter version, come the week after, when the crowds leave and December’s holiday decorations are already up.

What’s no longer on the calendar

For decades, early November also brought thousands of Jimmy Buffett fans to Key West for the Parrot Heads in Paradise “Meeting of the Minds” convention. After 2023 the event moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama. You’ll still hear plenty of Buffett songs on Duval, but the Parrot Head takeover is no longer a Key West event. For the full calendar, see our Key West events guide.

§ 07

Crowds and prices in November

Mid-November, between the races and Thanksgiving, and the week after Thanksgiving are two of the best-value windows of the whole year. The weather is often better than in January, and prices sit well below the winter peaks. For more on timing a budget trip, see our cheapest time to visit Key West guide.

§ 08

What to do in Key West in November

Eat stone crab and lobster

November is the only stretch of the year when stone crab (opened October 15) and spiny lobster (open since August) are both fresh and plentiful. Order stone crab cold with mustard sauce, and lobster grilled. See our Key West seafood restaurants guide.

Go after sailfish

As the water cools and the cold fronts push baitfish south, sailfish arrive along the reef edge off Key West, and November marks the start of the winter sailfish season that runs through March. The days just after a front, with a fresh north wind, are often the best. Kingfish, cero mackerel and wahoo are also on the reef and wrecks. See our Key West deep sea fishing and Key West fishing seasons guides.

Walk and bike Old Town

With the humidity gone, November is the perfect month to explore on foot or by bike: the Hemingway Home, the Key West Lighthouse, the cemetery, the gingerbread houses of Old Town and the lanes of Bahama Village. Our Key West walking tour guide maps a good route.

Take the Dry Tortugas trip between fronts

Pick a calm day. The crossing can be rough right after a front, but on a settled November day the 70-mile run is comfortable and the fort is far less crowded than in winter. The water is cooler for snorkeling, so bring a rash guard or thin wetsuit. See our Dry Tortugas day trip guide.

Sit outside in the evening

This is the month to eat on terraces and in garden courtyards, have a drink on a rooftop, and linger over dinner without a fan pointed at you. Our Key West happy hour guide finds the best early-evening deals, just in time for a 5:40 sunset.

§ 09

What isn’t worth it in November

• Booking race week by accident. If you want calm, check the powerboat dates before you book. Harbor-side hotels are noisy and pricier that week.
• A beach-only vacation with no Plan B for a front. Most November days are beach-perfect, but the day a front passes can be breezy, cool and gray. Have a museum or a long lunch in reserve.
• Driving down on Thanksgiving Wednesday. The Overseas Highway is at its busiest. Leave a day early or fly.
• Thanksgiving dinner without a reservation. The good tables are gone weeks ahead.
• Assuming the water is summer-warm. At about 78°F it’s lovely, but a long snorkel can chill you, so bring a layer.

§ 10

A five-day November itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive, walk Old Town in the late afternoon, and be at Mallory Square by 5:30 for the sunset.
• Day 2: Morning snorkel trip on a calm day. Afternoon at the Hemingway Home and the lighthouse. Stone crab for dinner.
• Day 3: Dry Tortugas on the 8:00 a.m. ferry, or a half-day sailfish trip if the wind is up.
• Day 4: Bike to Fort Zachary Taylor for a swim, then Bahama Village and the cemetery. A film festival screening or live music in the evening.
• Day 5: Cuban coffee, key lime pie, a last walk along the harbor, and home.

For a longer trip, our Key West 7-day itinerary adds a day or two up the Keys.

§ 11

What to watch out for in November

• Cold fronts. They bring wind, choppier seas and occasionally cool nights. Keep boat trips flexible.
• Race week noise and crowds. Great if you’re there for it, not if you’re not.
• King tides. Fall high tides can flood low streets in Old Town and New Town, even on sunny days. Avoid driving through salt water.
• Thanksgiving traffic. Allow extra time on the Overseas Highway.
• The sun. It’s cooler, but the UV index is still high. Keep wearing sunscreen and a hat.

§ 12

November for different kinds of travelers

Couples

Mid-November may be the most romantic stretch of the Key West year: dry, warm days, cool evenings, early sunsets and moderate prices. See our Key West romantic getaway guide and our Key West fine dining picks for a special dinner.

Families

Thanksgiving week is the obvious family window, and a warm, sunny Thanksgiving is a treat. Book well ahead. See our Key West with kids guide.

Anglers

Sailfish season begins, and the reef is full of kingfish, mackerel and wahoo. It’s one of the best months of the year for a mixed offshore trip.

Film and culture lovers

The Key West Film Festival, comfortable walking weather and uncrowded museums make mid-November ideal.

Budget travelers

Mid-November and the week after Thanksgiving are cheaper than winter, with better weather than summer. See our Key West on a budget guide.

§ 13

Beyond Key West in November

• Bahia Honda State Park (MM 37) is at its best in the dry, clear weather. See our Bahia Honda State Park guide.
• The Seven Mile Bridge and Pigeon Key are made for a cool November bike ride. See our Seven Mile Bridge guide.
• The Bahamas: with hurricane season ending on both sides of the Florida Straits, late November is a good window if you’re thinking of combining Key West with a Bahamas trip. See our Key West to the Bahamas guide for how to get there.

For splitting a longer stay across the islands, see our where to stay in the Florida Keys guide.

§ 14

What to pack for November

• Summer clothes for the day: shorts, T-shirts, sundresses
• A light sweater or long-sleeved layer for evenings after a front
• Swimwear and a long-sleeved rash guard or thin wetsuit top
• Reef-safe mineral sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A light windbreaker for boat days
• Something a little smarter for Thanksgiving dinner

See our Key West packing list for the complete checklist.

§ 15

November vs October vs December

For the month before, see Key West in October, and our Key West month by month guide for the full year.

§ 16

Is November a good time to visit Key West?

Yes, and it’s one of the best. November gives you the start of the dry season, comfortable temperatures, water still warm enough to swim, stone crab and lobster together, sailfish offshore, early sunsets and prices well below winter, all with the hurricane season winding down. Mid-November and the week after Thanksgiving are the sweet spots.

It’s less ideal if you want summer-warm water for long swims, if you hate noise and your dates land on race week, or if you want a quiet Thanksgiving on a budget. And if you want the full festive season, December’s lights and boat parade are still to come. Our best time to visit Key West guide compares the months side by side.

§ 17

Frequently asked questions

Related Key West Guides

• Key West month by month: every month compared
• Key West in October: the month before
• Best time to visit Key West: weather, crowds and prices
• Key West events: the full calendar
• Key West fishing seasons: sailfish and more
• Key West seafood restaurants: stone crab and lobster

§ 19

Photo Credits

Tropic Cinema on Eaton Street: Key West, Florida 2021 – Tropic Cinema by Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sunset from Truman Waterfront Park: KeyWestFL TrumanWaterfrontPark Sunset1 20230125 by Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.