Las Vegas in December: What to Expect

Las Vegas in December is the month the desert city makes the most climatic sense for visitors from colder countries. The brutal summer heat is gone, the weather is comfortable, and the Strip looks good when you're not trying to melt on the pavement. The month runs in two distinct modes: early December is one of the quieter and cheaper times of year. New Year's Eve is the opposite extreme, one of the biggest NYE parties in the United States and priced to match.

Weather

Excellent by any reasonable measure. December daytime temperatures in Las Vegas sit around 12°C to 15°C, with cool nights around 4°C to 6°C. Rain is rare. Days are sunny and clear. The desert light in December is particularly good for photography, and it's finally possible to walk the Strip in daylight without the experience being actively unpleasant. Pack a warm layer for evenings, when the temperature drops noticeably, but daytime conditions are among the best of the year.

Crowds and Prices

Two-speed month. Early December is among the cheaper and quieter times to visit Las Vegas. Hotel rates on the Strip are significantly lower than in March, June, or over the Super Bowl weekend. Flights are competitive. The casinos and shows are busy but not at capacity. That switches dramatically for New Year's Eve: Las Vegas NYE is a massive event, with over 300,000 people on the Strip for the midnight fireworks launched from the casino hotel rooftops. Accommodation for NYE books out months in advance, and prices for that night are genuinely eyebrow-raising.

What's On

The Strip is decorated for Christmas through the month, with the casino hotels competing on illuminations. The Bellagio fountains and the Fremont Street Experience are at full operation. Boxing Day and the days either side have historically been one of the busier periods for Vegas, with UK and European visitors treating it as the start of the New Year break. The headline event is New Year's Eve: the midnight fireworks from the Strip rooftops are one of the US's signature NYE experiences, with the Strip itself closed to traffic and turned into a pedestrian party. If you're in Las Vegas for 31 December, staying on the Strip and getting a good position before midnight is the plan.

One Thing to Watch

New Year's Eve hotel rooms on the Strip require booking many months in advance, and the price for a room on 31 December is often five to ten times the normal rate. If New Year is your target, book as early as possible. Early December visitors face no such pressure and will find good value.