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Published: 4/15/24
What To Pack For A Week in Key West in December
My Key West packing list covers everything you need to bring on a December trip to this small Florida island.
If you’re wondering what to pack for a winter week in the Florida Keys, I’m spilling all the tea about both my Key West packing wins and some pretty epic fails. While you probably already knew you’d nee sandals and swimsuits, you might be surprised to see that long pants and rain gear are also Key West December essentials.
Honestly, I did a pretty crappy job of packing for Key West for my December 2023 visit. I basically my Hawaii packing list. Let’s just say the results of this experiment were mixed. While reef-safe sunscreen is as essential in Key West as Kauai, I found myself longing for some floral cotton sundresses and more Southern-inspired outfits.
But packing for Key West isn’t tricky. My printable Key West packing list PDF at the end of this post will set you up for fashion success and ensure you have all the essential items for a Florida Keys vacation.
Let’s dive right into my Key West packing guide to make packing the first stress-free part of your Key West winter getaway.
What To Know About Packing For Key West
To be brutally honest, if packing for Key West, whether you’re visiting for a day or a month, is a stressful, or time consuming, process, you’re doing it wrong.
Key West is hardly a desert island. With 26,000 and over 3 million annual visitors, Key West is ready and willing to cater to tourists’ every needs so don’t worry about forgetting to pack something.
There’s no shortage of clothing boutiques that would love to sell you swimsuits, beachwear, souvenir sweatshirts, and basically any other item you might desire. Honestly, if you showed up on the island with a credit card and the clothes on your back, you would want for nothing.
Wherever you stay on Key West, groceries, clothing, toiletries, and pharmacy items will be readily available within walking distance. So rather than fill your suitcase with worst case scenario items (i.e. your wine bottle openers, laundry soap, first aid kit, etc.) this is a great trip to practice honing your “carry-on” only skills.
Pro tip: That said, if you are checking a bag and flying into Key West, I do recommend having toiletries, a chance of clothes, and pajamas in your carry-on, just in case. Key West’s short runway and high winds frequently causes flight delays, especially in December.
My Key West Luggage
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Victorinox Roller Bag  Victorinox Swiss Army Spectra 2.0 Medium Hardside Expandable Upright Luggage Red |
Camelbak H.A.W.G Backpack  |
Pacsafe Convertible Backpack  Pacsafe Women’s Citysafe Cx Anti Theft Convertible Backpack-Fits 10″ Tablet, Black |
Checked luggage – Andy and I shared my medium 27″ tall Victorinox Roller Bag. If I was traveling solo, I would have used my Monos Carry-On Plus.
Carry-on – Since we both travel with our laptops (the joys of owning a small business, y’all), we each used a small backpack for our carry-on. The H.A.W.G Mil Spec Backpack is my absolute favorite backpack to use for a carry-on. It also worked great for Key West adventures like a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park.
Personal item– I’m still in love with my convertible Pacsafe Backpack. I originally bought this for my trip to Savannah, GA and it’s been on every trip since. I use it as a crossbody bag on the plane, then convert it to a backpack when I reach my destination.
Essential Key West Accessories
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Wallaroo Sunhat  |
Maui Jim Sunglasses  Maui Jim Women’s Sugar Cane Polarized Classic Sunglasses, Lilac Sunset/Maui Rose®, Medium |
Waterproof Phone Case  |
Wallaroo Victoria Packable Sun Hat – This wasn’t this lightweight sunhat‘s first trip to Florida. I previously needed to shove it down the front of my dress on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando. From theme parks to volcanic islands, this sun hat has crisscrossed the globe with me. I love that it works with any outfit and keeps me comfortable and sunburn-free.
Maui Jim Sunglasses I’ve had my Maui Jims for years and they are worth every penny! If you buy an expensive enough pair of sunglasses, you’ll make sure to never lose them!
Waterproof camera holder – As you might expect, some of the best things to do in Key West are on the water. This waterproof phone case kept my phone safe and close are hand while kayaking through the mangroves.
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Wet Bag  |
Reusable Shopping Bag  |
Water Bottle  |
Wet Bag – If you’re doing day trips around the Florida Keys where you’ll want to change out of a wet swimsuit, this wet bag is a game changer. Just pop anything damp into this zippered pouch and you won’t have to worry about anything else in your backpack or tote getting wet. There’s even a zippered pocket on the front where you can stash sandy shoes!
Reusable shopping bag – Key West is a very walkable town, so it’s great idea to have a packable shopping bag handy in case you randomly pop into a shop.
Water bottle – Don’t forget to stay hydrated during all your fun in the sun. My 32 oz Nalgene bottle is my constant travel companion.
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Power Bank
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Reef-Safe Spray Sunscreen  |
Sun Bum Facial Sunscreen |
Power bank – Key West is actually pretty prone to power outages, so it’s a good idea to have a power bank in case you experience an extended loss of power. It’s also a handy way to keep your devices charged during a beach day!
Cash – On the same note, be sure to bring cash money to Key West. As an elderly millennial, I almost exclusively use credit cards, but cash comes in really handy when you need to pay for dinner out during a Key West power outage . . . .
Reef-safe sunscreen – Did you know there’s a coral reef accessible from Key West that’s pretty much dead? While it’s important to protect yourself from sun, it’s equally important to do so in a way that respects the environment. Reef-safe sunscreen is an easy way to do your part.
Sun Bum facial sunscreen – My sensitive skin usually throws an all out fit whenever I put sunscreen on my face, so Sun Bum SPF 50 facial sunscreen was a very welcome discovery. It doesn’t sting or cause my skin to break out.
Key West Footwear
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Keen Sandals  KEEN Women’s Whisper Closed Toe Sport Sandals, Medium Grey/Peacock Green, 10 US |
Teva Sport Sandal |
Flats  Ollio Women’s Shoe Comfort Ballet Flat BN17(8.5 B(M) US, Black) |
Keen sneaker sandals – I wore the heck out of my Keen sandal sneakers in Key West. They were the perfect mix of support and airiness. I actually scored a brand new pair on ThredUp for less than $20 for this trip so it always pays to shop used. These also double as water shoes which is important if you access the coral beach at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.
Teva sandals – These cross strap sandals are fancy enough to pair with dresses, but also sturdy enough to withstand a full day of Florida adventures, whether you’re exploring the Orlando theme parks or the Florida Keys.
Flats – I didn’t actually pack these and I really wish I had. It would have been great to have had a closed toe shoe other than the sneakers I wore on the plane, especially for walking to restaurants and museums. I’ve been rocking a pair of Tieks since my Kentucky Derby days, but Ollio makes a similar packable flat at a much lower price point.
Key West December Clothing Must-Haves
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Rain Jacket
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Cotton Sundress  |
Jean Jacket |
Cue the face palm – I didn’t pack any of these items!
Perhaps Key West’s biggest surprise for me was that it gave Gulf of Mexico vibes rather than tropical beach. (The island is literally located in the Gulf of Mexico so feel free to be confused by my surprise.) At any rate, I should have taken my fashion cues for Key West from my Savannah trip rather than Hawaii.
Lightweight rain jacket – Let me tell you, Key West rain showers aren’t always brief 10-minute affairs! We experienced a lot of rain during our week in Key West; enough that I ended up buying a lightweight Columbia rain jacket.
Long cotton sundress – I packed a short, quick-dry sundress that was perfect for Honolulu, but a little off for Key West. A long floral cotton sundress would have been perfect for a dinner out at Blue Heaven!
Jean Jacket – It never got cold during our December week in Key West, but with temperatures consistently in the mid-70s, it was never hot either. Unfortunately, the only long sleeved shirts I packed were a couple of sweatshirts. A jean jacket would have made a much more dignified extra layer for Key West winter evenings.
Other Key West Clothing Essentials
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Sun Shirt  Coolibar UPF 50+ Women’s Malawi Swim Jacket – Sun Protective |
Swimsuit  AI’MAGE Womens Halter One Piece Swimsuits Deep V Neck Ruched Tummy Control Bathing Suits |
Wool T-shirt  |
Long sleeved sun shirt– While I mostly used my long sleeved sun shirt as an extra layer in Key West, it also provides UPF 50+ sun protection. You need to be especially protective of your skin if you head out on the water while in Key West. If you’re shopping around for sun protection clothing, check out Coolibar, a great Minnesota-based company.
Swimsuit – Speaking of time on the water, you can’t go to Key West without a swimsuit! My Cupshe halter one piece is the perfect blend of function and fashion.
Wool t-shirts – No, this isn’t a copy and paste error from my Alaska packing list! While wool tends to be associated with cold weather clothing, this versatile fiber actually lends itself to tropical destinations too. Since it wicks moisture, wool t-shirts never get clammy and they seem to have a magical property of keeping you warm when you’re cold and cool when you’re hot.
Key West Clothing
Plane outfit – Castle Danger Brewery sweatshirt, Minus 33 merino wool t-shirt, joggers I actually brought two pairs of joggers on this trip: one from Vuori and one from KUHL.
Jeans – However, one of my biggest Key West packing regrets was only packing those two pairs of joggers for my pants. If you’re visiting Key West during rainy season, do yourself a solid and pack at least one pair of “real pants.” I would have felt a little more refined at dinner if I wasn’t wearing joggers.
Sarong wrap – I use this as a beach cover-up. Lightweight and dries in a flash!
Two t-shirts
Quick dry sundress – This quick dry Columbia sun dress also makes a great beach cover up.
Two tank tops – I like Carly Jeans Los Angeles Favorite Tanks and Title Nine active tanks
Linen shorts – I love these Athleta shorts, especially their deep pockets which fit my phone.
Clamber shorts – I can’t tell you how much these pocket-rich activewear shorts from Title Nine have improved my life. Seriously the best for outdoor adventures from the Boundary Waters to Key West.
Underwear 1x number of days
Socks x 3 – I’m not really sure when you’d wear these (the Florida Keys aren’t exactly rich in hiking trails) but people always get squirrelly when I suggest they don’t need socks . . . even if they really don’t.
Bras x 2 (1 sports)
Lightweight pajamas
What You Actually Need to Pack for Key West
Below is a printable Key West packing list of what I’ll actually pack next time I’m in Key West for eight days in December.
If you don’t have access to laundry during your trip, I’d recommend bring one more of each type of clothing item listed.
Printable Key West Packing List
