Marco Island is a tremendously beautiful island just off the mainland of southwest Florida. This resort town has activities for everyone. However, some of the greatest attributes of Marco Island occur in the calm waters that surround it. With cool rivers and an abundant ecosystem, Marco Island is much more than just a tropical paradise.

April and October are the best times to visit Marco Island. The weather is beautiful, with average daily temperatures of 84°F/29°C to lows of 66°F/19°C. The weather is comfortable for outdoor adventure while remaining cool for epic nights out on the town. August is a challenging month to visit with thick humidity and long, scorching hot days in the 90s.

Marco Island is an excellent destination year-round, however, due to weather conditions, some months may be better suited than others depending on the individual.

When You Shouldn’t Visit Marco Island

August is the hottest month on Marco Island. You can expect temperatures to range from a high of 92°F/33°C to lows of 75°F/24°C. Not only is the heat unrelenting, but the humidity also hovers between 90%-100% all month long without any relief.

June is the rainiest month on Marco Island. On average, there are 13 days of rain in June. It is not your average rain, either. In the early afternoon, the skies open to torrential thunderstorms that seem to accumulate from out of nowhere. They do not last long, but you would not want to be caught too far from shelter.

When Is the Cheapest Month to Visit Marco Island?

The cheapest time to visit Marco Island is July. This is when travelers can get discounted rates on both accommodations and flights. Most of your traveling budget will go towards these two things.

Even in the slowest months, try to book your accommodations at least 3 months in advance. Snowbirds have a reputation for making reservations early and often.

The price to fly to Marco Island can vary greatly depending on where you choose to land. Flights into Marco Island will range from $275-$450. However, if you choose to fly to Tampa, you can find flights between $200-$300.

Being a resort town, there are several types of accommodation opportunities available. From budget-friendly motels to luxury five-star resorts, Marco Island has a place for everyone. The cheapest time to book a room is between early January and early March.

For a truly luxurious stay, book a room at the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa. Enjoy ocean views from the top floors of the chic high-rise oceanfront resort. Rooms are priced starting at $300 a night.

Related Read: 15 BEST Florida Beach Resorts For Families

Best Time to Visit Marco Island: A Monthly Breakdown

January: Best Month for Live Entertainment

Visit the Marco Players Theatre and catch a musical or suspenseful stage drama. The daily average temperature is around 77°F/25°C to 57°F/14°C. The winter weather is perfect to dress to the nines and enjoy the theatre arts scene of Marco Island.

The Marco Players is a non-profit organization that has been a staple of Marco Island since 1974. It started as a children’s play reading group and now is a treasured venue that directly benefits the community.

• Get Dressed Up
• Enjoy A Theatre Show
• Check Out A Musical

February: Best Month to Visit the Everglades

Experience Florida in its true form with a visit to Everglades National Park. The daily average temperature is around 77°F/25°C to 58°F/15°C. By visiting in February, not only do you beat the heat, but you also beat the crowds visiting this ecological wonder.

Explore Everglades National Park by hiking along boardwalks, paddling on the surface of alligator-infested waters, or taking an ole’ timey fan boat across wet grasslands. Check out the visitors center before embarking to educate yourself about the unique ecosystem of the park.

• Learn Facts at the Visitors Center
• Go on an Alligator Watch
• Enjoy a Boat Ride

Related Read: 20 BEST Airboat Tours in the Everglades

March: Best Month for Food and Festivals

Taste the best samplings of the local cuisine at the Marco Island Seafood and Music Festival. The daily average temperature is around 81°F/27°C to 63°F/17°C. The most comfortable month of the year is perfect for this renowned outdoor event.

Credit: Coastal Breeze News / Flickr

Sponsored by the Marco Island Rotary Club, the Marco Island Seafood and Music Festival is a highly anticipated event every year for over a decade. The mild weather is perfect for sampling local seafood and Florida stone crabs while listening to upbeat island tunes.

• Partake in the Seafood Festival
• Watch a Concert

April: Best Month to Target a Monster

Offshore Fishing is built into the culture of this island community and the tides of April bring in some whoppers. The daily average temperature is around 84°F/29°C to 66°F/19°C. The sun is out but the humidity has yet to fully set in, allowing for comfortably long hours at sea.

Whether you would prefer to rent your own boat or decide to come aboard a private charter, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are full of angling opportunities. Try your hand at hooking snapper, grouper, cobia, or even a king mackerel.

• Sail on a Boat Ride
• Fish offshore

Related Read: 45 BEST Things To Do In Sarasota, FL

May: Best Month to Kayak the Ten Thousand Lakes

Kayaking in the canals of the native Ten Thousand Lakes is the ultimate adventure on Marco Island. The daily average temperature is around 87°F/31°C to 72°F/22°C. The weather is warm, but the comfortably shaded mangroves and the cool waters are a recipe for an amazing experience.

Tucked around the Ten Thousand Lakes area are miles upon miles of unique waterways. These canals lead to remote islands that are generally uninhabited and are available to camp overnight. Swimming is not recommended – this is gator territory.

• Island Camping
• Kayaking

June: Best Month for a Dinner Cruise

Come aboard the Marco Island Princess and Dine in Style. The daily average temperature is around 90°F/32°C to 73°F/23°C. The cool summer breeze on the open water is best enjoyed by candlelight.

A sunset cruise on the Princess is perfect for a romantic evening or a family outing. Enjoy the buffet-style cuisine of the Admiral’s Sunset Dinner while tasting a few of the crew’s expertly crafted cocktails. For an interpretive experience, book a passage while aboard Princess’s storied decks.

• Have a Romantic Night
• Go on a Dinner Cruise
• Enjoy the Sunset

Related Read: The 17 Best All-Inclusive Florida Keys Resorts for Families

July: Best Month to Play with Dolphins

Get out into the waters that dolphins call their home. The daily average temperature is around 91°F/33°C to 75°F/24°C. While the sun is hot, a few hours on the water can beat the powerful summer heat.

On Marco Island, numerous boat charters leave the sandy shores and take you up and close with the intelligent mammals. Some tours are limited to only viewing the dolphins, but some offer unique ecological tours in which you can learn about the long-term studies of these gentle creatures.

• Learn about the Local Sea Life
• Go on a Dolphin Tour

August: Best Month for Discovering the Ecosystem

Marco Island is a nature lover's paradise. The daily average temperature is around 92°F/33°C to 75°F/24°C. The island boasts a unique and complex ecosystem that is a healthy habitat for both native animals and plants alike.

Marco Island is home to several reserves and nature centers that explain the complicated, but very important balance of the protected ecosystem. Take advantage of these experiences and identify and understand the fauna and flora in these native Florida habitats.

• Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Briggs Boardwalk Nature Center
• Otter Mound Preserve

September: Best Month to Have a Beach Day

If you only had one day on an island in Florida, where else would you spend it? The daily average temperature is around 91°F/33°C to 74°F/24°C. Not only can enjoy paradise on the island shores, but Marco Island also has several beaches with incredible diversity.

Be sure to take the opportunity to visit Tigertail Beach and Sand Dollar Island. Tigertail is split into two unique sections. The main section of Tigertail Beach is a shallow lagoon that is excellent for beach activities. Follow the shallow sand bar to Sand Dollar Island, a round and sandy island perfect for relaxing under the sun.

• Explore the Island
• Camp Out by the Beach
• Play Volleyball

October: Best Month to Kick Back at a Tiki Bar

A Florida vacation is never complete without enjoying the spirits of a local tiki bar. The daily average temperature is around 87°F/30°C to 72°F/22°C. October nights are the ideal conditions for a boozy cocktail hour (or two).

After a long day under the sun, there is no comparison to being surrounded by your best buds, live music, and a cold drink in your hand. Enjoy one of the island’s signature cocktails with an umbrella while watching the sunset to close out a perfect day.

• Jack's Lookout
• The Boardroom Tavern
• The Oyster Society

November: Best Month for a Date on the Beach

As the sun sets, the beaches of Marco Island transform into a romantic slice of life. The daily average temperature is around 82°F/28°C to 66°F/19°C. Come for the sunset, stay for the fire dancers.

While the stereotypical walk on the beach may be romantically instinctual, gathering around the beating drums, and encircling the dancers while they twirl their batons of fire is the better option. Hold a blanket and your better half and clap along to the rhythmic cadence of the intimate circle.

• Romantic Beach Picnic
• Mingle with the Local Fire Dancers

December: Best Month for Island Shelling

Float out to Keewaydin Island and take part in some of the best shelling opportunities the Gulf of Mexico has to offer. The daily average temperature is around 77°F/25°C to 61°F/16°C. Only available for half the year due to sea turtle nesting season, shelling on this island becomes very remote in December.

Book a tour with a local charter to take you out to the desolate island and they will be your guides. The tours generally take about an hour of your day, but you will bring home plunder of treasures along the shores of this pristine beach.

• Walk the Coast Line
• Collect shells
• Go on a Guided Tour