DC in the Winter

Winter in Washington, D.C. officially begins with the winter solstice in late December. Washington, D.C.’s hotel industry welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors in January, with occupancy showing a slight dip compared to the previous year. In January 2025, an estimated 260,000 unique visitors stayed in Washington, D.C. hotels. Despite January 2025 being a US Presidential Inauguration year, hotel stays were slightly lower than the previous year. In January 2024, approximately 279,000 unique visitors occupied the city’s roughly 36,000 hotel rooms, about 10,000 more visitors than in January 2025. In the Washington, D.C. region, January is typically one of the driest months of the year. While visitors may encounter snow, snowfall amounts are generally modest compared to many other parts of the United States. Snow is possible, but usually light and short-lived. It is also very unpredictable! The average temperature is a high of 40s°F (4–9°C). The nights can drop into the 30s°F or lower.

What to Wear in D.C. in the Winter

Outerwear

  • Warm winter coat (insulated, preferably waterproof or windproof)
  • Scarf (wool or fleece)
  • Gloves or mittens
  • Hat or beanie (covers ears)

Layers - Tops

  • Sweaters / fleece pullovers
  • Long-sleeved shirts
  • Thermal base layers (especially if you plan to be outdoors a lot)
  • Cardigans or light jackets for layering indoors

Bottoms

  • Jeans or casual pants
  • Thermal leggings or tights (for extra warmth)

Footwear

  • Winter boots (comfortable for walking)
  • Warm socks (wool or thick cotton)
  • Casual shoes for walking

Accessories

  • Umbrella (D.C. gets rain and occasional snow)
  • Sunglasses (sun can reflect off snow, block winter sun)
  • Lip balm / moisturizer (cold air is drying)

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