SeasonMapBar Harbor weather in December
United States
December in Bar Harbor: freezing, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit.
#11 of 12 months in Bar Harbor · #1280 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 37/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Bar Harbor in December
Other months in Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor's forum calls August warm and sunny by day, mid-to-high 70s°F, cooling into the 60s at night — genuinely pleasant, which is exactly why it's the busiest month of the year here. Regulars' standard packing list covers both shorts and a light jacket for cooler evenings, plus a rain layer just in case, and note the ocean itself stays cold, 55-60°F, even at the height of summer.
Add your own note from Bar Harbor's card on the map.
Bar Harbor climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 3°C / 37°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -5°C / 23°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -2°C / 28°F | |
| Sea temperature | 7°C / 44°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 137 mm / 5.4 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 11 days | |
| Humidity | 74% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | -3°C / 26°F | |
| Sunshine | 5.1 h/day | |
| Daylight | 8.9 h | |
| Wind | 25 km/h / 15 mph | |
| Snowfall | 29.7 cm / 11.7 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 33 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Bar Harbor in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyWinter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Bar Harbor's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherBar Harbor's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Bar Harbor in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Lobster season
15 Jun – 15 Dec · usuallyForaging seasonMost of the Maine catch comes ashore between the summer shed and the end of autumn, and prices at the pounds follow the boats. Late summer soft-shell lobster is cheaper and sweeter than the hard-shell you get flown out of state.
- Season
Winter shutdown
1 Nov – 30 AprOff-season shutdownClosuresMost of the hotels, restaurants and shops close for the winter and the town returns to its year-round population. What stays open is cheap, and the park is yours, but check ahead before driving up for dinner.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Bar Harbor — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Bar Harbor?
Bar Harbor in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Bar Harbor?
- December in Bar Harbor: freezing, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Bar Harbor on SeasonMap's comfort score (37/100).
- What is the weather like in Bar Harbor in December?
- In December, Bar Harbor averages a daily high of 2.9°C and a low of -4.9°C, with about 137.4 mm of rain over roughly 11 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Bar Harbor in December?
- Bar Harbor has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in December.
- Does it snow in Bar Harbor in December?
- Bar Harbor sees roughly 29.7 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Bar Harbor
Compare Bar Harbor in December
Warmer or cooler than Bar Harbor in December
Similar destinations in North America — December
Within 300 km: Acadia National Park's Park Loop Road winter closure on 1 Dec – 14 Apr.