Killington weather in December
December in Killington: freezing, rainy, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#3 of 12 months in Killington · #374 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 83/100 (tier A)
- Days
- -5°C
- Nights
- -13°C
- Wet days
- 12
- Sun
- 5 h
- Humidity
- 77%
- Daylight
- 9 h

Traveller notes on Killington in December
Notes from nearby Burlington (102 km away)
Killington doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Burlington, close enough to share the season.
Forum posters describe December in Burlington as cold, gray and dreary with short days, typical daytime highs in the 30sF and lows in the teens to 20sF, and posters note a relatively low chance of snow specifically in early-to-mid December compared to deeper winter. Posters are consistent that the city stays lively despite the weather, describing downtown Church Street as festively lit for Christmas with restaurants, bars and live music keeping the atmosphere upbeat through the cold, quiet season. Posters flag that real winter sports - skiing, snowshoeing and similar activities - require transportation out of town rather than being available within Burlington itself. Posters generally rate December as a quiet, atmospheric time to visit Burlington for anyone not chasing snow sports specifically.
Other months in Killington
Killington-forum threads on a November visit describe the resort as genuinely the first in Vermont open most seasons, posters naming a reliable opening by Thanksgiving weekend as standard. Regulars call seasonal on-mountain restaurants genuinely running by mid-November, several posters naming this as lining up with the start of lift operations. Posters call the trail network genuinely the largest and most varied in the East, several regulars naming downhill, snowboarding, snowshoeing and cross-country as all available once the season gets going. Regulars call the nightlife scene genuinely a real part of the draw, several threads naming everything from casual bars to livelier dance-club venues once crowds arrive. Posters recommend checking opening-day confirmations before booking November trips specifically, several regulars calling this standard given how much early-season timing can shift. The record: 0.4C days, -6.9C nights, 92.3mm across over 12 days and 76 percent humidity.
Killington-forum reviews on a June visit describe the mountain bike park as a real standout, posters naming thirty-five miles of trails across all skill levels with rental bikes available on site. Regulars call the gondola a real way up for riders, several posters naming this the standard way to access downhill trails without pedaling the climb. Posters call mid-June through mid-September genuinely prime time here, several regulars naming solid trail conditions as standard through this stretch. Regulars call the Peak Lodge cafeteria at the summit a real convenient stop, several threads naming it a good spot for a break between runs. Posters recommend booking a bike or lesson ahead for a June visit, several regulars calling this standard given how popular the park has become. The record: 17.2C days, 7.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 116.6mm across over 14 days and 72 percent humidity.
Killington-forum threads on an October visit describe early in the month, around Columbus Day weekend, as typically near-peak for fall foliage, posters calling accommodation worth booking well ahead given how many visitors time trips around the color. Regulars call late October foliage more hit or miss, some suggesting the Champlain Valley or points further south once the higher elevations have already turned. Regulars recommend Route 100 as a real standout scenic drive, several artisanal cheesemakers along the route worth a stop. Posters call the area strong for hiking, history and scenic drives beyond foliage alone, a real draw for visitors not chasing color specifically. Regulars recommend real layers regardless of a mild afternoon, mountain mornings here turning sharply cooler by October. The record: 8.9C days feeling like 7C, 0.6C nights, an extraordinarily high 130.5mm across over 12 days and 78 percent humidity.
Killington-forum threads on where to ski in January call this among the more likely months for real accumulation on the ground, posters describing a couple of feet as entirely plausible by midmonth. Regulars are direct January skiing can be wonderful but genuinely very cold, temperatures capable of sitting in the teens Fahrenheit for stretches. Posters describe conditions as swinging meaningfully within the same week, sometimes staying properly cold and snowy, other times turning surprisingly green and bare. Regulars call northern and northeastern Vermont generally snowier than the central region Killington sits in. Posters recommend real layers regardless of forecast given how fast conditions can shift. Regulars call the resort's extensive snowmaking a genuine backstop whenever cold enough to support it. The record: -7.3C days feeling like -12C, -16.1C nights, a notably high 70.6cm of fresh accumulation and 76 percent humidity.
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Killington climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Killington 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.
Peak crowdsChristmas to New Year ski peak, Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Killington'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).
Best weatherKillington's best weather comes in February, March and December — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Killington in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Ski season
1 Nov – 25 May · usuallyUsually the first resort in the East to open, on snowmaking in the first half of November, and the last to close — Superstar holds a strip of snow into May most years and into June in a good one. Source ↗
- Holiday
Christmas to New Year ski peak
20 Dec – 3 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyThe week from Christmas to New Year is the busiest of the ski season: lodging and lift-ticket prices reach their highs, ski school and rentals book out and lift lines are longest. Book months ahead, and early-season snow cover varies year to year. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 55 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Killington — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Killington?
Killington in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Killington?
- December in Killington: freezing, rainy, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Killington on SeasonMap's comfort score (83/100).
- What is the weather like in Killington in December?
- In December, Killington averages a daily high of -5.1°C and a low of -12.9°C, with about 99.6 mm of rain over roughly 11.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Killington in December?
- Killington has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 30 in December.
- Does it snow in Killington in December?
- Killington sees roughly 55.4 cm of snowfall in December.
Within 300 km: Boston's First Night on 31 Dec – 1 Jan, and Stowe's Ski season around 20 Nov – 15 Apr.