The Best Time To Visit Charleston, South Carolina, According To Locals

When it comes to dream travel destinations in the South, Charleston, South Carolina, is a perennial favorite. With its ever-growing food scene, rich history and colorful architecture, and proximity to beautiful beaches, it’s little wonder that our readers have voted it the South’s Best City multiple times. Of course, the best time to visit Charleston is largely dependent on what you’re hoping to do once you’re there. Whether you’re heading to town for the historic walking tours, one of the city’s many festivals, or a breezy day on the water, here are the best (and worst) times to visit Charleston, South Carolina.

Tourist Seasons in Charleston, South Carolina

Before planning your trip, take the city’s tourist seasons into consideration, as they’ll likely impact everything from the crowds to airfare and hotel prices.

• High Season: March through May and September through November
• Shoulder Season: June through August
• Low Season: December (except for the holidays) through February

Best Times to Visit Charleston for Good Weather

Spring and fall are prime times to comfortably explore all of Charleston’s beauty. Take it from local meteorologist Josh Marthers of WCBD News 2: “Any time is a great time to visit the best city in the world, but a couple of periods really shine. Our driest months are typically April and November with quite mild temperatures from late March through mid-May. We see those nicer temperatures and lower humidity levels return late September through mid-November.” Average temperatures in April range from upper 50s to low 70s, while those in November from low 50s to upper 60s. 

One caveat worth considering: The city is subject to hurricanes, with the Atlantic season running from the start of June through the end November and peak time for such storms lasting August through October. Of course, to Marthers’ point, assuming that there are no tropical storms or hurricanes on the radar, October is a lovely, mild-weathered month to visit, with average temperatures ranging from low 60s to mid 70s.

Best Time to Visit Charleston for Lower Prices and Smaller Crowds

Planning a trip for the winter months (December through February) is the best way to experience so many of the Holy City’s highlights without having to battle crowds or pay premium rates for accommodations (holidays and festival weekends can be exceptions). While you likely won’t be swimming—unless you brave one of the area beaches’ New Year’s Day Polar Plunges—the milder winter weather still allows for beautiful beach walks and bundled-up picnics. 

For Tyler Page Wright Friedman, certified tour guide and founder of Walk & Talk Charleston, winter is actually one of her favorite times of year in the city: "Winter is an ideal season to explore downtown and all of our world-class museums," she says. And the rewards extend beyond lower cost and smaller crowds: "Historically, the holiday season was the social season in Charleston," she explains. "Many of the gardens were designed to bloom during this time, and so we have the beautiful camellias, Christmas senna, and the sweetgrass has turned a beautiful shade of pink." It's also oyster season, Friedman notes, so put all of those together, and you've landed yourself the perfect Charleston winter weekend.

For those willing who don't mind sweating a little, you may also consider visiting during the city’s shoulder season, June through August. Chef Mike Lata, who owns two of the city's most beloved restaurants (FIG and The Ordinary), says late June is the shoulder season’s sweet spot: “Things start to slow down, so it’s a bit easier to get hotel deals and reservations at restaurants. The weather is warm but not stifling.  There is also lots of great local food to eat and the water has had a chance to warm up, making for great fishing, surfing, and general beachgoing.”

Best Times to Visit Charleston for Festivals and Events 

The Holy City plays host to a number of festivals and events throughout the year, all of which celebrate the various hallmarks of the historic peninsula town.  Festival season here kicks off with mid-February’s Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, more commonly referred to as SEWE (pronounced “see-wee”), when nature lovers, conservationists, and outdoorsmen descend on the city to shop a host of wildlife-oriented artists and exhibitors, attend cooking demos, and watch dogs participate in water jumping competitions. (The weekend is also an exception to winter’s typically smaller crowds.) 

In March and April, the Historic Charleston Foundation hosts its longest-running annual event, The Charleston Festival (formerly called the Festival of Houses and Gardens), which celebrates the city’s history and culture through a series of lectures on preservation and design, as well as tours of privately owned homes and gardens. April’s first Saturday also lays claim to the annual Cooper River Bridge Run, which invites runners and walkers of all skill levels to “Get Over It,” “It” being the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge that connects the suburb of Mount Pleasant to downtown Charleston over the Cooper River. 

Late May into June brings one of Charleston’s hallmark events, Spoleto Festival USA, when world-class performers, musicians, dancers, and artists from around the globe bring their talents to the Holy City for a 17-day series of live performances, art shows and exhibitions, and artist talks.

You’ll also find the Southern Living team in town twice throughout the year—in September for our Tailgate Party (part of the first-ever Food & Wine Classic in Charleston) and again in December for Illumination Charleston (a curated holiday market, plus demos from our favorite chefs and entertaining experts; 2024 dates not yet announced). 

Best Times to Visit Charleston for a Beach Trip

If you’re planning to spend most of your Lowcountry stay playing on the area’s surrounding beaches, rather than diving into historic walking tours, summer is a great time to visit, as an ocean breeze or quick dip in the water can relieve even the hottest, muggiest day. By June, the ocean and other waterways have warmed up, making for comfortable swimming and other watersports, like surfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. 

Pop-up afternoon thunderstorms aren’t uncommon in the summer, but they usually clear up as quickly as they roll in. July and August tend to see the most rain (8 or 9 days of rainfall), so if you’re faced with a wet day, take advantage of one of the city’s many museums, from The Gibbes Museum of Art to the recently opened International African American Museum, or explore all the amazing local shops.

Worst Times to Visit Charleston

The worst time to visit Charleston is subjective, as it depends on your personal travel preferences and those activities you plan to enjoy while there. However, as a born-and-raised Charleston native who often felt pity for the sweating, red-faced tourists who trudged past as I sat in the comfort of my mom’s air-conditioned car, July and August are about the most miserable months to plan a trip centered around walking tours and general sightseeing. In my experience, I’ve found that a beach day on Sullivan’s Island—or a reservation at one of our many delicious (and air-conditioned) restaurants—are about the only antidotes to our summer’s scorching heat.

It’s also worth noting that Charleston is home to a couple of colleges, including The Citadel and the College of Charleston, so if you’re not looking to be swept up in the excitement of move-in or graduation weekends, consult their academic calendars before booking your travel.