Fall In Charleston

Evening view of the Charleston Marina in fall

Although spring has the beauty of Charleston’s abundant flowers and gardens to tempt the visitor, many say that the autumnal months are the better time of year to visit the city.

Charleston’s comparatively short “true” fall – the months of October and November – offers great weather: it is nearly always warm, and this is also the time of the year with the least rain and the fewest cloudy days (September’s weather has more in common with the months of summer than fall).

Although October and November are both very popular months to visit the city, the crowds are a little smaller than those of spring. In later fall especially, the crowds begin to thin out and the chance of getting a good price on accommodation increases.

Fall Weather In Charleston

Weather-wise, September belongs to summer more so than to fall, with temperatures averaging a high of 85°F (29°C). Day-to-day variability in the maximum temperature is beginning to vary a little more than it does in high summer, with the temperature cooling off gradually as the month progresses.

October brings average highs of 77°F (25°C), falling further to 70°F (21°C) by November. Average lows range from 67°F in September, down to 57°F in October and 47°F in November. Daily variability in temperature increases somewhat in the later part of fall, with some days only reaching the 60s (or even the 50s) and others well into the 80s.

Humidity can still be very high through September, but declines substantially in October and November, making the latter months, with their warm and pleasant weather, one of the best times of the year to see Charleston.

September rainfall follows the summer pattern, with an average of 6 inches of rain. October is much drier, and November is usually the driest month of the year, but you can still expect rain on at least 1 out of every 5 days.

October and November are also the least cloudy months of the year, with clear blue skies more often than not. The end of daylight saving time in early November knocks an hour off the time available for outdoor sightseeing, however.

→ More about Charleston’s weather in September, October and November

Ideal Fall Activities

September is often a great month to go to the beach. The weather is still hot and the ocean warm but the summer family crowds have mostly dissipated.

The later months of fall are especially suitable for outdoor sightseeing, whether confined to the city or venturing out to explore the nature and wildlife of the lowcountry. Warm, sunny days are common at this time of year and the weather is also at its driest.

This is also one of the best times of year to make a trip upstate, when the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains and their foothills, turning the colors of autumn, provide an especially beautiful display.

If you are planning your visit to Charleston around a food or music festival, there are plenty of things to do in the city to occupy the time between events, with many museums and historic houses that are both close by and possible to see in only an hour or two.

In late October, around Halloween, ghost tours are a favorite evening activity, though you may need to make advance reservations.

Fall Festivals & Events In Charleston

The fall event season in Charleston brings many of the city’s larger music, arts and food festivals. In early fall are the Greater Charleston Lowcountry Jazz Festival, Charleston Restaurant Week, the Charleston Scottish Games, the MOJA Arts Festival and the Taste of Charleston.

Later come the Fall Tour of Homes, counterpart to the equally popular spring event; the Color of Music, a festival of black classical composers and performers; Charleston International Film Festival; and the Folly Jazz Festival at Folly Beach.

– See more events in Charleston in September, October or November

Planning A Fall Visit To Charleston

Fall is a popular time of year to visit Charleston, and accommodation can be expensive, but you can often save on your hotel by booking a mid-week rather than a weekend visit. The later weeks of fall, prior to the holiday season, are also slightly less in demand, with a possibility of finding cheaper rates.

If you are having trouble finding a suitable place to stay, check if your planned vacation dates coincide with a larger festival: traveling a few days earlier or later may bring up a lot more options.

As always when planning a vacation to Charleston, it is advisable to make reservations ahead of time, especially if you intend to visit in the peak weeks of October through early November.

If you like to do a lot of outdoor sightseeing, bear in mind when choosing travel dates that daylight saving time ends in early November, taking one hour of light off the end of the day. Average hours of daylight are around 7am-7pm in October, and around 6:30am-5:30pm in November.