Season guide · Charleston · United States
Charleston in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juliancolton, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
September carries hurricane risk, then October and November bring lower humidity, warm water and oyster season. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 22 rainy days across September–November. October–November are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 22
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 | 12.3 h | 2/5 |
| October | 25°C (77°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 6 | 11.3 h | 4/5 |
| November | 21°C (70°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 6 | 10.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 25°C (77°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 22 of the year's roughly 112 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: MOJA Arts Festival — African American and Caribbean arts (usually late September to early October)
- October: Fall Tours of Homes — evening house and garden tours (usually autumn)
- November: Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park (usually mid-November to early January)
Make the most of the weather
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Museum · Mount Pleasant
Patriots Point and USS Yorktown
The Second World War aircraft carrier USS Yorktown is moored at Mount Pleasant as a naval museum, with aircraft on the flight deck and hangar, plus the destroyer USS Laffey alongside.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · Mount Pleasant
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge walk
Park at Memorial Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant and walk to the top and back; go early or near sunset in summer.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Garden · Ashley River Road
Middleton Place
About 25 km northwest of downtown, Middleton Place has formal terraced gardens laid out from the 1740s, with butterfly-shaped lakes stepping down to the Ashley River.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
Garden · Ashley River Road
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Take the nature train or boat tour around the former rice fields to see wading birds and alligators.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Outdoors
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
Nature · Johns Island
Angel Oak
A Southern live oak on Johns Island, about 20 km from downtown, estimated to be several hundred years old, with limbs that sprawl along the ground and shade a huge area.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
Day trips in autumn
- Savannah (About 2 hours by car) — Georgia's oldest city is laid out around 22 garden squares shaded by live oaks and Spanish moss.
- Edisto Island (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — A low-key Sea Island with oak-canopied roads, a state park beach known for fossil and shark-tooth hunting, and no high-rise development.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Charleston?
Yes: October–November are among the best months. September carries hurricane risk, then October and November bring lower humidity, warm water and oyster season.
+What is the weather like in Charleston in autumn?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 22 rainy days over the season.