Month guide · Charleston · United States
Charleston in December
What December is really like in Charleston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ProfReader, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 5°C (41°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Mild and festive, with decorated historic houses, candlelight tours and quiet hotels outside the holiday weeks.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Charleston: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 25°C (77°F), and nights fall to about 5°C (41°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with November (21°C (70°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:15
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:15
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild days, chilly nights and quiet streets; the lowest hotel rates outside the Christmas holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Christmas parade and boat parade (usually early December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Museum · Upper King
The Charleston Museum
Founded in 1773 and often called America's first museum, it covers Lowcountry natural and cultural history, from a whale skeleton and fossil finds to Charleston silver and Civil War material.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · French Quarter and Market area
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Ask about the section of the original 18th-century sea wall visible in the dungeon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Aquarium · Ansonborough
South Carolina Aquarium
On the harbour beside the Fort Sumter ferry dock, the aquarium follows the state's water from mountain streams to the ocean, with a two-storey Great Ocean Tank of sharks and loggerhead turtles.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Nature · Johns Island
Angel Oak
Do not climb or lean on the branches; the tree is protected and staff will ask you to step back.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 17°C, lows near 5°C and 8 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Charleston?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Charleston in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Charleston?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Mild and festive, with decorated historic houses, candlelight tours and quiet hotels outside the holiday weeks.
+How warm is Charleston in December?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Charleston in December?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.