Month guide · Charleston · United States
Charleston in February
What February is really like in Charleston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juliancolton, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
February is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Camellias bloom in the plantation gardens and the city begins to wake up, with mild days and cool evenings.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea temperature
- 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in February
February is the 10th-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 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 28 days. Compared with January (15°C (59°F)), February is warmer; by March highs climb to around 21°C (70°F).
- Sunrise (15 February)
- About 07:03
- Sunset (15 February)
- About 18:05
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea
- 13°C (55°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, February rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes February one of the better-value months to book.
Events in February
- Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (usually mid-February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in February
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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
Historic site · Sullivan's Island
Fort Moultrie
Part of the same national historical park as Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island repelled a British fleet in 1776 from a palmetto-log fort — the origin of the palmetto on the state flag.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
Street · South of Broad
Rainbow Row
Photograph from the opposite side of East Bay Street in the morning, when the sun lights the façades and traffic is light.
- Time needed
- 15–20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 17°C, lows near 6°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is February 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 February a good time to visit Charleston?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Camellias bloom in the plantation gardens and the city begins to wake up, with mild days and cool evenings.
+How warm is Charleston in February?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Charleston in February?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.