Month guide · Charleston · United States
Charleston in May
What May is really like in Charleston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dima Sergiyenko; Please attribute this image as the work of " DiscoverWithDima .", CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Charleston. Expect average highs of 28°C (82°F), lows of 17°C (63°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 13.8 hours of daylight. Warm beach weather arrives; late May brings the city's biggest arts festival.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 28°C (82°F) / 17°C (63°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 13.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 24°C (75°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Charleston: days average 28°C (82°F) against a yearly average high of 25°C (77°F), and nights fall to about 17°C (63°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (25°C (77°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:21
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:11
- Daylight
- About 13.8 hours
- Sea
- 24°C (75°F)
Spring (March–May). Azaleas, camellias and wisteria in bloom, comfortable heat and the city's major festivals — also the busiest and most expensive season.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 5 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Spoleto Festival USA — performing arts across the city (usually late May to early June)
- Piccolo Spoleto — local arts alongside Spoleto (same period)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Waterfront · South of Broad
The Battery and White Point Garden
Walk the High Battery at sunset, then head up Church Street past St. Michael's for the gas-lit evening walk back.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Historic site · Charleston Harbor
Fort Sumter National Monument
Confederate guns fired on this island fort in April 1861, starting the Civil War.
- Time needed
- About 2 hours 15 minutes with ferry
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Views
Park · French Quarter and Market area
Joe Riley Waterfront Park
Claim one of the bench swings at the end of the pier early in the evening to watch ships and dolphins in the harbour.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
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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
The sea averages 24°C (75°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Charleston.
What to pack
For highs near 28°C, lows near 17°C and 8 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Charleston?
One of the best months to visit Charleston, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are March–April and October–November. Compare every month.
Charleston in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Charleston?
It is one of the best months to visit Charleston. Warm beach weather arrives; late May brings the city's biggest arts festival.
+How warm is Charleston in May?
Average highs are around 28°C (82°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Charleston in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.