Season guide · Charleston · United States
Charleston in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: JonathanLamb, Public domain
Quick answer
Azaleas, camellias and wisteria in bloom, comfortable heat and the city's major festivals — also the busiest and most expensive season. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 24 rainy days across March–May. March–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 9°C (48°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 24
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 21°C (70°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 9 | 11.9 h | 4/5 |
| April | 25°C (77°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 7 | 13 h | 5/5 |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 8 | 13.8 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 25°C (77°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 24 of the year's roughly 112 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Charleston Wine + Food festival (usually early March)
- March: Festival of Houses and Gardens — private house tours (usually March to April)
- April: Cooper River Bridge Run (usually early April)
- April: Charleston Open women's tennis on Daniel Island (usually early April)
- May: Spoleto Festival USA — performing arts across the city (usually late May to early June)
- May: Piccolo Spoleto — local arts alongside Spoleto (same period)
Make the most of the weather
Waterfront · South of Broad
The Battery and White Point Garden
The raised sea-wall promenade at the tip of the peninsula looks across the harbour to Fort Sumter, with mansions such as the Edmondston-Alston House lining East Battery.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Historic site · Charleston Harbor
Fort Sumter National Monument
Visit the free Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square before your boat, and sit on the harbour side for views of the Battery.
- 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
This harbour-front park along Concord Street has the Pineapple Fountain, where children paddle in summer, a pier lined with swinging benches and lawns looking towards Patriots Point and the Ravenel Bridge.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Ansonborough
South Carolina Aquarium
Combine it with a Fort Sumter ferry from the same dock for an easy family half-day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
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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
Day trips in spring
- Kiawah Island (About 45 minutes by car) — A largely private resort island with about 16 km of wide beach, maritime forest and golf courses that have hosted the PGA Championship.
- Beaufort (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — A small antebellum town on the Beaufort River with white-columned houses, a waterfront park and a quieter pace than Charleston.
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 spring a good time to visit Charleston?
Yes: March–May are among the best months. Azaleas, camellias and wisteria in bloom, comfortable heat and the city's major festivals — also the busiest and most expensive season.
+What is the weather like in Charleston in spring?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 24 rainy days over the season.