The best time to visit Charleston, SC

Quaint brick porches with gas lantern bedazzlements, cobblestone streets and the twang of friendly locals are a given in Charleston year-round. But each season comes with its own perks in the Holy City. In recent years, the Lowcountry city that hugs South Carolina’s coast has emerged as a hot spot for all kinds of folks, including foodies, outdoor enthusiasts, beachgoers and seemingly any aficionado in between (sure, even jazz lovers).

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As the adage goes, timing is everything, and it couldn’t be more true in Charleston. What month you venture here could mean the difference between jacket-worthy days or humid, hurricane-prone stretches; quiet streets or festival-induced euphoria; and, well, a seasonally themed carriage ride for learning all about the city’s powerful history or a non-themed one. You’ve made the right choice in deciding to visit one of America’s most historic and preserved-meets-evolving cities – here’s how to nail the timing based on the adventure you seek.

February through April is festival and foodie heaven

In these late winter and early spring months, Charleston visually and culturally blossoms. The climate is warm and sunny, with high temperatures peaking at 60–70°F (16–21°C). Azaleas and camellias pop in vivid reds and pinks, while it's not uncommon to see egrets and herons perch throughout the marshlands.

And then there are festivals, more festivals and even more festivals. The biggest acronym to know is SEWE (pronounced "see-wee"), as in the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Typically taking place in February, it has live animal demonstrations (like leaping dogs, an adorable must-see), wildlife conservation seminars and exhibitions dotted throughout town. Also in February is the Lowcountry Oyster Festival at Boone Hall Plantation, with live tunes as well as oysters in all forms: shelled, shucked and fried.

March brings the Charleston Show, a treasure trove for antique collectors near and far, as well as the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, which has attracted Food Network chefs and local icons. In April, the city is all about sweet tunes and sweet eats, with the Charleston Jazz Festival and Lowcountry Strawberry Festival.

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Charleston’s nearby beaches sizzle May through August (but there is plenty to do indoors too)

Late spring through summer are best for getting coastal. Sunny days abound, and it can feel a bit sticky as temps cross above 90°F (32°C). Nearby Folly Beach and Isle of Palms – both within a 30-minute drive – are prime for cooling off, each with their own distinctive vibe. Folly Beach is bohemian with a surf scene – you can sign up for lessons at spots like Shaka Surf School. Isle of Palms is a family-friendly utopia, with a boardwalk and massive county-run oceanside park with picnic pavilions and playgrounds. 

Whichever white sand stretch you plop down on, make sure to pack sunscreen. And wake up from that nap on the beach periodically to hopefully see a dolphin (or five) playfully swimming offshore.

For a reprieve from the sun, the Gibbes Museum of Art houses an ever-evolving showcase of Southern art, much of it focused on the Gullah people. The Historic Dock Street Theatre is the place in town for catching Broadway-quality musicals and plays in an 18th-century playhouse setting. 

September through November provide crisp nights for themed carriage rides and outdoor activities aplenty

It’s easy to fall for Charleston in autumn – daytime highs average around 70°F (21°C) and, specifically in November, dip to the jacket-worthy 55°F (13°C) zone. It’s a safe bet for strolling about Charleston or rolling along in a carriage ride. Just make sure to keep an eye on the weather since this is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season (June through November), and the region has been in the crosshairs of major storms in recent years.

Surrounding Halloween, Boone Hall Plantation morphs into a fall wonderland with a corn maze, pumpkin patch and select fright-themed evenings with costumed characters. Equally spooky are Charleston’s ghost tours, which boast fall or spooky themes, among many options. Palmetto Carriage Works remains a winner.

The MOJA Arts Festival typically runs from late September through early October, a celebration of Black and Caribbean culture in the region, with literary seminars, art installations throughout town and a variety of performances. And for cyclists, the West Ashley Greenway is an 11-mile out-and-back trail in the suburbs that will take you through marshlands and Spanish moss canopies. Bilda Bike rents performance, cruiser and electric bikes for the ride.

Holiday cheer is high during low season in December and January

“Quiet charm” is the key phrase for Charleston’s low season. Major tourist draws, like Charleston City Market and the nearby Magnolia Plantation, are refreshingly uncrowded, making for more pleasant saunters. 

Amid the general lull, there are points of pizzazz. The commercial King Street artery is typically decked in holiday lights and flair all December long, making shopping at mom-and-pop spots like Buxton Books, Candy Shop Vintage and antique retailer Silver Vault of Charleston that much more alluring. On New Year’s Eve, downtown buzzes. For the area’s midnight countdown drop, Folly Beach lowers a sparkly pair of flip-flops.