Complete Guide to Fall in Charleston 2026

September 29, 2026

Charleston may not be known around the world as a top autumn destination. We may not get flocks of tourists on the hunt for the most stunning foliage. But that doesn’t mean you should discount the Lowcountry altogether this fall, as we have plenty to offer from September through November.

Find out why you should experience fall in Charleston, SC. Read on to discover the Holy City’s best autumn activities, what you should pack, and what weather you should expect on your trip.

5 Reasons to Head to Charleston, South Carolina in the Fall

Fall is one of the best times to visit Charleston. The weather is mild, there’s plenty of fall festivals, and the crowd levels are low! Here are five reasons why fall in Charleston is our favorite time of year!

1. Charleston Fall Weather Equals Warm Days and Cool (ish) Nights: The weather gets a little chillier in Charleston, starting in September. Though you may not need a coat or jacket during the day, the nights are cooler.

2. South Carolina Fall Foliage: We may not be known for our fall foliage, but you should know that Charleston’s trees do turn colors, adding to the already colorful palette of our city.

3. Lower Crowd Levels: After school starts again in the fall, the crowd levels dip. Although many visitors head here for festivals and Halloween events, you won’t experience the high summertime crowd levels in the fall.

4 .Charleston Fall Festivals: There are several festivals in the Holy City every month in the fall! Book lovers, horror fans, art aficionados, and foodies all flock here in September, October, and November.

5. Charleston Walking Tours: We run walking tours in the winter, spring, summer, and fall. But our favorite time to walk the city has to be autumn. Come join us for up to two public tours (or even a private tour) if you want to enjoy the city to the fullest.

Charleston Fall Weather

While the temperature does start to dip a little in the fall in Charleston, the weather is still pretty warm here in the fall.

In October and November, we experience highs in the mid-60s to mid-70s during the day and lows in the 50s at night. If you visit during the first week of October, you may even get a few days in the 80s!

These temperatures are perfect for travelers. You can easily walk around Downtown without breaking a sweat during the day, and you may only need a light jacket at night.

Find out what to wear in Charleston in the fall so you don’t end up with a suitcase full of clothing you won’t get any use for.

Charleston fall weather can’t be beaten. We’ve got warm days and comfortably cool nights. Though we do see quite a bit of rain in Charleston in October and November, you may want to pack your umbrella — but chances are that it won’t rain every day.

Temperature: Head here in the first week of October, and you might get days where the temperature still crawls up into the 80s! But by the second week of the month, the temperature starts to dip.

Highs are in the mid-70s and lows are in the 50s. Most days, the temperature is in the 70s, though there will be a few days when it only gets up to the mid-60s.

Rainfall: Fall is a rainy season! In September, the average rainfall is just over six inches. In October, this number falls to just under four inches. By November, the average rainfall is just over two inches.

Autumn Crowd Levels in Charleston

If you’re planning to visit Charleston in the fall, you should know you’ve made a good choice — especially if you want to avoid the crowds.

Crowd levels tend to die down in the fall (though we do see some crowds during fall festivals). The crowds aren’t as thin as they used to be from September through November.

Nearly 8 million visitors head to Charleston for overnight trips during these months, which is a slight dip from what we see between June and August. The good news is that the city is most crowded on the weekends, so plan on visiting during the week if you want to avoid the congestion.

If you want to snag a restaurant reservation, book a hotel room, or snag tickets to a show, you’ll have an easier time doing so on a weekday in the fall than you would in the summer.

Charleston Fall Foliage

Charleston may not be as famous for its fall foliage as New England, Canada (or even Appalachia), but we do see some dazzling colors here in the autumn!

Charleston’s fall foliage season starts later than up north, meaning you can see two different peak leaf seasons in two different months! While peak season in New England is usually mid-October, peak season in Charleston doesn’t happen until mid-November.

If you love leaf peeping, why not take a trip to the Lowcountry after you visit the colors up north?

Our nights (and days) are warmer, and you won’t find the best shrimp and grits on this side of the Mississippi in New England!

Festivals & Fall Events

There are two times when you might see the crowd levels rising: during Charleston festivals! There are two big festivals here in the fall, including Charleston Restaurant Week and the MOJA Arts Festival.

Yes, there will be crowds, but these festivals celebrate two things Charleston is famous for: food and art!

Charleston Restaurant Week

Taking place the second and third week of September for 10 days, Charleston Restaurant Week features some of our favorite Charleston restaurants.

Enjoy a set menu of three to five courses (depending on the restaurant) at places like the Butcher & Bee, Delaney Oyster House, Hyman’s Seafood, High Cotton, Stars Rooftop & Grill, and more.

MOJA Arts Festival

The MOJA Arts Festival runs from the last week of September through the first week of October.

This year, the festival will run from September 29th through October 9th.

On September 29th, the MOJA opening day parade kicks off the festivities! The festival celebrates Lowcountry culture and history with events like:

MOJA Reggae Block Dance
An Evening of Jazz with Momentum and Da’rrell Ravenell
Harambee Dance Company at the Main Library
Lowcountry Voices presents Hymnology II
WONDERVERSE: The Music of Stevie Wonder

Harvest Festival at Johns Island County Park

If you’re looking for fun for the whole family, head over to Johns Island Park for the annual harvest festival on November 1st, 2026.

Activities include hayrides, pumpkin decorating, archery, and shopping.

Listen to live bluegrass music while you taste Charlestonian favorites like barbecue and kettle corn.

Local artisans will set up booths where they will sell sweetgrass baskets, artwork, and wood crafts.

The games open at 11 am, and the festivities will run until 4 pm.

Admission is $10 for adults (ages 13 and over) and Johns Island County Park Gold Pass members. Children under the age of 13 get in for free.

Fall Tours

Since the weather is a bit cooler, there will be more opportunities to get outside and learn about Charleston’s history!

We offer all our public tours every fall, including our Charleston History tour and our Charleston’s Alleys and Hidden Passages tour.

Several companies also run ghost tours in October in Charleston, and the Preservation Society opens the doors to Charleston homes to allow you to get a peek inside Lowcountry life!

Our most popular public tour is our Charleston History tour. Learn how the city of Charleston was built in the 1600s, about the South Carolina slave trade, and Civil War history.

We also operate our popular Charleston’s Alleys and Hidden Passages tour as our second public tour.

Like our history tour, this tour also takes you through Downtown Charleston; unlike our history tour, this tour takes you through the back alleys and hidden passages — a network of alleys that tell the stories of both Charleston’s elite, working classes, and enslaved African Americans.

Want to do something different? We also run private tours of Charleston as well as private tours outside of the city, too.

Halloween in Charleston

One of Charleston’s most popular fall attractions is our Halloween celebrations, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate in the Holy City!

Some of the most popular festivities include Family Fright Night at Magnolia plantation (and despite the name, it’s relatively tame), Boone Hall Fright Nights, the Charleston Horror-Fest for classic horror movie fans, the Moncks Corner Halloween Festival, several haunted houses, and a few bar crawls on All Hallows’ Eve itself.

Check out our full Halloween in Charleston guide for more information on each event, including times and admission prices. There are even a few free events on our list, too.

What to Pack to Visit Charleston in the Fall

Since Charleston’s fall weather can be somewhat unpredictable, you may want to plan for every type of weather event (it may actually be the only downside to visiting during this time of year!).

In addition to pajamas and toiletries, you’ll want to pack some long pants, short-sleeved shirts, a light jacket, rain gear (umbrella, rain jacket, waterproof shoes, etc.), comfortable walking shoes, and evening attire (if you plan on eating dinner at a restaurant with a dress code).

Throughout any given day in Charleston in the fall, you may experience rain, heat, cool breezes, and more. Here is a full list of the items you may want to pack for Lowcountry autumn.

Raincoat/umbrella: We recommend bringing some rain gear (just in case!). Since it can get pretty rainy and stormy from September to November, you’ll want to find ways to stay dry. This is especially true if you’re planning on walking as your primary mode of transportation.

Short-sleeved tops: During the day, the weather can still be very warm, so you’ll want to bring something to wear if it’s hot.

Light jacket or sweater: At night, the temperatures may dip down into the 50s, so bring a light jacket or sweater. In November, the temperature can drop as low as the low 50s at night, and we may even experience some chillier days.

Long pants: If you’re visiting Charleston between September and November, long pants are a must. While we see highs in the 70s during the day until the end of November, you won’t want to be stuck in the lurch on chilly nights.

Comfortable shoes: We always recommend wearing comfortable shoes on a visit to Charleston — any time of year. The easiest way to get around Downtown is by walking, and our streets can be a little uneven, so you’ll want to dress for comfort as much as you dress for style.

Evening attire: In Charleston, we have a dress code! Sure, you can get by in T-shirts and jeans in a lot of restaurants here, but you may be limited for dinner options if you don’t bring at least a pair of khakis and a polo.

Fall In Charleston FAQs

1. When is fall in Charleston, SC?

Technically, fall is the same time in Charleston as it is anywhere else in the U.S. — from late September to late December.

Yet, you won’t find crisp autumn temperatures during the day here until closer to the end of November, around the time the fall foliage peaks.

2. Should I visit Charleston in the fall?

Yes, even though we aren’t widely known as a “fall destination”, we have plenty of autumn activities, including harvest festivals and Halloween festivals.

3. What is the weather like in Charleston in Autumn?

The weather stays relatively warm during the day through mid-November, but at night, you’ll see temperatures in the low 50s and high 40s.

Fall marks the beginning of hurricane season, so plan for somewhat rainy days.

4. What should I wear in Charleston in the fall?

It’s best to dress in layers in Charleston in the fall: think long pants and short sleeves during the day with a light sweater (just in case) and a light jacket to wear at night.