What to Wear in Charleston
USA · 4 monthly packing guides
Charleston runs Lowcountry-Southern preppy heritage — M Dumas & Sons (Charleston-founded 1917, the heritage Lowcountry menswear with seersucker tradition); Croghan's Jewel Box (Charleston-founded 1907, the heritage Charleston jewelry — Goldbug bracelet signature); RTW Charleston (contemporary Lowcountry women's); Tucker Blair; Vineyard Vines + Lilly Pulitzer (Lowcountry-popular). Seersucker heritage (the puckered cotton fabric) the heritage Lowcountry summer textile — traditionally worn between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Old historic district King Street + Meeting Street + Tradd Street + the Battery + Rainbow Row + Charleston Single Houses; brick-and-cobble walking. Spoleto Festival USA late May through early June (heritage 17-day arts festival since 1977). Atlantic hurricane window June-November peak August-September. Charleston Tea Garden (only US-grown tea).
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 17°C / 63°F in May; average highs reach 33°C / 91°F in July.
Compare Charleston by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May packing guide | 17°C / 63°F | 27°C / 81°F | 9 | 13h 50m |
| June packing guide | 22°C / 72°F | 31°C / 88°F | 11 | 14h 25m |
| July packing guide | 24°C / 75°F | 33°C / 91°F | 13 | 14h 15m |
| August packing guide | 24°C / 75°F | 32°C / 90°F | 14 | 13h 30m |
Choose your Charleston packing list
Charleston in May is Lowcountry late spring — 27°C / 81°F afternoons, 17°C / 63°F nights, 9 rain days. Spoleto Festival USA late May; King Street historic shopping at peak.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton or linen midi dress; Linen wide-leg trousers or seersucker-cotton trousers; Leather sandals or seersucker-cotton loafers — M Dumas & Sons (1917).
Charleston in June is Lowcountry summer + Atlantic hurricane season starts — 31°C / 88°F afternoons, 22°C / 72°F nights, 11 rain days.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton, linen, or seersucker dress; Linen or seersucker trousers; Leather sandals or seersucker loafers.
Charleston in July is peak Lowcountry summer — 33°C / 91°F afternoons, 24°C / 75°F nights, 13 rain days. Atlantic hurricane window.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton, linen, or seersucker dress; Linen or seersucker trousers; Leather sandals or seersucker loafers.
Charleston in August is a warm-weather packing problem with rain and indoor air conditioning added.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton, linen, or seersucker dress; Linen or seersucker trousers; Leather sandals or seersucker loafers.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 4 published guides cover May, June, July, August. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, May has the lowest average low at 17°C / 63°F, while July has the highest average high at 33°C / 91°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.