Last Updated: August 4, 2026
Read Time: 15 minutes
TL;DR: Charleston in the fall calls for a packing list that goes beyond clothing, from the right footwear for cobblestone streets to essentials for humid days and cool evenings. This guide breaks down exactly what to pack for a Charleston trip in 2026, so you’re not scrambling the night before you leave. Check out the full city guide here.
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One of the best times to visit Charleston? Autumn
If you’re like me, you’re looking forward to visiting Charleston in September. It’s one of the best months to visit, just after the summer rush. The weather starts to turn, and there are multiple festivals to take advantage of. Just don’t forget that September is hurricane season, so you need to be prepared.
If you’ve never been to the South in the fall…it can be hard to know what to pack. Especially on the coast!
During the day, it can feel a bit sticky like the summer months, especially in direct sunlight during your walking tours. But once the sun goes down? You’ll be wishing you had a sweater to ward off the chill of the ocean breeze!
During the fall (September-November), average highs in Charleston are 75°-67°F with average lows between 62°-53°F.
You can expect rain every 4-7 days, so definitely pack an umbrella or rain jacket (I bought this a few months ago and I absolutely LOVE it. The length keeps you from getting wet if you sit down somewhere that got rained on).
But I’m getting ahead of myself. What do you even wear to Charleston?
Like any southern town, Charleston is certainly known for its preppy fashion. That’s what draws many people to King Street, after all – lots of shopping! Always make sure you pack something nice enough to wear at a restaurant that requires a dress code, just in case (which is why I recommend brining a little black dress like this one or this one).
You’ll typically find women wearing dresses during the early fall as it can still be quite warm out. Once it cools off though, you’ll see a lot of sweaters and dark denim with ankle booties in black or brown (which, those are convertible heels – they switch from heels to flats – PERFECT for cobblestone streets) – but my favorite way to stay warm is a packable wrap, like this cashmere wrap.
Still not sure what to pack? Here’s a full list of what to bring.
What to wear in Charleston
Transition season: September
September is that weird month where the first half is still summer…and the second half could either be fall, or more summer. You just won’t know until you get there.
Since Charleston has a few beaches nearby, you’ll want to pack a bathing suit or two.
Two pieces I reach for the most are my Montaunk One Piece (similar in cut to the Narragansett One Piece). I also reach for the Sidestroke often – I have this style in white and red. I bought mine before a trip to the Bahamas. Both styles are so flattering, offer full coverage, and the strapless style does not fall down when walking (it also come with straps you can attach, which I love).
A beach coverup is also something I would bring – I’ve worn this long white coverup for a few years now and love that it offers sun protection, but you could also wear it to walk up to a beach bar.
Just don’t forget to choose a mineral sunscreen before you hit the water – I’ve been using the Caudalíe Vinosun Protect SPF and really love it! I also keep a powder SPF in my purse so I can reapply without messing up my makeup (it works great as a setting powder too).
Dresses
If you see anything in Charleston, it will be lots of dresses. While there are a lot to choose from, here are a few I recommend packing.
These dresses are on constant rotation for me as they’re flowy (read: can keep you cool in the heat) but so flattering and can be dressed up or down, whether you pair it with wedges or white sneakers. I wear this pair of sneakers on every trip – they match everything and have arch support! Plus, since they’re leather, you can wear them even in the rain and keep your fee dry.
I like to pack solid colored dresses as well as a few with patterns. For transition season, I like bringing these Pomander Place (Tuckernuck) dresses because the cotton is breathable, but long sleeps help keep you warm when the sun goes down. I have it in red and blue (shown above) and I tend to wear the Chambray in the early summer (June/July) and the Hibiscus Red in late summer (August/September). They do also sell them in a sleeveless option if you prefer to layer with a cardigan, like this cashmere cardigan.
These dresses are easy to pack, but don’t forget your steamer to get the wrinkles out, or your cooling shorts to prevent chafing walking around the city (IYKYK).
This dress style has become one of my favorites because I love the neckline – while you might find this one locally at the flagship Kenny Flowers shop on King Street, I would order this oyster dress ahead to wear it our to dinner (I wear it all summer in Old Town Alexandria). If you’re looking for a few fun places to wear these dresses on the town with your girlfriends, check out my Girl’s Guide to Charleston for some restaurant recommendations.
P.S. – If you love the oyster shell pattern, they have a matching print for the men in your life, and my husband loves his Nanshucket shirt.
I have been SUPER into flutter sleeves this year, and this dress style is so flattering – they’ve done some collaboration pieces in this style with different prints over the years, so check in once in a while to see if they have something you like. I have it from the Belle Gloss collaboration a few years ago, and love wearing it in the fall because of the burgundy color (fun fact: it was designed so if you spill red wine on your dress, you wouldn’t be able to tell!).
Tops
You simply can’t go wrong with a blouse or button down. I personally never travel without a white button down, because it can be worn with literally everything and easily be dressed up or down. Linen is a particularly great option for transition season because it breathes easily and doesn’t get too heavy when layered under a sweater when it gets cooler at night.
During transition season I like to wear a lot of tank tops and pack a cardigan for going in and out of the AC while shopping, and to throw on when the sun goes down. I love that these Shirley Ruffle Tanks are a bit more elevated than a standard tank top, and the cream colorway is great to have on hand to match anything else you’ve packed. You can easily pair it with dark wash denim or white denim.
If you prefer a pattern to pair with your denim, this Nadia Sleeveless Blouse cinches at the waist and has pops of color that feels right for Charleston.
This time of year is great to wear cashmere – it keeps you warm without the weight other materials carry (like how a thick cotton can feel heavy at times). J. Crew has a full cashmere line, and this cashmere boatneck tee is perfect to dress up the classic jeans and a tee look.
The other piece I ALWAYS pack two of? A white t-shirt. Just a simple, well structured tee can be a saving grace if you spill something on yourself or if it’s humid and you’ve already sweat through your first outfit of the day. This Athleta shirt has been on repeat for me since March when I bought it before a trip to San Diego (and loved it so much I bought a second immediately after the trip). It has just the right amount of stretch and somehow still holds its shape – plus the neckline is perfect.
If you prefer 100% cotton, this is its sister style.
Outerwear
A cozy wrap or sweater is an absolute must when visiting Charleston in the fall. In the early season, it’s still hot enough for businesses to blast their AC. But later in the season, the temperature simply drops once the sun sets (and you’ll want to catch those sunset views from these rooftop bars).
The travel scarf / wrap can fit into virtually any bag, and comes in multiple colors. I own four of them, so trust me – they really area great. I love the original Organic Cotton blend – it’s plush and cozy, but the softness is unmatched with the Cashmere Blend (their cashmere style has been discontinued, but this is a great substitute).
This has been my go-to sweater for the last year to throw over my shoulders on my way out the door (and I love that they support the coastal destinations I love to visit by replanting oysters with every purchase). The cream base means it matches everything – just order a size up, or choose to order the Men’s sizing, for more comfortable layering. I did however, just get my first rollneck sweater and I know I’ll be reaching for it more this year.
Plus, it’s OUTRAGEOUSLY soft, and cozy. A big win all around – it works really well for layering with a linen buttondown, too.
If you’re visiting Charleston in October or November, you certainly need more long sleeve options to wear on their own because of the chill.
Like I said before, the rain can be hit or miss in the fall and you want to be prepared. I do love a packable rain jacket so it can be tossed in a woven tote bag (the berry color of this Patagonia jacket is the one I’ve had for two years now), but I really love the length and navy color of this style if I know it’s going to rain.
Shoes
If you’re planning to truly explore Charleston, you’re going to need comfortable shoes. Downtown Charleston was named a “walker’s paradise” in 2022, indicating it is extremely walkable (which, I can confirm – it’s great!).
I always pack a pair of whit e sneakers when I travel, and these work well with any outfit due to the shape and style. I’ve worn them for four years now and am on my second pair!
If you’re looking for something even lighter and sporty, these sneakers are one of the best purchases I made in the last year. I actually bought them for walking on the trail and on my walking pad when I’m home, but bring them when I travel because they’re one of the few true athletic sneakers that have a neutral color that can be worn around town or at the gym.
Now, Charleston is a waterfront town. I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you about these:
I swear by these OluKai slip on shoes anytime I’m heading to the water or the beach because they have great arch support and breathe well.
They’re designed to have the heel cup collapse so you can easily get them on with sandy toes. I have them in two colors because I love them so much! OluKai also is a B-Corp and has a fantastic mission to support Hawai’i, so you can always feel good about supporting them.
While I love those shoes, sometimes we need something a little more stylish than a sneaker. I love a good heel as much as the next person, but I’ve broken my foot walking around in heels before (true storyl, it happened at my sister’s bachelorette in Misson Beach).
Now I used to stick to flats, mules, or booties – but since Pashion Footwear came onto the scene, now I wear my heels but can swap the heel out for flats if I need to on cobblestone streets, or longer walks home. I even wore a pair as my wedding shoes!
Other things to pack
While the outfit might be what you’re thinking about the most, there are a few other things that you’ll want to make sure you have on hand before you catch your flight to the Holy City.
Comfortable bag
Bring a comfortable travel backpack if you’re planning to walk around the city or work remotely. This backpack has a trolley strap allowing you to easily attach it to your roller bag, and holds slim water bottles (like this one that is GREAT for traveling – won’t spill!).
I also bring my lululemon everywhere belt bag every single trip I take. It’s perfect for keeping my important documents together in the airport, and I’ll throw this into a larger purse or backpack to keep my items organized when I’m out and about.
Get a steamer
If you don’t have a travel steamer, it’s time. I’ve ruined a dress before trying to iron it with a hotel iron (there was something sticky on the iron I didn’t see until it was too late), which is what prompted me to convert to team steamer.
Most of them are shaped weirdly and aren’t designed to pack well in a suitcase, but this steamer has never let me down. A tip I learned during my bridal era is to put a white cotton sock over the front so you never get water splatter on what you’re steaming (or, any other marks by accident).
Upgrade your toiletries
Nobody has time for exploding products anymore (and we’ve all had something explode in our bag at least once). That’s where these products come in.
If you’re traveling in September like me, it’s probably still going to be hot, which means you’re going to be sweaty at the end of every day. Get ahead of those sweat-induced breakouts with the best kaolin clay mask, Detox Me. Luckily, it also comes in a very secure screw-top container, and is TSA approved.
I like to use minis of mosth things when I’m traveling, including perfumes. Hotel Lobby Candle launched a series of perfumes inspired by their candle scents, and I bring Miami on warm weather trips and New York on cool weather trips. But Retrospect by Merit will always have a special place for me because it was my wedding perfume – the pear notes are what really sold me.
You can find all of my other TSA approved beauty favorites here.
Bring activities for backup
Whether it’s for the flight or for the beach, you’re going to have some downtime, so make sure you bring something to read.
Plus, it’s a vacation after all! You can find all of my favorite beach reads, here, and support local book stores in the process. When you need a break from reading, you’ll want these other activities.
You never know if you’re going to get a freak rainstorm, or need to shake things up with your travel buddies, so I always recommend packing a travel game or two. All of my recommendations below are cards and question games that are easy to pack.
The Detours game is a great way to help you explore the city if you’re feeling adventurous. Beach Trivia is always a fun way to learn something new, and find out how big of a coast lover you really are.
I think Table Topics is one of the greatest things ever invented to bring on a trip. A deck of cards that help get the conversation started and keep it fresh, they have topics about travel, for a dinner party, and for families.
You can find all of my game night recommendations here.
Things to leave home
It’s also important to think about the things you DON’T need to bring. There is so much fun exploring to do in Charleston, so here’s a quick list of things to leave at home.
Don’t bring your fun hat. You’re going to want to get one from one of the beautiful stores on King Street. Just bring a magnetic hat clip instead, to bring it home without damaging it (and keep you hands free while traveling).
You’ll want to bring lots of accessories for this trip (we all know how fun it is to dress our best on vacation). But the truth is, you’re going to want to make your own memories and make your own bracelet at HART Jewelry. Leave some of your bracelets and necklaces at home.
Make sure to leave space in your bag for the new items you’ll grab from Kenny Flowers, Club Coastal, HART, and more!