When do the leaves change in South Carolina?
Upstate maples and oaks around Table Rock and Caesars Head State Parks turn by late October, while blackwater cypress-tupelo swamps at Congaree National Park hold muted color into November across the Lowcountry.
Peak: November 6–November 12
Color builds from October 30 · mostly bare by December 3
13 weather points cover South Carolina, and the model shifts their answer 4 days earlier, which is what it takes to match 1 published peak date from farmersalmanac.com. Against South Carolina's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 5 days earlier. South Carolina does not turn all at once, and the gap from the earliest corner to the latest runs about 6 days. How the forecast works
Known for
Things to do in fall in South Carolina
10 iconic stops, including scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Table Rock State Park
State parkPeak November 1
A granite monadnock rising 3,124 feet above the Blue Ridge foothills gives this park its name and its signature hike, an 8-mile round trip…
South Carolina State Fair
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks November 8
Columbia's Rosewood Drive fairgrounds have hosted the state fair since 1869, with a midway, livestock and agricultural competitions, and…
Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks November 20
An autumn pumpkin patch on the grounds of Boone Hall, a 738-acre plantation founded in 1681 about eight miles from downtown Charleston and…
Denver Downs Farm
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks November 6
An Anderson County farm owned by the Garrison family since 1869, which turns over to a corn maze, fall festival and after-dark Pumpkin…
Ghost City Tours (Charleston)
Ghost tourColor nearby peaks November 20
Charleston's history comes with a dark side, and this outfit walks it after dark.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery
Cider millColor nearby peaks November 5
An orchard and cider bar in the York County hills south of Charlotte, opening for its fall season in August with pick-your-own apples…
Legare Farms
FarmColor nearby peaks November 21
A 300-acre working farm on the Stono River outside Charleston, growing vegetables year-round and turning fully seasonal for its annual…
South Carolina Apple Festival
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks November 4
Oconee County's harvest celebration takes over downtown Westminster for a weekend each September, with a parade and a rodeo, plus street…
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in South Carolina in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 6–November 12 (best estimate November 9). Color starts around October 30 and trees are mostly bare by December 3.
- How reliable is the South Carolina forecast?
- The forecast blends recent-year weather normals with photoperiod and elevation; it tightens as the season approaches. Against published peak dates the model lands within a few days for most regions, but it can be a week or more out. Mountains and coastlines are the hardest. Higher elevations turn roughly one day earlier per 300 m.
- When is South Carolina's autumn season?
- South Carolina is in the northern hemisphere, so its color season is autumn (September to November). The turn takes roughly 34 days end to end, centered on November 9, and the last 15 of those are thinning canopy rather than color.
- What are the best things to do in fall in South Carolina?
- The iconic stops: Table Rock State Park, South Carolina State Fair, Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch, Denver Downs Farm, Ghost City Tours (Charleston), Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
Nearby & similar
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak November 6–November 12
October 30 → December 3