The Overall Best & Worst Times to Visit Charlotte in 2024

Charlotte is a vibrant city with a calendar full of exciting events. From lively festivals and concerts to thrilling sporting events, there’s always something happening to make your visit unforgettable.

Whether you’re a music lover, a sports enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique cultural experience, you’re sure to find an event that aligns with your interests and adds an extra layer of excitement to your trip.

Overall Best Time to Visit Charlotte

The best time to visit Charlotte is during the fall (September to November) which has the best combination of a lively events calendar and mild weather.

One of the primary reasons to visit Charlotte in the fall is the weather. By September, North Carolina’s notoriously intense summers have cooled down, making it far more pleasant to walk around. Average high temperatures in September are about 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

Most days tend to be sunny and pleasant. While you can get some days of heavy rain, Charlotte is far away enough from the coast not to get hit directly by hurricane season.
By October, temperatures are crisper, with average high temperatures of about 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

This is the best month to visit Charlotte if you are combining a visit here with a trip to nearby Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains, as peak foliage usually happens around mid-October.

Thanks to the more pleasant weather, Charlotte comes out of its humidity-induced coma in September. The city’s peak festival season is not in the summer, like in most cities, but in the fall, when residents and visitors can actually spend time outside without melting.

September and October are two of the best months to visit if you like outdoor music, street food, and other cultural events. Highlights of the cultural calendar include:

• Festival in the Park (September)
• Yiasou Greek Festival (October)
• Charlotte Craft Beer Week (October)

Besides organized festivals, the city comes alive with more impromptu events such as street musician performers, outdoor dining, and fairs. Wherever you go, especially in popular hip districts such as the South End nightlife hub, you’ll find something to do.

Fall is also the best time to visit Charlotte for sports fans. The Carolina Panthers, the local NFL team, begin their season in early September.

The Bank of America Roval 400 happens in October, one of two NASCAR cup events happening at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (the other one, the Coca-Cola 600, happens over Memorial Day weekend).

Cheapest Time to Visit Charlotte

The cheapest time to visit Charlotte is in the winter (late November to early March), when the city tends to get fewer visitors and prices go down overall.

Accommodation is one of the most important areas where you can save big when you visit Charlotte in the winter. Hotel rooms are heavily discounted in the winter. Even during the holiday season, you can find hotel rooms on weekdays in December for 15% to 20% cheaper than usual prices.

January and February bring even steeper hotel room discounts once holiday travel is over. Hotel rooms in February can be up to 30% cheaper than during peak seasons.

For maximum savings on hotel room prices, make sure to check the local sports calendar. On days when the Carolina Panthers or the Charlotte Hornets are playing, hotel room prices tend to go up due to demand from out-of-town fans.

If you are driving to Charlotte, the cost of transportation is the same no matter what time of year you visit. If you are flying, then the time of year matters as flight prices vary drastically during the year.

Flying to Charlotte Douglas International Airport is cheapest in November or January. You can also find good deals on flights in February, but be sure to avoid holiday weekends such as President’s Day.

For good deals on Charlotte’s high-end restaurants, time your visit to line up with Queens’ Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week in January, where you can book prix-fixe menus for discounted prices.

Least Busy Time to Visit Charlotte

The least busy time to visit Charlotte is in the winter, when fewer tourists are willing to brave the colder weather. Winter in Charlotte can be surprisingly chilly, even though the city is located in the U.S. South.

Average high temperatures in January are about 51 degrees Fahrenheit, but temperatures go below freezing at night. Rain and sleet are fairly common, so make sure to bring waterproof shoes and an umbrella if you visit during this time.

If you’re from a northern U.S. state or somewhere else with a cold climate, these winter temperatures may mean nothing to you.

However, locals sometimes have a hard time adjusting to cold snaps. If the city gets a dusting of snow or an ice or sleet storm, which sometimes happens, expect traffic chaos and closed businesses.

If you get lucky with the weather, visiting Charlotte in the winter can be a rewarding experience. Lines at local attractions are short. Fewer visitors also mean less competition for reservations at popular restaurants. If you’re a sports fan, you can catch an NBA game at Spectrum Center, where the Hornets play.

Worst Time to Visit Charlotte

The overall worst time to visit Charlotte is in the summer, when hot temperatures and high humidity make spending any time outdoors unbearable.

Like most of the U.S. Southeast, Charlotte can get very hot and humid in the summer. Average high temperatures in July and August are in the high 80s, but the real feeling is often closer to 100 degrees Fahrenheit due to the high humidity.

Charlotte is usually not hit by hurricanes directly, but the rise of hurricane season in July and August affects the city as well. Periods of torrential rain and even worse humidity are common, especially in August, which is the rainiest month of the year.

Due to the unpredictable weather, there aren’t as many things to do during the summer as many locals head indoors or leave the city to try and catch a break from the heat.

You can join them by extending your trip to include a visit to Asheville’s mountains or the Carolina coast. Or head indoors during the summer to take in the city’s museums and art exhibits.

Most local attractions have longer hours to accommodate the longer days and bigger crowds. Some seasonal attractions such as amusement parks are only open in the summer. If you can, visit Charlotte in the late spring instead. Spring has a lot of the perks of visiting in the summer, but milder weather.

Most local attractions begin their extended summer schedule in April, giving you more time to explore museums. For example, the Carowinds Amusement Park opens for the weekends in April before opening full-time in late May.

Spring has unpredictable weather, with sudden showers sometimes in the same day as bright sunshine, but with the right preparation, you can still have a good time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of the most common questions people have asked before while planning their trip to Charlotte, North Carolina.

So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Charlotte?

Charlotte, North Carolina, is most beautiful in the fall, when you can enjoy mild, sunny weather and plenty of outdoor festivals.

Spring has similar temperatures but tends to have more unpredictable weather. For good deals on accommodation and other travel-related expenses, visit during the winter (just don’t forget to bring layers, as winters can get chilly). Happy travels!