Hilton Head Island Weather in October
A favorite month: warm, dry days, cool nights, beach water that is still warm and the island’s busiest festival calendar.
- Avg. high
- 78°F
- Avg. low
- 58°F
- Rain
- 3.8 in.
- Ocean
- 72°F
- Sunrise
- 7:27 a.m.
- Sunset
- 6:51 p.m.
Average temps and rain for Hilton Head Island, SC; ocean temperature from NOAA’s Fort Pulaski gauge; sunrise and sunset on October 15.
What October feels like on Hilton Head
The average temperature in October is 78°F for highs and 58°F for lows, with about 3.8 inches of rain, and the ocean averages 72°F.
October is a favorite. Highs are in the upper 70s, nights are in the upper 50s, and the humidity of summer is gone. Rainfall drops back to about 3.8 inches.
The ocean is still in the low 70s, so the beach works for another few weeks, and it is a pleasant month for golf, biking and eating outside. Hurricane season runs through November, so the tropics are worth a glance before you book.
Early October can still feel like summer; by the end of the month you will want a sweater in the evening, and the first cool fronts bring clear, dry days.
Sunrise and sunset in October
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | 7:17 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 11 hr 51 min |
| Oct 15 | 7:27 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 11 hr 24 min |
| Oct 31 | 7:39 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. | 10 hr 55 min |
Eastern time, calculated for the island with NOAA’s solar equations. Daylight runs from 11 hr 51 min on Oct 1 to 10 hr 55 min on Oct 31. For today’s times and the next two weeks, see the live weather page.
Hilton Head events in October
Hilton Head events in October fill the month: Fish & Grits at Lowcountry Celebration Park, the Italian Heritage Festival, the Multihull Regatta off Coligny, the Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance, Crescendo’s arts programs and Halloween.
Read the guideThe Lowcountry Fish & Grits Music Festival, a day of music and food at Lowcountry Celebration Park celebrating Gullah Geechee culture.
Read the guideThe Town’s six-week celebration of arts and culture: concerts, theater, gallery shows, history tours and talks by the island’s own arts groups, with a kickoff party at Shelter Cove Community Park.
Read the guideItalian food, music and family history on the grounds of the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, run with the Italian American Club of Hilton Head.
Read the guideCatamarans racing from beach starts at the north end of Coligny Beach, in its 50th year in 2026. Spectators watch free from the sand.
Read the guideThe island’s big car show: classic and collector cars on the lawn at Port Royal Golf Club, with a Car Club Showcase and an Aero Expo.
Read the guideTrunk-O-Ween at Shelter Cove Towne Centre, where the Motoring Festival’s club cars line the street with trunks of candy, and Halloween wagon rides at Sea Pines’ Heritage Farm.
Dates move a little each year. For this year’s dates and everything else on, see the Hilton Head events calendar, which lists every event month by month.
Things to do on Hilton Head in October
Things to do in Hilton Head in October: golf in comfortable weather, long bike rides, fall fishing and outdoor dining.
Dogs can be on the beach at any time of day again from October 1. The sea turtle lights-out rule ends on October 31.
What to pack for Hilton Head in October
Shorts and short sleeves for the day, long pants and a sweater or light jacket for evenings, a swimsuit for the beach and a rain layer for the occasional front.
Hilton Head in October: questions
What is the weather like in Hilton Head in October?
The average high is 78°F and the average low 58°F, with about 3.8 inches of rain. The ocean averages 72°F (NOAA, Fort Pulaski gauge).
Is October a good time to visit Hilton Head?
One of the best. Days are warm and dry, the water is still warm enough to swim early in the month, and the festival calendar is the busiest of the year. Hurricane season runs until November 30, so glance at the tropics before you travel.
What are the best things to do in Hilton Head in October?
Golf, biking, fishing and outdoor dining in comfortable weather, plus the month’s festivals: Fish & Grits, the Italian Heritage Festival, the Multihull Regatta and the Motoring Festival.
Can you still swim in October?
Early in the month, yes: the ocean averages in the low 70s and cools through the month.
Hilton Head weather in other months
To compare all 12 months in one table, with the live forecast, radar and water temperature, see Hilton Head weather by month, and for help choosing dates, the best time to visit Hilton Head.
Keep exploring
Bluffton barber shops compared: hours, phone numbers, Google ratings, walk-ins and booking for nine shops, with a page for the five best known.
Churches in Bluffton, SC: historic Old Town churches, community, Catholic, Presbyterian and Lutheran congregations, with addresses, phones and ratings.
Hilton Head weather in November: the driest month, highs near 70, cool evenings, sunrise and sunset, the Oyster Festival, Thanksgiving and what to pack.
Hilton Head weather in December: highs in the low 60s, lows near 43, ocean temperature, sunrise and sunset, holiday lights and things to do.
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