Hilton Head Weather in November
First two weeks are excellent value. <a href="/hilton-head-thanksgiving">Thanksgiving week</a> is quietly busy.
November is the second of two value bookends to summer (October is the first). The first two weeks deliver mid-60s to low-70s afternoons, light crowds, and rates 40% below summer. <a href="/hilton-head-thanksgiving">Thanksgiving week</a> sees a real bump but stays calmer than you’d expect.
The data, at a glance.
- Avg high
- 70°F
- Avg low
- 50°F
- Ocean temp
- 65°F
- Rainy days
- 6
- Rainfall
- 2.6”
- Humidity
- 60-70%
- Sunset
- 5:15 p.m.
- Daylight
- 10 hours 30 min
- Crowd level
- Low (Thanksgiving-week surge)
- Rate vs July
- 55%
What November feels like on Hilton Head
Late autumn. The first weeks still feel like extended October. Afternoons hit 70-72°F under blue skies; mornings dip into the 50s. After Daylight Saving ends on Nov 1, the days shorten quickly — sunset by 5:15 p.m. by mid-month means dinner reservations move earlier. Locals start lighting porch fire pits.
Strongly yes for the first two weeks (Nov 1-13) at off-season pricing. Yes for Thanksgiving week if you book by mid-September; the island runs about 60% full and stays calmer than the summer norm. The week after Thanksgiving is the cheapest, quietest week before snowbird-season pricing kicks in.
Comparing November against the rest of the calendar? See the full best time to visit Hilton Head guide for the year-round breakdown.
Best for
- Off-season couples’ trips
- Thanksgiving family weeks
- Long-stay snowbirds checking in
- Late-fall golfers
Watch out for
- Daylight Saving ends Nov 1; sunset at 5:15 p.m.
- Thanksgiving week books out 6+ weeks ahead
- Ocean swimming ends mid-month
What’s open in November
Most of the seasonal scale-back is complete by mid-month. Surf school is closed. Sunset-sail operators reduce hours. The Sea Pines trolley shifts to off-season. All major restaurants stay open; a couple close one night per week. Holiday lights at Harbour Town go up the weekend after Thanksgiving.
What to pack for Hilton Head in November
Real layers. Sweater, jeans, jacket, comfortable shoes. One dinner-out outfit. Optional swimsuit (villa hot tubs only by mid-month). Pack a light scarf for evening fires on the porch.
Best things to do on Hilton Head in November
- Long bike rides under cooler air
- Thanksgiving dinner at Old Fort Pub or Michael Anthony's
- Pinckney Island for fall migration's tail end
- Course conditioning still excellent for golf
- Holiday lights preview at Harbour Town (last week of November)
- Long beach walks at sunrise
When to book for November
First two weeks: 4-6 weeks lead time for villas. Thanksgiving week (Nov 22-29, 2026): 6-8 weeks ahead. Restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner: book by Nov 1. Post-Thanksgiving week (Nov 30 onward): essentially walk-in-able.
Looking for the gear-by-category breakdown? Start with the 10-mistake packing list — what first-timers get wrong, and what to bring instead.
Beach essentials we tell every guest to bring
Sunscreen, a hat that actually stays on, a chair that survives the sand. The basics that turn a good beach day into a great one.
This page contains affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.
Sun Bum SPF 50 Spray
$15–20
The reef-safe spray we keep in the truck. SPF 50, smells like vacation, applies fast enough for restless kids.
Reef-safe — required at South Carolina beaches
Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 30+
$15–25
Mineral-based, for travelers with kid-sensitive skin or the sunscreen-allergic. The cap turns blue in UV — useful reminder.
Goodr Polarized Sunglasses
$25–30
$25 polarized shades that don't slide off when you sweat. Bring two pairs — you'll lose one to the surf.
Wallaroo or Coolibar wide-brim hat
$30–60
Packable, UPF 50+, stays on in 15 mph wind. Better than a baseball cap for an all-day beach session.
Tommy Bahama 5-Position Backpack Chair
$60–80
The chair we see on every Coligny Beach setup. Reclines flat, has a cooler pouch in the back, carries on like a backpack.
BeachBub or AmmSun anchored umbrella
$70–120
A sand-anchored umbrella that doesn't pinwheel down the beach at 11am. The base does the real work.
Tesalate or Sand Cloud beach towel
$25–50
Turkish-style, sand-shedding, dries fast. Folds smaller than a hotel towel and works on the car seat for the drive home.
Book it yourself
This page contains affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.
Hilton Head November questions we hear most.
- Is November a good time to visit Hilton Head?
- The first two weeks are excellent. Days run 65-72°F, water is still 65°F, the island is quiet, and rates run 40% below summer. Thanksgiving week is busier but still calmer than summer. Late November is the cheapest week of the year before December holidays.
- Is Thanksgiving busy on Hilton Head?
- Yes, but quietly so. Villa rates lift 60-70% over the previous week, restaurants book 2-3 weeks ahead, and family trips fill the gated communities. The vibe stays family-and-couples; no spring-break atmosphere. See the Thanksgiving planner.
- Can you swim at Hilton Head in November?
- Brisk-swimming through the first week. By mid-month, water averages 65°F and most adults are out. Pool weather only with heated pools (some villas have them). The beach itself is wonderful for walks all month.
- When does the Hilton Head holiday season start?
- Holiday lights at Harbour Town go up the weekend after Thanksgiving (around Nov 28-29, 2026) and run through New Year’s. Hilton Head Christmas events are concentrated at Harbour Town and the Sea Pines Resort.
For the full year-round picture, see the Hilton Head weather guide and best time to visit.
