The 7 best ways to get to and around Charleston, South Carolina, by land, air, and water
- Charleston is served by dozens of airlines, a scenic water taxi, and has a highly walkable downtown.
- I've been visiting Charleston for decades. Here are my best tips for local transport options.
I live in New Orleans, and while there are no direct flights from here to Charleston, I still find it convenient to travel to the Southern city.
That's because for many travelers like myself, Charleston is reachable by air from most places in the US with one layover at most, and once you arrive, the city is compact and easily navigated on foot. Or for a more scenic option, I like to hop on the water taxi, too.
I've also driven to Charleston many times, using it as an opportunity to enjoy a road trip as I've found the region has so many great places to stop en route.
Here's all you need to know about getting to and around the city, based on dozens of visits to Charleston by land, air, and ocean.
Getting to Charleston
Charleston International Airport
The Charleston International Airport, which has been undergoing recent renovation and expansion, is 12 miles west of the city and is served by 46 domestic routes via 12 airlines. If you're arriving internationally, then you'll connect via travel hubs, likely in nearby Atlanta or Charlotte.
A taxi to downtown should cost somewhere between $20 to $30 (there's a minimum fare of $15 from the airport), and the airport is served by the usual ride-hailing apps. Private shuttle services are also available and some hotels may offer a complimentary shuttle.
If you want to save money, take the CARTA Express Bus service to or from downtown Charleston. It costs $3.50 one-way and departs from the airport hourly between 8 a.m. to midnight. You can find more information here.
Amtrak
You can also take Amtrak to Charleston on the Silver Service/Palmetto route between New York and Washington, DC, and Orlando and Miami. The Amtrak station is in North Charleston, around 11 miles north of the downtown area. Local CARTA bus services serve the train station and the Greyhound Bus station, also in North Charleston, around seven miles from downtown.
Getting around Charleston
Charleston isn't particularly sprawling, making it relatively compact and walkable, in my opinion. When I've driven to Charleston, I just parked the car as I arrived and saved it for day trips to the beach or other nearby cities.
Public transportation and cabs are both perfectly good ways to explore, but I love just walking around, as I find I can appreciate the architecture so much more. That said, here are your options:
Driving and rental cars
Charleston's city center has parking facilities and you can probably find a spot at Hudson Street and Calhoun Street, on King Street between Queen and Broad, or on George Street between King and Meeting. The most congested times for driving are between 8 and 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Most of the leading-name rental-car companies are represented at the airport.
If I don't fly, I usually take my own car, but I'd advise checking as far in advance as possible for car-rental rates and availability if that's your plan.
Taxi and ride-hailing services
Local cab companies are plentiful, with Yellow Cab and Charleston Taxi Service among the bigger names.
The cost for a cab in Charleston is $5 for the 1st two miles and $0.50 for every 1/5 miles after that. Each extra passenger is $1. If a trip begins and ends on the Charleston Peninsula, then there is a $7 flat fee from 5:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. The major ride-hailing apps operate as they would in most larger US cities.
Public buses
The local bus services are provided by CARTA (Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority). It costs $2 for a one-way ride, or there are a number of multi-journey passes available, which you can purchase online, or at venues such as Charleston Visitor Center (375 Meeting Street). Track live bus routes here.
Downtown shuttle
The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) is a free way to get around the main downtown area. There are three routes: RT210 (along Calhoun Street between the Aquarium and the College of Charleston), RT211 (between the Historic District and the Visitor Center), and RT213 (a loop to the Citadel).
All three routes pass the Visitor Center and run Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., every 20 minutes or so. See the CARTA website for more information.
Water taxi
Charleston Water Taxi runs on an hourly loop across the Cooper River starting at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina in Mount Pleasant, before stopping at Waterfront Park in the Historic District, the Maritime Center, and Patriots Point. An all-day pass is $12.