Charleston Transportation

With our Charleston Transportation information you’ll be able to navigate the Lowcountry with ease. Finding your way into the heart of the city becomes a piece of cake.

If you are not driving directly to Charleston, you can access the city by air, bus or train. Once you arrive, transportation options include taxi and limo services, the local bus transport system and rickshaws in the Downtown area.

Some hotels also offer a means of Charleston transportation through shuttle services. You’ll need to verify this when making reservations. Typically, hotels near the airport will offer airport shuttles, and hotels on the immediate outskirts of Historic Charleston will offer shuttles to the Downtown area.

Charleston Transportation, Getting In and Out of the City:

Charleston International Airport (CHS)
5500 International Blvd. #101
Charleston, SC 29418- 6911
(843) 767- 1100

The Charleston Airport is located in North Charleston at the end of International Boulevard, roughly 20 minutes from the heart of Downtown. Just down the street are the North Charleston Coliseum, Convention Center, Performing Arts Center and the Tanger Outlet Mall.

Charleston Executive Airport (JZI)
2700 Fort Trenholm Rd
Johns Island, SC

Located on Johns Island, The Charleston Executive Airport mainly services small, single engine aircraft for the public and does not service commercial aircraft. It is located about 6 miles from Downtown Charleston.

Mt. Pleasant Regional Airport (LRO)
This airport, managed by the Charleston Aviation Authority is located 9 miles Northeast of the city of Mt. Pleasant specifically for private and business aircraft.

Amtrak:
North Charleston, SC (CHS)
Station Building
4565 Gaynor Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405

The N. Charleston Amtrak station is 10 ½ miles from Downtown and relatively close to the airport and Greyhound station.

Station Hours of Operation for:
Ticketing, Quik-Trak Machines and Checked Baggage:
Mon – Sun: 4:05am – 10:30pm

Station Services:
Baggage assistance during station hours
Enclosed Waiting area
Restrooms during station hours
Vending machines
Free short-term parking
Free long-term parking
Call for car rental service
Call for taxi service

Accessibility
For accessibility information
call 1-800-USA-RAIL
(1-800-872-7245)

Greyhound:
Charleston Greyhound Station
3610 Dorchester Road
Charleston, SC 29405

The Charleston Greyhound Station is 7 miles from Downtown and also relatively close to the Amtrak station and airport.

Telephone Numbers
Main: 843-744-4247
Baggage: 843-747-5341
Greyhound Package Express: 843-747-5341
Customer Service: 843-744-4247
Greyhound Charter: 800-454-2487

Station Hours of Operation for:
Greyhound Package Express and Ticketing:
Monday-Sunday: 7:30 am-10:10 pm
Holiday: Closed

Hours of operation subject to change. Please call to verify hours before making travel arrangements.

Charleston Transportation, Getting Around Town:

Taxis, Shuttles and Limos:
Traditional Charleston transportation can be through taxis and shuttles which are are readily available at the airport. You can also request service through your hotel or restaurant. Not as reliable, but still doable, especially in season, is the ability to hail a cab from Downtown (but don’t expect to see taxis like you would in NYC on every corner). For limos, a reservation is almost always needed.

Here are few of the Charleston Area Taxi, Shuttle and Limo Services:

Absolute Charleston Taxi Services
2478 Swallow Dr, Charleston, SC - (843) 571-7554

Charleston Airport Association of Taxi & Limo Drivers
5055 International Blvd, Charleston, SC - (843) 607-5456

Charleston Downtown Limo / Tropical Taxi
291 E. Bay St., Charleston, SC - (843) 723-1111

Charleston Green Taxi
334 E Bay St #254, Charleston, SC - (843) 819-0846

Charleston Limo Bus Services
1217 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC - (843) 697-1600

The Charleston Chauffeur Company
420 Owen St., Charleston, SC - (843) 737-0654

Coastal Taxi
7709 mendelwood dr, North Charleston, SC - (843) 303-8022

Safety Cab Co
1430 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC - (843) 722-4066

Williams Limo & Taxi Services
2506 Bennett Yard Rd, Charleston, SC - (843) 744-2294

Yellow Cab
2019 Cherry Hill Ln, Charleston, SC - (843) 577-6565

Rental Cars:
The airport is not the only place to get a rental car. Car rental agencies are scattered throughout the area for easy Charleston transportation. Some will even make arrangements to pick you up, but you will need to verify that when making reservations.

Charleston International Airport (CHS) Rental Car Agencies:

Avis
843-767-7031
1-800-331-1212

Budget
843-767-7051
1-800-527-0700

Dollar
843-767-1130
1-800-800-4000

Enterprise
843-767-1109
1-800-736-8222

Hertz
843-767-4550
1-800-654-3131

National
843-767-3078
1-800-227-7368

Thrifty
843-552-1400
1-800-647-4389

Charleston Area Rental Car agencies:

ACE Rent A Car at Charleston
1573 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC - (843) 556-4001

Avis Rent-A-Car: Sears Auto Center - Citadel Mall
2068 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC - (843) 402-9626

Budget Rent A Car
205 Meeting St, Charleston, SC - (843) 760-6976

Dollar Charleston Car Rental
5500 International Blvd, Charleston, SC - (843) 767-1130

Enterprise Rent-A-Car - Rick Hendrick Chevy
1500 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC - (843) 769-5833

Hertz® Car Rental - West Ashley
3025 Ashley Town Center Drive, Charleston, SC - (843) 573-2147

Rent A Wreck
444 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC - (843) 769-7325

Thrifty Charleston Car Rental
3826 W Montague Ave, Charleston, SC - (843) 552-7532

Charleston Rickshaw Company:
A fun way to get around Historic Downtown Charleston is to hail a tricycle taxi, otherwise known as a rickshaw. You can readily find them on Market Street in the height of season, but you can also call for reservation pick up. Honestly there is no better Charleston transportation than the rickshaw to see Downtown up close and personal.
843-723-5685

CARTA – City Bus Transport:
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) supplies a route of buses to get people around town for simple Charleston transportation. They have Fixed-Route Buses servicing the greater Charleston area and Downtown Area Shuttles, otherwise known as the DASH (see map for DASH routes).
843-724-7420

Fares
Effective October 5, 2008, the Regular Fare is $1.50 for the Fixed-Route Buses and Downtown Area Shuttles (DASH).

Express Fare - $2.50

Low Income Discount Fares of $0.60 are also available for those who qualify. The Low Income Fare determination is located at the Trident One Stop Career Center located at: 1930 Hanahan Road, North Charleston, SC 29406, 843-574-1810.

Children aged six (6) and under ride fixed-routes and DASH free when a paying passenger accompanies them.

Seniors 55+ only pay $0.75 for the Downtown Area Shuttle and Fixed Route Service Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and after 6:00 p.m., all day Saturday and Sunday, and Holidays (except those holidays that the Downtown Area Shuttle does not operate).

Disabled patrons can ride fixed-route for $0.40 all day, every day. Patrons with a valid Tel-A-Ride I.D. card can ride fixed-route for $0.40.

Express Monthly Pass - $76 (also good on all fixed routes)

The following passes are available and are valid for both Downtown Area Shuttles (DASH) and Fixed Route Service:
$5.00 for all day (available onboard all CARTA vehicles)
$11.00 for three days
$12.00 for 10 trips
$37.50 for 31 days
$42.00 for 40 trips
$60.00 for students per semester

Locations to Purchase CARTA Passes:

North Charleston

Trident One Stop Career Center
1930 Hanahan Road, North Charleston
Hours: 8:30am – 5pm Mon-Fri
843-574-1800

Participating Piggly Wiggly Stores
1270 Yeamen’s Hall Road
8780 Rivers Ave
5101 Ashley Phosphate
5060 Dorchester Road

West Ashley

Participating Piggly Wiggly Stores
14 Sumar Street
2571 Ashley River Road
630 Skylark Road

James Island

Participating Piggly Wiggly Stores
1005 Harbor View
1739 Maybank Hwy
1985 Folly Road

Mt. Pleasant

Participating Piggly Wiggly Stores
Sea Island Shopping Center
Kmart Stores 1551 Johnnie Dodds Blvd

Downtown Charleston

CARTA Office
36 John Street
Hours: 8:30am-5pm/ Mon-Fri
843-724-7304

Visitor Center
375 Meeting Street
Hours: 8:30am-5pm/ Mon-Sun
(Hours of operations seasonal. Please call for additional information)
843-724-7174

Food Lion- Kings Plaza/1015 King Street

You can also purchase tickets on line at www.ridecarta.com.

Thank you for visiting our Charleston Transportation page.

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