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CHSKCHS

Charleston International Airport

Charleston, US

Airportist Score

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Security

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CHSKCHSMinor

Charleston International Airport

Charleston, United States · North America

A genuinely easy Lowcountry alternative to ATL or CLT — one checkpoint, a real Priority Pass lounge, $13 economy parking, and a $2 CARTA bus — undone by a 20:30 lounge close, no rail, and a West Gates job that is still in the ground.

Airportist Score

7.3/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.1
Comfort & amenities7.3
Food & retail7.3
Ground access7.2
Reliability6.6
Lounges6.8

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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Cheapest

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CHSGuide

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All airports Official site

CHSKCHSMinor

Charleston International Airport

Charleston, United States · North America

A genuinely easy Lowcountry alternative to ATL or CLT — one checkpoint, a real Priority Pass lounge, $13 economy parking, and a $2 CARTA bus — undone by a 20:30 lounge close, no rail, and a West Gates job that is still in the ground.

Airportist Score

7.3/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.1
Comfort & amenities7.3
Food & retail7.3
Ground access7.2
Reliability6.6
Lounges6.8

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare CHS with another airport

Arrive
11 min
before departure
Typical security
10 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
15–25 min
Airport taxi (center median)
Cheapest to city
CARTA Route 11 to Tanger / downtown
$ · 45–60 min
Lounge
1
1 rated worth it
On time
75%
of departures

6 photos

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

MPSMount Pleasant Regional Airport
Mount Pleasant
24 km
RBWLowcountry Regional Airport
Walterboro
56 km
BFTBeaufort County Airport
Beaufort
78 km
ADRRobert F. Swinnie Airport
Andrews
78 km
GGEGeorgetown County Airport
Georgetown
82 km
HHHHilton Head Airport
Hilton Head Island
97 km

Compare CHS vs HHH

MPSMount Pleasant Regional Airport
Mount Pleasant
24 km
RBWLowcountry Regional Airport
Walterboro
56 km
BFTBeaufort County Airport
Beaufort
78 km
ADRRobert F. Swinnie Airport
Andrews
78 km
GGEGeorgetown County Airport
Georgetown
82 km
HHHHilton Head Airport
Hilton Head Island
7.097 km

CHSGuide

CHSGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Official window is 90 minutes to two hours

TSA opens 03:30 and runs to 21:30 or the last departing flight. Official hourly forecast on 9 Sep 2026 stayed under 15 minutes all day — the 06:00 bank was the peak at 12 minutes.

A delayed inbound still has to beat checkpoint close. After TSA shuts there is no reclear until 03:30. Boarding typically starts 30–45 minutes prior. Do not use the domestic window on Breeze Cancún — treat that Saturday as an international departure.

Terminal

One checkpoint, then pick A or B before you sit

Wrong concourse is a walk through Central Marketplace, not a reclear. The Club, Chick-fil-A airside, and Concourse B sit west; Charleston Beer Works sits on A.

Check n' Go (amenities page): Alaska, American, Delta, jetBlue, Southwest, United at the curb or Daily Garage level 2. Homepage still lists Spirit — ignore it. Jet bridges are official; a lift is available if your aircraft is on a remote stand.

Food

Eat in Central Marketplace or on your concourse

Official live list: Kardea Brown's Southern Kitchen, Ashley Cooper Provisions, Verde, Burger King, Cinnabon, and Starbucks in Central Marketplace; Chick-fil-A airside and landside; Charleston Beer Works on A; DeSano and Commonhouse on B.

Most kitchens run 05:00 until the last departing flight in that concourse. Harvest & Grounds and Veranda News are Central Hall landside and close at midnight. Caviar & Bananas / Eddie Bauer directions on old lounge blogs are stale.

Status

Pre-book The Club; it dies at 20:30

Priority Pass (pre-book listed) or LoungeKey, outbound boarding pass, entry from 3 hours prior. Official day pass $60 / AAA $51. Children under 2 free. Concierge (843) 619-3832.

Live Priority Pass: 3rd floor via lift, walk toward Concourse B, left across from the food court. The Club's own page says second level toward B — follow the Airport Lounge signs and the elevator. Arrivals are not admitted. A 21:00 departure has no lounge.

Live conditions

Right now at CHS

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Priority Pass / LoungeKey holders departing before 20:30
Drivers who will actually use the $13 Economy Lot, not the $21 Hourly Garage for a week
PreCheck on the 06:00 bank (official forecast stayed under 15 minutes)
Anyone who will take CARTA Route 11 at $2 instead of a $17-minimum taxi

Watch out for

The Club CHS closes 20:30 and admits outbound passengers only — a 21:00 Breeze has no lounge
CLEAR is not here; homepage Check n' Go still names Spirit, which ceased 2 May 2026
West Gates ($105M, four gates + FIS, official substantial completion end of 2026) and a new parking garage are active construction
CARTA 11 is a local bus with many stops, not a 20-minute downtown flyer — budget 45–60 minutes
BermudAir is not a live CHS airline; Breeze Cancún is the scheduled international to treat as a real FIS departure

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.1

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.3

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.3

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

6.6

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

6.8

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

6.34M (2025)

Terminals

1 terminal, Concourses A and B

On-time departures

75%

Typical security

10 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for CHS.

Updated Sep 10, 2026

One civil terminal in North Charleston: landside Central Hall, then one TSA checkpoint into Central Marketplace and Concourses A and B. Official dining pins Charleston Beer Works on A and DeSano / Commonhouse on B.
6,341,145 passengers in calendar 2025 (official CRAA Ops Summary: 3,167,903 enplaned + 3,173,242 deplaned; 131,842 operations). +0.7% vs 6,295,439 in 2024. Operator Charleston Regional Aviation Authority. Site https://www.iflychs.com/
5500 International Blvd. #101, North Charleston, SC 29418-6911 — AirNav 9 mi NW of Charleston. ICAO KCHS. Elev 46 ft / 14 m. RWY 15/33 9,001 × 150; RWY 03/21 7,000 × 150. Phone (843) 767-7000.
Live official airline cards (10 Sep 2026): Air Canada (seasonal), Alaska, Allegiant, American, Avelo (seasonal), Breeze, Delta, jetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country (seasonal), United. Homepage Check n' Go still names Spirit — Spirit ceased 2 May 2026. BermudAir launched Apr 2025 and later dropped CHS; it is not on the live destinations page.
The Club CHS is the only passenger lounge — airside toward Concourse B, 04:10–20:30 daily. Live Priority Pass + LoungeKey. Official day pass $60 / AAA $51. Outbound boarding pass only (SC law). No Sky Club, Admirals Club, United Club, or Centurion.
One main TSA checkpoint 03:30–21:30 or last departure. PreCheck yes (live wait 5 min on 9 Sep 2026 vs 11 min Standard). Touchless ID for Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United. CLEAR is not on CLEAR's location list. Official arrival window: 90 minutes to two hours.

16 official sources

https://www.iflychs.com/
https://www.iflychs.com/passengers/dining-shopping/
https://www.iflychs.com/passengers/amenities-lounge/
https://www.iflychs.com/parking/
https://www.iflychs.com/passengers/ground-transportation/
https://www.iflychs.com/passengers/security-checkpoint/
https://www.iflychs.com/passengers/accessibility/
https://iflychs.com/nonstopdestinations/
https://iflychs.com/business/statistics/
https://iflychs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Ops-Summary-DEC2025_508.pdf
https://iflychs.com/charleston-international-airport-breaks-ground-on-major-west-gates-expansion-project/
https://theclubairportlounges.com/lounges/chs-the-club-main-terminal
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/charleston-international-afb/chs-the-club-chs
https://ridecarta.com/fares-passes/
https://ridecarta.com/transit/route-11-dorchester-rd-airport/
https://www.airnav.com/airport/KCHS

Full guide

Explore the CHS guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Charleston International Airport and the Charleston city center
City center
View Map
Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Airport taxi (center median)Cheapest: CARTA Route 11 to Tanger / downtown
View Getting There
Lounges
1 lounge with access rules, hours, and verdicts. 1 rated worth it.
The Club CHS
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Walk the FIDS before you commit to a restaurant. Central Marketplace (Kardea Brown, Ashley Cooper, Verde, BK, Cinnabon, Starbucks, airside Chick-fil-A) sits between the concourses. Charleston Beer Works is A. DeSano and Commonhouse are B. Crossing after security is a walk, not a reclear
11 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
6 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
The Club CHSCARTA Route 11 and cheap parking
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
4 spots
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 10:41 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Oct 25, 14:41 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

☀️17°C / 63°F