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

All airports Official site

CHSKCHSMinor

Charleston International Airport

Charleston, United States · North America

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

All airports

CHSKCHSMinor26°C / 79°F

Charleston International Airport

Charleston, United States · North America

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

6 photos

Open Concourse A holdroom at Charleston International with hanging gate signs A1, A2, A4 and A5 and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Charleston International baggage claim with carousel 3, a mostly empty hall, and overhead signs for passenger pickup, rental cars, parking and the public exit.

Landside hall at Charleston International with an Information desk and overhead signs for baggage claim, ground transportation, passenger pickup and rental cars.

White Charleston International terminal facade and canopy seen across a lawn with palmettos under a clear sky.

Covered ground-transportation curb at Charleston International with a Ground Transportation booth and signs for taxi, shuttle, limo, courtesy, public transit and rideshare.

In-terminal rental counters at Charleston International labeled National and Alamo, with travelers waiting in a stanchioned line.

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

Full guide

Explore the CHS guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Alternatives

Nearby airports

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

All airports Official site

CHSKCHSMinor26°C / 79°F

Charleston International Airport

Charleston, United States · North America

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

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.

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.

Food

Eat in Central Marketplace or on your concourse

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 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

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

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/

Full guide

Explore the CHS guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

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

CHSGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil passenger terminal. Ticketing and Central Hall are landside. One TSA portal feeds Central Marketplace, then Concourse A (east) and Concourse B (west). There is no second terminal and no airside train
Official dining HTML is the live gate-side map we trust: Charleston Beer Works on Concourse A; Dunkin on A and B; DeSano Pizza Bakery and Commonhouse Aleworks on B; Central Marketplace in the middle. A 2017 Commons photo of Concourse A shows hanging signs A1, A2, A4, and A5; official SARA is at A2. Do not treat third-party A1–A7 / B1–B10 maps as an official count

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.

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.

Food

Eat in Central Marketplace or on your concourse

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 conditions

Right now at CHS

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

Security wait times

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

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 09:38 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 10, 13:38 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

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

Full guide

Explore the CHS guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

CHSGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil passenger terminal. Ticketing and Central Hall are landside. One TSA portal feeds Central Marketplace, then Concourse A (east) and Concourse B (west). There is no second terminal and no airside train
Official dining HTML is the live gate-side map we trust: Charleston Beer Works on Concourse A; Dunkin on A and B; DeSano Pizza Bakery and Commonhouse Aleworks on B; Central Marketplace in the middle. A 2017 Commons photo of Concourse A shows hanging signs A1, A2, A4, and A5; official SARA is at A2. Do not treat third-party A1–A7 / B1–B10 maps as an official count

Security wait times

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

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 09:38 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 10, 13:38 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

All ground transportation is outside baggage claim at the west end of the terminal
CARTA Route 11 (Dorchester Rd / Airport): covered stop just outside baggage claim, to Tanger Outlets and downtown Meeting St / Mary St. Official CARTA fixed-route fare $2 (exact cash or Token Transit); Express $3.50; children under 6 free with a paying adult; free transfer within two hours. CARTA (843) 724-7420. This is a local bus with many stops, not a 20-minute downtown flyer
Taxi: starter in the center median outside baggage claim. Official $17 minimum from CHS
Rideshare: Uber / Lyft / KreweCar in the sheltered Zones 1–3 across both roadways, right of the last sidewalk. Do not wait at the inner curb
Hotel shuttles pick up outside baggage claim. Official list includes airport-strip Hiltons, the North Charleston Marriott, DoubleTree Convention Center, and several Tanger-outlet hotels — confirm the hotel still runs the van before you stand there
Rental counters are past baggage claim at the end of the terminal. Drop-off is Level 1 of the five-tier deck with a covered walk. Official 2026 toll-free pins resolve to Advantage, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. A 2019 on-site photo still shows Alamo beside National — confirm at the counter. Do not assume Sixt
Official parking (live 10 Sep 2026): Hourly Garage $3/hr, $21/day max, 7'11" height; Daily Garage $5/hr, $17/day max; Economy Lot $13/day with a shuttle every five minutes; Overflow (behind the CRAA Annex, Porsche Blvd / RAC Access Road) $13/day when Economy is full; Valet $25/day, booth 04:00–20:00, pickup desk 24/7 at the end of bag claim, (843) 767-7063. 30-day maximum on the self-park products. Lost-ticket fee equals that lot's daily max
Payments: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, or cash at the exit stations. Landside Operations (843) 767-7026 / gto@iflychs.com

Ride to Charleston

Pickup at CHS. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Charleston city center for a live price.

To city center

Charleston

~17 km

Typical fare

$17

From Airport taxi (center median) notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Charleston — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

CARTA Route 11 to Tanger / downtown

Official covered stop just outside baggage claim; $2 fixed-route or Token Transit to Tanger Outlets and Meeting / Mary.

Time to city

45–60 min

Cost

Tip: Exact cash or Token Transit. Express is $3.50. This is Dorchester Road local service, not a downtown flyer.

FastestBest for luggage

Airport taxi (center median)

Uber / Lyft / KreweCar (Zones 1–3)

Sheltered pickup across both roadways, right of the last sidewalk. Drop-off is the upper-level curb.

Time to city

15–25 min

Cost

$$$

Tip: Drivers stage in the 80-space cell lot on International Blvd. You stand at the numbered shelter, not at bag-claim doors.

Economy / Daily / Hourly / Valet

Official maxes: Economy and Overflow $13/day, Daily Garage $17, Hourly $21, Valet $25.

Time to city

2–10 min walk or shuttle

Cost

Tip: Economy shuttle every five minutes. Hourly is a trap for a week. ADA is 48 hours free with the matching placard holder in the car.

CHSGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil passenger terminal. Ticketing and Central Hall are landside. One TSA portal feeds Central Marketplace, then Concourse A (east) and Concourse B (west). There is no second terminal and no airside train
Official dining HTML is the live gate-side map we trust: Charleston Beer Works on Concourse A; Dunkin on A and B; DeSano Pizza Bakery and Commonhouse Aleworks on B; Central Marketplace in the middle. A 2017 Commons photo of Concourse A shows hanging signs A1, A2, A4, and A5; official SARA is at A2. Do not treat third-party A1–A7 / B1–B10 maps as an official count

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.

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.

Food

Eat in Central Marketplace or on your concourse

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 conditions

Right now at CHS

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

Security wait times

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

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 09:38 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 10, 13:38 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

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

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

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/

Full guide

Explore the CHS guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

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

CHSGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil passenger terminal. Ticketing and Central Hall are landside. One TSA portal feeds Central Marketplace, then Concourse A (east) and Concourse B (west). There is no second terminal and no airside train
Official dining HTML is the live gate-side map we trust: Charleston Beer Works on Concourse A; Dunkin on A and B; DeSano Pizza Bakery and Commonhouse Aleworks on B; Central Marketplace in the middle. A 2017 Commons photo of Concourse A shows hanging signs A1, A2, A4, and A5; official SARA is at A2. Do not treat third-party A1–A7 / B1–B10 maps as an official count

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

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

All ground transportation is outside baggage claim at the west end of the terminal
CARTA Route 11 (Dorchester Rd / Airport): covered stop just outside baggage claim, to Tanger Outlets and downtown Meeting St / Mary St. Official CARTA fixed-route fare $2 (exact cash or Token Transit); Express $3.50; children under 6 free with a paying adult; free transfer within two hours. CARTA (843) 724-7420. This is a local bus with many stops, not a 20-minute downtown flyer
Taxi: starter in the center median outside baggage claim. Official $17 minimum from CHS
Rideshare: Uber / Lyft / KreweCar in the sheltered Zones 1–3 across both roadways, right of the last sidewalk. Do not wait at the inner curb
Hotel shuttles pick up outside baggage claim. Official list includes airport-strip Hiltons, the North Charleston Marriott, DoubleTree Convention Center, and several Tanger-outlet hotels — confirm the hotel still runs the van before you stand there
Rental counters are past baggage claim at the end of the terminal. Drop-off is Level 1 of the five-tier deck with a covered walk. Official 2026 toll-free pins resolve to Advantage, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. A 2019 on-site photo still shows Alamo beside National — confirm at the counter. Do not assume Sixt
Official parking (live 10 Sep 2026): Hourly Garage $3/hr, $21/day max, 7'11" height; Daily Garage $5/hr, $17/day max; Economy Lot $13/day with a shuttle every five minutes; Overflow (behind the CRAA Annex, Porsche Blvd / RAC Access Road) $13/day when Economy is full; Valet $25/day, booth 04:00–20:00, pickup desk 24/7 at the end of bag claim, (843) 767-7063. 30-day maximum on the self-park products. Lost-ticket fee equals that lot's daily max
Payments: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, or cash at the exit stations. Landside Operations (843) 767-7026 / gto@iflychs.com

Ride to Charleston

Pickup at CHS. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Charleston city center for a live price.

To city center

Charleston

~17 km

Typical fare

$17

From Airport taxi (center median) notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Charleston — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

CARTA Route 11 to Tanger / downtown

Official covered stop just outside baggage claim; $2 fixed-route or Token Transit to Tanger Outlets and Meeting / Mary.

Time to city

45–60 min

Cost

Tip: Exact cash or Token Transit. Express is $3.50. This is Dorchester Road local service, not a downtown flyer.

FastestBest for luggage

Airport taxi (center median)

Starter outside baggage claim quotes a destination rate. Official $17 minimum from CHS.

Time to city

15–25 min

Cost

$$$

Tip: Accessible taxis are arranged with the curbside attendant — ask before you walk to rideshare.

Uber / Lyft / KreweCar (Zones 1–3)

Sheltered pickup across both roadways, right of the last sidewalk. Drop-off is the upper-level curb.

Time to city

15–25 min

Cost

$$$

Tip: Drivers stage in the 80-space cell lot on International Blvd. You stand at the numbered shelter, not at bag-claim doors.

Economy / Daily / Hourly / Valet

Official maxes: Economy and Overflow $13/day, Daily Garage $17, Hourly $21, Valet $25.

Time to city

2–10 min walk or shuttle

Cost

Tip: Economy shuttle every five minutes. Hourly is a trap for a week. ADA is 48 hours free with the matching placard holder in the car.

Security wait times

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

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 09:38 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 10, 13:38 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

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