Getting To Charleston, SC By Air
Charleston is conveniently reached by air from across the United States, with non-stop flights available from many major cities.
Charleston International Airport is located in the city of North Charleston, with connections to the historic downtown peninsula available by taxi, rideshare, shuttle (currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic), rental car and public transit.
The nearest major international airports offering direct flights from cities outside the United States are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, 300 miles and around 5 hours from Charleston by car; and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, 210 miles and 3.5 hours away by car.
See also:
- Connecting transport to and from Charleston Airport
- Things to do in Charleston
- Things to do near Charleston
- Charleston’s festival calendar
- When is the best time of year to visit Charleston?
!Please verify all details before planning your trip. Travel information and availability may change.
Charleston International Airport
Charleston International Airport (CHS) is Charleston’s nearest airport, with direct flights operated to and from 30 cities, mostly along the east coast and in the upper midwest and Texas. Please note that some flights only operate seasonally.
Charleston International Airport is located in the separately-incorporated city of North Charleston, approximately 12 miles northwest of Charleston’s downtown Historic District, where the majority of hotels are. Vacation islands in the Charleston area are 10-45 miles away.
→ See also: Getting from Charleston Airport to Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island and Edisto Island
Airlines & Flights To Charleston, SC
Domestic routes
- Atlanta – Delta (ATL)
- Baltimore – Southwest (BWI)
- Boston – Delta (BOS); jetBlue (BOS)
- Charlotte – American (CLT)
- Chicago – American (ORD - O’Hare); United (ORD - O’Hare); Southwest (MDW - Midway)
- Cincinnati – Allegiant (CVG)
- Cleveland – Allegiant (CLE); Frontier (CLE); United (CLE)
- Columbus – Allegiant (LCK)
- Dallas/Fort Worth – American (DFW); Southwest (DAL - Love Field)
- Denver – Frontier (DEN); Southwest (DEN); United (DEN)
- Detroit – Delta (DTW)
- Fort Lauderdale – jetBlue (FLL), Silver (FLL)
- Houston – Southwest (HOU - Hobby); United (IAH - Bush)
- Indianapolis – Allegiant (IND)
- Kansas City – Southwest (MCI)
- Los Angeles – jetBlue (LAX)
- Miami – American (MIA)
- Minneapolis-St Paul – Delta (MSP)
- Nashville – Southwest (BNA)
- Newark – United (EWR)
- New York – American (LGA - LaGuardia); Delta (LGA - LaGuardia; JFK); jetBlue (JFK)
- Orlando – Silver (MCO)
- Philadelphia – American (PHL); Frontier (PHL)
- Pittsburgh – Allegiant (PIT)
- Punta Gorda – Allegiant (PGD)
- Seattle – Alaska Airlines (SEA)
- St Louis – Southwest (STL)
- Tampa – Silver (TPA)
- Trenton – Frontier (TTN)
- Washington DC – American (DCA - Reagan); United (IAD - Dulles)
Alternative Airports
International & Domestic Flights
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
The southeastern states’ biggest hub is in Atlanta, serving most domestic cities and a large number of international destinations too. Atlanta’s airport is more than 300 miles (around 5 hours by car) from Charleston, so for most visitors it will be quicker and easier to take a connecting flight onward to Charleston.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Charlotte is the closest major airport to Charleston, receiving flights from most larger domestic cities and several international cities. It is located around 210 miles from Charleston, a drive of around three and a half hours.
If you plan on renting a car for your vacation, it may in some circumstances be quicker and more economical to take a non-stop flight to Charlotte and drive the rest of the way.
Domestic Flights
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
The popular vacation city of Myrtle Beach is served by Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Porter Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and United Airlines.
Around 50 different direct routes are available, mostly to cities in the northeast and midwest. Myrtle Beach’s airport is 95 miles northeast of Charleston, around 2 hours and 15 minutes by car.
→ Traveling between Charleston and Myrtle Beach
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
The South Carolina capital offers another alternative option for flights from major US cities, though with far fewer airlines and flights to choose from. Columbia, SC is located around 110 miles northwest of Charleston, a drive of less than 2 hours by car.
Columbia Metropolitan Airport is served by American Airlines, Delta, United and Silver Airways. Flights are available to Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando/Sanford, Tampa, Chicago, Washington DC (Dulles and Reagan), Philadelphia and New York (LaGuardia).