How To Get From Charleston To Sullivan’s Island
Sullivan’s Island offers miles of beautiful beaches in a relaxed oceanfront community, only a few miles from downtown Charleston. By road, the distance from Charleston to Sullivan’s Island is around 10 miles, which should take less than 30 minutes in good traffic.
On sunny weekends, aim to set out early in the morning to beat the traffic (and find a place to park), planning to return after the afternoon rush. Routes out to the island are limited and cars can back up considerably when the weather is good for the beach.
Currently, there are unfortunately few options for getting to Sullivan’s Island other than by private car. Taxis and rideshare vehicles are the only practical alternative for most people, as there is currently no bus or shuttle service directly serving Sullivan’s Island.
Cycling (or walking) is the only non-driving option for land transport to Sullivan’s Island, with dedicated cycle paths available most of the way from Mount Pleasant to the beach.
See also:
– Things to do in Charleston
– Things to do near Charleston
– How to get from Charleston to Folly Beach or Edisto Island
!Service availability and other information can change at short notice. Please verify all details before planning your travel.
Driving To Sullivan’s Island
How Far Is Sullivan’s Island From Charleston?
Distances from Charleston area locations to Sullivan’s Island and typical drive times, via the fastest route, are as follows:
- Downtown Charleston to Sullivan’s Island – 10 miles, 20-40 mins
- Charleston Airport to Sullivan’s Island – 19 miles, 25-40 mins
- North Charleston to Sullivan’s Island – 15 miles, 20-35 mins
- Summerville to Sullivan’s Island – 30 miles, 35-60 mins
- Mount Pleasant to Sullivan’s Island – 6.5 miles, 15-20 mins
From Downtown Charleston
Sullivan’s Island is roughly 10 miles from downtown Charleston, taking the US-17 over the Ravenel Bridge out of Charleston and then following SC-703 the remainder of the way to Sullivan’s Island. Drive time is around 25 minutes in good traffic.
On summer weekends, traffic can be heavy, with tens of thousands of vehicles traveling out to Sullivan’s Island. Plan on arriving early (before 10:30am) and staying late (after 6:30pm) to beat the traffic in and out of the island. The road to Sullivan’s Island crosses a drawbridge, which can cause additional delays when it is open.
From Charleston Airport
The drive from Charleston airport to Sullivan’s Island is around 20 miles, taking I-526 across Daniel Island and then SC-703 across to the island.
An alternative route, a slightly shorter distance but usually slower due to traffic, follows the I-26 to downtown Charleston, then US-17 across the Ravenel Bridge, then SC-703 across to Sullivan’s Island.
Travel time is around 25 minutes in good traffic taking the Daniel Island route, and a couple minutes longer through peninsular Charleston.
Taxi & Rideshare To Sullivan’s Island
From Downtown Charleston
Taxi fare from downtown Charleston to Sullivan’s Island will be around $30-$40, exclusive of gratuity, depending on the exact start and end points.
The Uber or Lyft fare from downtown Charleston to Sullivan’s Island should be around $20 in a standard vehicle, or $25-$30 in a larger vehicle. During surge pricing, fares may be substantially higher.
From Charleston Airport
Taxi fare from Charleston Airport to Sullivan’s Island is around $55-$65, exclusive of gratuity. If more than 2 people are traveling, the fare is increased by $7 per extra person.
A ride with Uber or Lyft from Charleston Airport to Sullivan’s Island is around $30-$35 for a standard vehicle, or $45-$55 for a larger vehicle, during normal pricing periods.
Cycling From Charleston To Sullivan’s Island
It is possible to cycle from downtown Charleston to Sullivan’s Island, with dedicated bike paths along some, but not all, of the route.
A separate pedestrian and bike lane crosses over the Ravenel Bridge, and the Ben Sawyer Bikeway runs alongside Ben Sawyer Boulevard between Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island.
Ben Sawyer Bridge, connecting Mount Pleasant to the island, is not fully accessible to cyclists, with only a sidewalk available. You may prefer to walk this stretch of the route.
Shuttle Services To Sullivan’s Island
No shuttle service is currently available to Sullivan’s Island.
Public Transportation To Sullivan’s Island
No public bus service currently serves Sullivan’s Island. The nearest bus service is Route 41 – Coleman Boulevard, with the nearest stop at Mount Pleasant (near the Publix Supermarket at North Point) around 2.5 miles from Sullivan’s Island. From there you can walk, cycle (if you brought a bike on the bus) or taxi/rideshare the rest of the way to the island.
Similarly, it is not possible to ride the bus to Sullivan’s Island from Charleston Airport. Take either the XP-4 or the Route 11 - Dorchester/Airport buses from the airport, connecting downtown with the 41 bus to Mount Pleasant, continuing your journey to Sullivan’s Island as above.
→ Read more about transport options from Charleston Airport or using Charleston’s public transportation.