Getting around · Charleston
Getting to and from CHS: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Charleston airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a taxi runs about $30–$45 to Downtown Charleston, and Uber & Lyft pick up in a marked pickup zone. Picking someone up instead? Wait free at the Cell Phone Waiting Lot. Below: every way to and from the airport, what it costs, whether to park or grab a ride, and how to fold the drive into your Leave-By Time so you reach security with room to get through the line. Check CHS TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
- 1
- Checkpoint
- 1
- PreCheck
- Yes
- CLEAR
- No
- Global Entry
- Off site
- Wait data
- Predicted
Taxis from CHS — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
~$30–$45
to Downtown Charleston
Drive time
20–30 min
12 mi to Downtown Charleston
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Expect about $30–$45 to Downtown Charleston on the meter, before tolls and tip — more in heavy traffic.
Curbside on the lower level outside baggage claim; multiple permitted taxi companies. Yellow Cab 843-577-6565. Metered taxis; ~$30-45 to downtown Charleston. Multiple licensed companies serve CHS.
The CHS cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Waiting Lot. On airport property; follow airport signage to the free waiting area. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Free waiting. Driver must remain with vehicle.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare CHSparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at CHS
Uber and Lyft pick up at the ground level baggage claim curb; follow TNC/rideshare signage.
Dropping off? Drop off on the upper Departures curb; active loading only. Charlestonhas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to CHS — routes & drive time
CHS sits about 12 miles from Downtown Charleston, a drive of roughly 20–30 minutes via I-26 east toward downtown Charleston; US-17 serves Mount Pleasant and the Lowcountry coast — closer to the high end at rush hour. That drive time is the first input into your Leave-By Time, so the calculator counts it backward from your flight along with today's security wait and the walk to your gate.
Getting to CHS by train or transit
No rail serves CHS. CARTA (Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority) Route 11 connects the airport to the North Charleston Transit Center, where you can transfer toward downtown Charleston. Service is limited; check CARTA schedules.
Fare: $2.00 one-way on CARTA buses.
Hotel and city shuttles to CHS
Hotel courtesy shuttles from the baggage claim level. Several hotels offer complimentary service from Charleston International. If a shuttle is part of your plan, add its ride time to your Leave-By Time — it's easy to forget the 15–20 minutes between the curb and the terminal.
Park or ride to CHS?
Here's the math. Parking starts around $6/day, while a round-trip taxi or rideshare to Downtown Charleston runs about $75. So a round trip by car comes out ahead once you're away more than about 13 days — for a quick trip, parking usually costs less; for a long one, getting a ride does.
Want the exact trade-off for your dates? compare CHSparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at CHS
CARTA buses are accessible. Accessible taxis and rideshare available at the curb.
Late or overnight arrival? CARTA has limited late-night service; taxis and rideshare operate around the clock.
Returning a rental on the way out? On-airport rental car facility; follow Rental Car Return signs. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified CHS's ground-transport details as of June 29, 2026. Always check the in-app pickup pin and posted signs when you land.
Flying out of a nearby airport instead?
If a fare or a schedule points you elsewhere, the closest airport we cover is MYR (Myrtle Beach), about 84 miles from CHS in a straight line. The same math on this page — drive time, ride cost, security wait — decides whether the extra distance is worth it.
Other airports nearby
Straight-line distance from CHS — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go CHS
CHS TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ CHS
How much is a taxi to or from CHS?
A metered taxi to Downtown Charleston typically runs about $30–$45, before tolls and tip and more in heavy traffic. Curbside on the lower level outside baggage claim; multiple permitted taxi companies. Yellow Cab 843-577-6565.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at CHS?
Uber and Lyft pick up at the ground level baggage claim curb; follow TNC/rideshare signage. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the CHS cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Waiting Lot — On airport property; follow airport signage to the free waiting area. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is CHS from Downtown Charleston?
CHS is about 12 miles from Downtown Charleston — roughly 20–30 minutes by car depending on traffic, via I-26 east toward downtown Charleston; US-17 serves Mount Pleasant and the Lowcountry coast.
Is there a train from CHS to Downtown Charleston?
Not directly. No rail serves CHS. CARTA (Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority) Route 11 connects the airport to the North Charleston Transit Center, where you can transfer toward downtown Charleston. Service is limited; check CARTA schedules.