Traveling via plane is fun — jet setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else. The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful.

To help make your time at Charleston International Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates, updates, and parking to details on the airport’s 60+ nonstop flights.

What to know

TSA | According to TSA, the busiest times at the checkpoint are between 4-7 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 3-6 p.m. Learn how to enroll in TSA PreCheck.
Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
Reminder | Beginning May 7, 2025, you will need a REAL ID to board commercial flights in the US.

How early do you get to the airport before a flight? City Editor Callie here. I used to live dangerously — rarely arriving with more than an hour to spare. But now, I'd much rather have ample time at my gate to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or a snack before boarding.

Plan your parking, leave a little extra time to find a spot in a parking deck or lot. | Provided by Charleston International Airport

Parking, shuttles, and rideshares

Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. landing. The cell phone waiting lot offers temporary free parking for passenger pick-up. Find the hourly and daily rates for other lots below:

Hourly parking deck | $3 per hour, $21 per day
Daily parking deck | $5 per hour, $17 per day
Economy Lot A | $5 per hour, $13 per day
Economy Lot B | $5 per hour, $13 per day
Economy Lot C | $5 per hour, $13 per day
Valet parking | $25 max per day

Check out this tool on the airport website's parking page that tracks open spaces in each lot.

Because Charleston International Airport only has one terminal, all of these parking options are within walking distance of TSA and your gate.

Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try out a shuttle, rideshare, or taxi service that will take you to and from the terminal. These services are suggested by the Charleston Airport:

Uber and Lyft | Find the pickup area across both roadways and on the right of the last sidewalk.
CARTA | Take the scheduled bus service to Tanger Outlets or downtown Charleston. Find the pickup area outside of the baggage claim.
Hotel shuttles | Take a look at participating hotels offering shuttle service, including DoubleTree, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and Charleston Marriott.
Taxi | A $17 minimum fee will be charged from the airport — head to the ground transportation booth to receive a quote based on where you’re headed.
Rental cars | Walk to the end of the terminal past baggage claim to the rental car pavilion. Eight participating companies include Hertz, Enterprise, and Alamo.

Finalize your Thanksgiving menu + travel plans | Provided by Charleston International Airport

Nonstop flights

CHS offers 50+ nonstop flights — including two international flights. Here are some of our favorite places we can get to without stopping.

Bonus: Get lower fares by signing up for Going. You’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual. Get a two-week free trial of the Premium plan, which lets you set custom destination flight alerts (score).

Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.

Bermuda (BDA) | BermudAir
Rochester, NY (ROC) | Breeze Airlines
Burlington, VT (BTV) | Breeze Airlines
Albany, NY (ALB) | Breeze Airlines
Toronto, CA (YYZ) | Air Canada
Seattle, WA (SEA) | Alaska
Chicago, IL (ORD) (MDW) | American, Southwest, United
New York, NY (LGA) (JFK) | American, Delta, JetBlue
New Haven, CT (HVN) | Avelo

Food and drink

Charleston International Airport offers a handful of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops for fliers to dine before or between flights, like:

Charleston Beer Works | Concourse A | It's five o'clock somewhere — explore local beer plus breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Kardea Brown’s Southern Kitchen | Central Marketplace (just past security) | This spot brings the rich flavors and vibrant culture of the Lowcountry and Gullah cuisine to travelers.
DeSano Pizza Bakery | Concourse B | Planes are the only thing in the air… so is the dough for freshly baked pizza.
Commonhouse Aleworks | Concourse B | This local brewery will provide a wide selection of beers for you to enjoy before your flight.
Harvest + Grounds | Central Marketplace (past security) | Enjoy a fresh coffee from King Bean Coffee Roasters and a treat from a local bakery.
Verde | Located just past Central Marketplace | Part of the airport's Kiosk Specialty Program, Verde offers farm produce, seasonal salads with made-from-scratch dressings, wraps, and snacks.
There are several national chains like Chick-fil-A, Cinnabon, Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King, and Starbucks offered.

Gates

Concourse A | Features eight gates
Concourse B | Features 10 gates

Expansion projects

Things are taking off. The Charleston International Airport is growing, and work on new parking options has started.

The Charleston International Airport broke ground in July of 2025 on a $105 million gate expansion to expand the airport’s ability to accommodate more travelers. Here’s a peek at what the project aims to accomplish.

Double international destinations
Add 40,000+ sqft of new passenger space
Four new gates
4,000 sqft of food, beverage, and retail space

The project is set to be finished by the end of next year.

Here's a closer look at the Charleston County Aviation Authority's long-term plan to expand Charleston International Airport.

Phase one

This phase is expected to take three to five years to complete.

Extension of the ticketing hall and TSA checkpoint
Additional concourse
Retail spaces
Additional parking
Five overnight spaces for aircraft

Phase two

To begin after the completion of the first phase.

Tentatively includes Concourse C
Additional baggage claim areas
23 additional overnight spaces for aircraft
Retail spaces
VIP Traveler Lounge

Fun fact: Charleston International Airport was established in 1929. | Photo by @rspellerberg

Fly comfortably

While we may not be able to offer solutions for crying babies or mysterious in-flight meals, we do have some tricks up our sleeves for upping your comfort while flying. Browse some of our favorite travel essentials:

Lights Out Sleep Mask | This eye mask provides optimal comfort and aids restful sleep amidst changing environments and varying light conditions.
The AirFly Pro | Make sure you can always access in-flight entertainment (while avoiding the wired headphones airlines pass out) by using an AirFly. It plugs into your seat’s headphone jack and connects to your earbuds or headphones via Bluetooth.
Trtl travel pillow | The Trtl pillow is scientifically designed to provide a better head position when sleeping upright, thanks to an internal support system comfortably cushioned in cozy fleece.
Leather Dopp Kit | Keep your essentials organized and easily accessible, ensuring hassle-free journeys wherever you go.
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones | These headphones are tried-and-true traveling companions, beloved for their crisp sound and ability to block exterior noise.
Cozy Earth joggers | These Oprah-approved joggers are polished enough to navigate the airport in, but comfy and stretchy enough for long flights.
Snacks | Bringing your own snacks ensures dietary preferences are met — plus, you’ll save time and money while traveling.
Anti-nausea wristbands | Some simple anti-nausea wristbands might relieve a nervous stomach or sensitivity to turbulence while flying.