Book Flights to Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston — America's best-preserved colonial city and one of the finest dining destinations in the South — offers Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter (where the Civil War began), Middleton Place's 1741 gardens, Gullah Geechee cultural heritage, and a restaurant scene that consistently ranks among the nation's top 5. Southwest, Delta, American, JetBlue, and United all compete at CHS.
CHS Airport has genuine airline competition with growing Southwest service. Book spring and fall visits well in advance — Charleston's peak seasons fill quickly. FareOptic compares all carriers for the lowest Charleston airfare.
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Why Visit Charleston, South Carolina?
From Rainbow Row's pastel Georgian facades to Fort Sumter's Civil War history, Middleton Place's 1741 gardens, and the finest shrimp and grits in America, Charleston is one of the most rewarding cities in the South.
Historic District and Rainbow Row
America's Best-Preserved Colonial CityCharleston's historic district — a 780-acre National Historic Landmark district protecting America's finest collection of antebellum and colonial architecture — contains 4,000+ historic structures including the iconic Rainbow Row (13 pastel-painted Georgian row houses on East Bay Street, 1740s), the Battery (sea wall promenade with antebellum mansions), and Church Street's Federal-era commercial buildings.
Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row (79–107 East Bay Street) is Charleston's most photographed subject — 13 connected Georgian single-house row houses painted in distinctive pastels (coral, yellow, green, blue), built 1740–1750. The houses are private residences but the street is freely accessible. Visit before 9am for uncrowded photography; the morning light from the Cooper River side illuminates the houses most dramatically
Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation
America's Oldest Landscaped GardensMiddleton Place (35 km northwest) — America's oldest landscaped gardens, begun 1741 — and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (33 km northwest) — gardens continuously cultivated since 1676 — represent the apex of Low Country plantation garden culture. Middleton's formal terraced gardens descend to twin ornamental lakes; Magnolia's informal English landscape garden is the oldest American garden open to the public.
Middleton's Gardens
Middleton Place's formal terrace garden — descended in three levels to mirrored butterfly lakes — was the first landscaped garden in America and required 10 years and 100 workers to complete (1741–1751). The azaleas and camellias (March–April peak) and the stable yards with working antebellum farm animals provide the most complete Low Country plantation experience accessible to the public
Fort Sumter National Monument
Where the Civil War Began (April 12, 1861)Fort Sumter — on an artificial island in Charleston Harbor, accessible only by ferry — is where Confederate forces fired the first shots of the Civil War on April 12, 1861, against the Union garrison. The fort's battered walls, original cannon, and National Park Service exhibits powerfully convey the moment that began the conflict that defined modern America.
Fort Sumter Ferry
Fort Sumter is accessible only by Fort Sumter Tours ferry (departing from Liberty Square waterfront park, downtown Charleston). The 30-minute ferry crossing provides excellent harbor views, and rangers at the fort provide interpretive talks at the Union flag restoration site. Book tickets online at nps.gov/fosu 1–2 weeks ahead; summer and holiday tours sell out
Gullah Geechee Culture
Direct Descendants of West African Enslaved PeoplesThe Gullah Geechee people — descendants of enslaved West Africans brought to the South Carolina and Georgia Sea Islands — have maintained a distinct culture, language (Gullah Creole), music, and food traditions for 300+ years. Charleston is one of the best places in the US to engage with Gullah Geechee heritage through guided tours, the Gullah Museum, and cultural performances.
Gullah Heritage
Gullah Tours (Charleston City Market area) offer the most historically authentic introduction to Gullah culture — the tours cover African American history from the slave trade through Reconstruction and the Harlem Renaissance contributions of Gullah artists and scholars. The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (SC–NC barrier islands) is a National Heritage Area worth exploring beyond Charleston
Sullivan's Island and Folly Beach
Charleston's Atlantic Coast BeachesSullivan's Island — 30 minutes east of Charleston via the Isle of Palms Connector — has Fort Moultrie (where Edgar Allan Poe was stationed and set his short story 'The Gold-Bug') and a quiet residential beach. Folly Beach ('The Edge of America') — 30 minutes south — is Charleston's most lively beach community with surf, restaurants, and the Morris Island Lighthouse visible from the pier.
Morris Island Lighthouse
Morris Island Lighthouse — standing isolated in the water 500 meters offshore from Folly Beach's northern end — is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the South: the 1876 lighthouse has been surrounded by water since the early 20th century due to coastal erosion. The lighthouse is not accessible but is the best sunset photography subject from the Folly Beach County Park
Shrimp and Grits and Low Country Cuisine
The South's Most Refined Regional Food CultureCharleston is widely considered the finest food city in the American South and one of the top 5 in the US: shrimp and grits (developed in Charleston's Gullah Geechee tradition, popularized by Craig Claiborne's 1985 New York Times article, now ubiquitous), she-crab soup (a Charleston invention), and the James Beard Award-winning restaurants of Husk, The Ordinary, and FIG define the local dining scene.
She-Crab Soup
She-crab soup — a Charleston original: a cream-based bisque of Atlantic blue crab, crab roe (the 'she' refers to the female crab's roe), sherry, and Worcestershire — is best at 82 Queen (the restaurant that popularized the modern version) and Husk. Order it as a first course; the combination of Atlantic crab's sweetness with the richness of roe and sherry cream is one of the most distinctively regional American dishes
How to Find Cheap Flights to Charleston
Southwest Is Growing at CHS — Compare First for Leisure Routes
Southwest has expanded significantly at Charleston International with competitive fares and no change fees. For leisure travel to Florida, Midwest, and Western cities, compare Southwest's all-in price (bags included) against Delta, American, and JetBlue on FareOptic. Southwest often has the most competitive CHS fares on high-volume routes.
Spring and Fall Are Peak Seasons — Book Ahead
Charleston's peak tourist seasons are March–May (spring gardens, Spoleto Festival in late May/early June) and October–November (fall). Hotels during these periods book out months in advance, with prices often double the off-season rate. Book flights and accommodation simultaneously for spring and fall visits.
Savannah SAV Is 2 Hours South — Another Excellent Option
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV, 170 km south, 2 hours) serves the Savannah, GA area — another exceptional Southern historic city. For visitors considering both cities, flying into one and out of the other creates an efficient open-jaw itinerary. Compare CHS and SAV fares on FareOptic.
The Spoleto Festival (Late May/Early June) Is Charleston's Peak
Spoleto USA — Charleston's internationally celebrated performing arts festival (late May to mid-June) — brings the highest hotel prices and tightest accommodation of the year. Book flights and hotels for Spoleto 3–4 months ahead. If Spoleto is not your priority, visiting in early May or October offers similar weather with much more available accommodation.
Airlines Serving Charleston (CHS)
Southwest Airlines
Growing CHS Presence — Best for FlexibilitySouthwest Airlines has expanded significantly at Charleston International in recent years, serving multiple daily flights to Florida, Midwest, and Western US cities with no change fees and free bags. Southwest's CHS growth makes it the most competitive option for leisure travel.
Key Routes
Charleston CHS to Orlando MCO; CHS to Tampa TPA; CHS to Fort Lauderdale FLL; CHS to Denver DEN; CHS to Chicago Midway MDW; CHS to Las Vegas LAS; CHS to Los Angeles LAX; CHS to Nashville BNA and additional Southwest cities
Delta Air Lines
Atlanta Hub — Southeast and InternationalDelta Air Lines connects Charleston through Atlanta (ATL), its largest hub, with multiple daily departures. Delta also offers non-stop service from CHS to New York (LGA/JFK), Boston (BOS), and select northern cities, particularly strong in spring and summer.
Key Routes
Charleston CHS to Atlanta ATL (multiple daily non-stop); CHS to New York LGA; CHS to Boston BOS; CHS to Minneapolis MSP; CHS to Los Angeles LAX; international connections via ATL to Europe, Caribbean, and Latin America
American, United & JetBlue Airlines
Comprehensive CHS CoverageAmerican Airlines connects Charleston via Charlotte (CLT) and Philadelphia (PHL). United serves CHS via Washington Dulles (IAD) and Houston (IAH). JetBlue connects CHS to Boston, New York (JFK), and Fort Lauderdale. Frontier also serves CHS with ultra-low fares on selected routes.
Key Routes
Charleston CHS to Charlotte CLT (American hub — most American CHS flights); CHS to Dallas DFW (American); CHS to Newark EWR / Dulles IAD (United hub connections); CHS to Boston BOS (JetBlue); CHS to New York JFK (JetBlue); Frontier serves CHS with budget fares
Things to Do in Charleston, South Carolina
Essential Info for Your Charleston Trip
State
South Carolina (SC) — Charleston County
Currency
USD — US Dollar
Time Zone
EST (UTC-5) / EDT (UTC-4) in summer
Airport Code
CHS — Charleston International Airport (20 km northwest)
Fort Sumter
Ferry from Liberty Square, downtown — book online at nps.gov/fosu
Plantation Gardens
Middleton Place (35 km) and Magnolia Plantation (33 km) northwest
Spoleto Festival
Late May to mid-June — peak accommodation demand
Emergency Number
911
Most Popular Airlines
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Frequently Asked Questions on Travel to Charleston
Everything you need to know about booking cheap flights to Charleston, South Carolina
What airport serves Charleston, South Carolina?
Charleston International Airport (IATA: CHS) is located 20 km northwest of downtown Charleston. Southwest, Delta, American, United, JetBlue, and Frontier all serve CHS. The airport is approximately 25 minutes from the historic district by car.
Which airline is best for flights to Charleston?
Southwest offers the most competitive leisure fares and best flexibility (no change fees, free bags) from CHS. Delta has the strongest Southeast and international connections via Atlanta. JetBlue is best for Northeast US cities (Boston, New York). American via Charlotte (CLT) provides the widest mid-Atlantic connectivity. Compare all on FareOptic.
What is Charleston, SC known for?
Charleston is known for: the finest preserved colonial and antebellum architecture in America (Rainbow Row, Battery mansions); Fort Sumter (where the Civil War began); Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation gardens; Gullah Geechee culture; and one of the finest dining scenes in the South (shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, James Beard Award-winning restaurants).
What is Rainbow Row in Charleston?
Rainbow Row is a series of 13 pastel-painted Georgian row houses at 79–107 East Bay Street in Charleston, built 1740–1750. They are the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the US. The pastel colors (coral, yellow, turquoise, green) were added in the 1930s by a restoration-minded resident. The houses are privately owned but freely viewable from the street.
When did the Civil War begin in Charleston?
The Civil War began at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces under P.G.T. Beauregard opened fire on the Union garrison commanded by Major Robert Anderson. After 34 hours of bombardment, Anderson surrendered. Fort Sumter is accessible by National Park Service ferry from downtown Charleston.
What is the Gullah culture?
The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of enslaved West Africans brought to the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida Sea Islands, who have maintained a distinct culture, language (Gullah Creole, incorporating Mende, Temne, and other West African grammatical structures), music, and food traditions for 300+ years. Charleston is the largest Gullah Geechee cultural center with guided heritage tours available from City Market.
What is the best time to visit Charleston?
March–May: ideal weather (20–27°C), spring gardens in bloom at Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation, Spoleto USA festival (late May/early June). October–November: hurricane season has largely passed, fall temperatures, smaller crowds than spring. Avoid July–August (32–36°C, high humidity, hurricane risk, most crowded). January–February is the quietest, most affordable period.
What is shrimp and grits?
Shrimp and grits — the signature dish of Low Country cuisine — is sautéed local Atlantic shrimp served over stone-ground corn grits, typically with bacon, tomatoes, and scallions. The dish originated in the Gullah Geechee fishing communities of the South Carolina coast and was popularized nationally by Craig Claiborne's 1985 New York Times article about Bill Neal's Chapel Hill restaurant. Charleston's version (Husk, FIG, The Ordinary) is definitively the finest in the US.
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