Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Charleston travel guide

Charleston Tourism | Charleston Guide

You're Going to Love Charleston

With a population of 51,400, Charleston is the largest city in West Virginia, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Charleston has to offer.

Where to Eat in Charleston

If you’re looking for affordable options, Bricks & Barrels (1214 Smith St) and The French Quarter (1 Greyhound Dr) are great picks.

When to visit Charleston

Charleston in January
Estimated hotel price
$103
1 night at 3-star hotel
Charleston in January
Estimated hotel price
$103
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Charleston in July, when the average temperature is 75.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 86 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 24.8 °F, with an average temperature of 33.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 5.2″. In contrast, October is usually the driest month of the year in Charleston, with an average rainfall of 2.6″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Charleston

Plane

When flying to Charleston, you’ll arrive at Charleston Yeager (CRW), which is located 4 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Charleston include American Airlines, Delta and LATAM Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Charleston departs from New York and takes around 1h 46m.

Car

Another option to get to Charleston is to pick up a car rental from Pittsburgh, which is about 272 km from Charleston. You’ll find branches of Turo and Thrifty, among others, in Pittsburgh.

Plane

When flying to Charleston, you’ll arrive at Charleston Yeager (CRW), which is located 4 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Charleston include American Airlines, Delta and LATAM Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Charleston departs from New York and takes around 1h 46m.

Car

Another option to get to Charleston is to pick up a car rental from Pittsburgh, which is about 272 km from Charleston. You’ll find branches of Turo and Thrifty, among others, in Pittsburgh.

Airports near Charleston

HTSHuntington Tri State
CRWCharleston Yeager
CKBClarksburg Benedum

Airlines serving Charleston

KLM
Good (1,555 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,500 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,640 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,100 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,649 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,794 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,975 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,473 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,294 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,221 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (694 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,899 reviews)
Breeze Airways
Excellent (305 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (659 reviews)
WestJet
Good (3,430 reviews)
Allegiant Air
Good (679 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Charleston

Where to stay in Charleston

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Days Inn by Wyndham Charleston WV and Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Charleston WV.

Where to stay in popular areas of Charleston

Most booked hotels in Charleston

See all
Hampton Inn Charleston-Southridge
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 619 reviews)
$138+
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Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Charleston WV
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 991 reviews)
$97+
View
Holiday Inn Express Charleston-Civic Center
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1785 reviews)
$91+
View
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston-Southridge By IHG
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 212 reviews)
$109+
View
Country Inn and Suites by Radisson Dunbar WV
4 stars
Good (7.8, 71 reviews)
$86+
View
Charleston Marriott Town Center
3 stars
Good (7.3, 651 reviews)
$88+
View

Renting a car in Charleston

Renting a car in Charleston costs $55 per day, on average, or $165 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 63% cheaper than airport locations in Charleston.

Expect to pay $4.43 per gallon in Charleston (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.15 and $70.86. Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Charleston, while also 9% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Charleston costs $55 per day, on average, or $165 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 63% cheaper than airport locations in Charleston.

Expect to pay $4.43 per gallon in Charleston (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.15 and $70.86. Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Charleston, while also 9% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Charleston

Standard SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$50/day

Standard SUV

Pickup truck

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$57/day

Pickup truck
Find car rentals in Charleston