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 United Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Charleston departs from Myrtle Beach and takes around 1h 23m.

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 United Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Charleston departs from Myrtle Beach and takes around 1h 23m.

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 (1,552 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,492 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,633 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,062 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,637 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,746 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,968 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,470 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,289 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,223 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,845 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (694 reviews)
Breeze Airways
Excellent (304 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (657 reviews)
WestJet
Good (3,423 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, 618 reviews)
$147+
View
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Charleston WV
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 988 reviews)
$97+
View
Holiday Inn Express Charleston-Civic Center
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1785 reviews)
$85+
View
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston-Southridge By IHG
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 211 reviews)
$106+
View
Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston
3 stars
Good (7.9, 1246 reviews)
$138+
View
Country Inn and Suites by Radisson Dunbar WV
4 stars
Good (7.8, 70 reviews)
$89+
View

Renting a car in Charleston

Renting a car in Charleston costs $51 per day, on average, or $153 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 66% cheaper than airport locations in Charleston.

Expect to pay $4.35 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 $52.24 and $69.65. The most frequently booked car type in Charleston is Compact (Chevrolet Equinox or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Ford Fusion or similar) are, on average, 56% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Charleston costs $51 per day, on average, or $153 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 66% cheaper than airport locations in Charleston.

Expect to pay $4.35 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 $52.24 and $69.65. The most frequently booked car type in Charleston is Compact (Chevrolet Equinox or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Ford Fusion or similar) are, on average, 56% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Charleston

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$54/day

Compact

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$56/day

Supplier choice
Find car rentals in Charleston