Getting There

Charleston International Airport provides commercial air service to the entire trident region. Delta, Continental, USAir and Midway are the primary carriers.

The Charleston International Airport is only 10 miles north of historic Charleston and hence very convenient. And there are many different Charleston travel options for visitors. Those who wish to rent a car can do so without a problem at the airport, although it is wise to reserve one ahead of time. Visitors who are not renting a car can take a cab to downtown Charleston for around $30 or there is a frequent shuttle that runs from the airport to downtown for a flat fee of $12 per head. Another option is the Charleston Area Rapid Transportation Authority or CARTA bus that leaves every 30 minutes.

Amtrak provides daily rail service. Two interstate highways (1-26 and I-526), four major U.S. Highways, and seven major state highways serve the area. Interstate 526 (the Mark Clark Expressway) is a new freeway which forms a semi-circle across the region - from US 17S to US 17N.

Charleston has one major bus system. Bus routes serve Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, the Isle of Palms, North Charleston, West Ashley, James Island, Hanahan, and the Peninsula. The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) which serves downtown workers and visitors has as its focal point, the Visitor Reception and Transportation Center. The buses, modeled to look like trolleys, leave the center regularly and carry the visitors to and from the historic district. The City has developed a number of off street parking facilities within a one block area of DASH routes. Additionally, an expanded rural transit service will be setup by 1997 to operate within the rural areas of the tri-county.

Water transportation is central to the Charleston economy. The City's shipping port system, which offers more than two miles of berthing space, connects Charleston with more than 100 countries all over the globe. Norfolk Southern and the CSX rail system, in addition to 104 motor carriers, allow for the transportation of cargo between the port and the major industrial markets of the U.S.