Bus Transfers To and From Charleston Airport

Bus services in Charleston and its neighboring areas including Charleston Airport are operated by CARTA, also known as Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority.

The city offers a free visitor-oriented system of shuttle buses. Three routes circulated the most popularly-visited downtown areas, connecting with the central Visitors Center on Meeting Street.

Charleston also operates a free shuttle bus, the DASH Downtown Shuttle, roaming around the Historic District and lower Charleston peninsula. The service operates daily, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Buses run approximately every 10-45 minutes, depending on the route and time of day.

CARTA also provides public transportation through downtown Charleston and North Charleston, including the airport bus and train stations, and suburbs such as West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, James Island, and a few more.

The bus network includes several ordinary bus lines and a few express services. The XP3 Dorchester Road or Summerville is the most useful to visitors, connecting to the airport and downtown Charleston Visitors Center.

The ordinary fare is $2.00, payable in cash, but exact change is required on board.

One transfer is complimentary; passengers must ask the driver for a transfer upon boarding the bus.

Children ages six and under get a free ride accompanied by a paying passenger.

The fare on express services, which includes one of the routes to Charleston International Airport, is $3.50.

Various passes are also available for those planning to take the bus all the time. Here are the following bus passes rates:

• A one-day pass is $7.00; buy it on board the bus. Allows unlimited travel on regular (not express) CARTA buses. Express trips are subject to a $1 surcharge.
• The three-day pass is $14.00. Purchase it online or from one of several vending locations in Charleston or at Charleston Visitor Center for unlimited regular bus travel for three consecutive days. Express trips are subject to a $1 surcharge.
• 10-ticket pass $16, buy online or from one of several vending locations, including the Visitor Center at Meeting Street. Each bus you board requires one ticket, so don't forget to request a free transfer if you need one instead of using another access.
• Express trips are subject to a $1 surcharge.

CARTA buses also offer bus transfer services to and from Charleston International Airport, notably to those passengers bound for Tanger Outlet Center and Downtown Charleston and vice versa.

Charleston Airport buses are located at the covered curb outside the Arrivals Hall.

Passengers may purchase their bus tickets ahead of time at CARTA's official website or download the company's application to acquire mobile passes.

Fare boxes are also provided inside the bus; thus, it accepts bills and coins. However, it is advised for passengers to prepare the exact amount to pay upon boarding.

Bus fare and long-term pass rates may vary without notice.

For further details about the bus routes, schedules, and fares, visit CARTA’s official website https://www.ridecarta.com/.