Car rental Charleston Airport (CHS)

Driving in Charleston and the surrounding areas is a great experience. This is a beautiful part of the world, where blushing antebellum houses line the streets, church steeples pierce the skyline and wide, blue rivers flow serenely by.

If driving into the city from the airport, leave Airport Boulevard and join the I-26 going east – it’s just a little over 15 kilometres into the heart of town. Head in the other direction on the same road and you’ll pass through Ridgeville on your way to the state capital of Columbia.

Route 17 takes you south-west from Charleston to connect with the I-95. From here you can go south to Savannah in Georgia or north to Florence and even as far north as New York and Boston. Another scenic coastal drive is Route 17 north, passing by numerous beaches on the way to Wilmington.

Speed limits on Interstate routes are 70mph (112km/h) in rural areas and 60mph (96km/h) on urban stretches. In cities and towns it drops to around 30mph (48km/h). If you’re driving in Charleston, you’ll probably encounter some of the city’s trademark horse-drawn carriages. Feel free to pass them, but just be sure to slow down so as not to alarm the horses.

Charleston is a peninsula with a grid-based layout that makes navigation straightforward. Explore north to south via Meeting Street and King Street, which run the length of the peninsula. Broad Street and Calhoun Street are the main east to west streets in the Historic District. This is an old city, so there are a number of narrow, one-way streets.

There are plenty of parking garages in Charleston where you can leave your car. You’ll also come across metered street parking which you can use for a small fee. Always check the signs for time limits when using these.

There are few places in the US than can boast architecture as beautiful as that of Charleston. The stunning mix of Victorian-style homes makes it feel like you’re in a different country entirely.

History in the making

A pretty port city founded by English settlers in 1670, Charleston is where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired. Sail out on the harbor to Fort Sumter to trace its beginnings – this sea fort was held by the Confederates and bombed by the Union.

The city’s fortune was founded on cotton plantations. Today, Boone Hall is one that’s still in operation. Visiting here offers beauty – as you enter you pass gorgeous oaks, hundreds of years old, dripping in Spanish moss – but also horror. The slave quarters have been preserved to shed light on the horrific conditions endured by African Americans during the Age of Slavery.

The city once hosted numerous auction houses for slaves too. One of these historic buildings has been turned into the Old Slave Mart Museum, which is fascinating and chilling all at once.

The new South

Much of the city still feels authentic and original. The shabby chic houses have pastel-coloured facades and porches kissed by the sun, and gas lamps harking back to a bygone  era. What has changed, however, is the food. Instead of typical Southern fare – as good as that can be – there’s a new show in town.

Slow food has arrived in Charleston, accompanied by the locavore movement. Indeed, restaurants take great pride in serving up local produce. Arguably, Husk on Queen Street kick-started this trend, promising that nothing on its menu was farmed or grown beyond the south. We recommend the cornmeal fried catfish with shrimp broth or cider-glazed chicken with ricotta dumpling.

Fig is another winner, serving up sustainably-sourced southern food with a twist. Lump crab ravioli followed by fish stew Provençal and a dessert of apple bread pudding with Calvados is perfection on a plate.

Exploring South Carolina

Charleston has such a unique personality, yet this is just one part of South Carolina. Spread your wings in the Palmetto State and discover some other glorious destinations on your trip.

For a coastal break, drive two hours north to Myrtle Beach. This glamorous destination has white sand beaches and perfectly-preened golf courses, inviting you to enjoy the lap of luxury.

On your way, stop off to explore the Francis Marion National Forest. This leafy nature reserve is less an hours’ drive north out of Charleston. Hike up scenic trails and canoe through marshes, including the unusually named Little Hellhole Bay, all in the company of local red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Car rental at Charleston Airport with Hertz allows you to discover the best of the city and more.