Where to Stay in Charleston
Prices & schedules checked October 18, 2026
Most Charleston tours start on the downtown peninsula: the Fort Sumter ferry at Liberty Square, carriage barns on Anson Street, ghost walks near the Old Exchange, and plantation shuttles from the Visitor Center at 375 Meeting St. The Fort Sumter ferry also leaves from Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant. Choose a base by how much you want to walk versus drive. The area descriptions below quote Explore Charleston, the official visitor bureau.
Quick pick
| Base | Best for | Why (official source) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown / historic district | First-timers without a car | Walkable to most tour start points; historic inns |
| Mount Pleasant (Old Village) | Boone Hall and the Patriots Point ferry | “Just minutes from the beach and downtown Charleston” |
| Folly Beach | Beach days plus city tours | Laid-back, with a pier “stretching over 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean” |
| Isle of Palms | Families wanting a beach base | “Just 12 miles from downtown Charleston” |
| North Charleston | Park Circle; flying in and out | “A mere 15 minutes from downtown Charleston” |
Downtown & the historic district
Our pick for a short trip. You can walk to the ferry, the carriage tours, the ghost walks and the Visitor Center shuttles. Explore Charleston highlights historic inns “sprinkled throughout the area” with “four-poster beds, antique furnishings, oasis-like courtyards and wood-burning fireplaces”.
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Mount Pleasant
Over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from downtown. Explore Charleston says the Old Village “sits right on the Charleston harbor and is known for its beautiful historic homes, moss-draped live oak trees and small-town feel”, and is “just minutes from the beach and downtown Charleston”. It’s also where Boone Hall and the Patriots Point Fort Sumter departures are.
Folly Beach
A barrier island Explore Charleston calls “laid-back”, with “fun and funky cottages and a coastal-casual vibe”. Its pier stretches over 1,000 feet into the Atlantic. You’ll drive into town for tours.
Isle of Palms
“Just 12 miles from downtown Charleston,” Explore Charleston describes the family-friendly Isle of Palms as “perfectly situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway”. A good beach base if you’ll drive to a few tours.
North Charleston
Explore Charleston calls it “a happening hub a mere 15 minutes from downtown Charleston”, and singles out Park Circle, a walkable neighborhood less than ten miles north of downtown with local shops and eateries. Some of the hotels listed on that page advertise a free CHS airport shuttle.
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Planning around the tours? See the one-day itinerary, or the Holiday Festival of Lights guide for James Island options.
Sources
- Explore Charleston — Areas to explore
- Explore Charleston — Historic inns
- Explore Charleston — Mount Pleasant (Old Village quotes)
- Explore Charleston — Folly Beach (laid-back, pier over 1,000 feet)
- Explore Charleston — Isle of Palms (12 miles from downtown)
- Explore Charleston — North Charleston (15 minutes from downtown, Park Circle)
- Fort Sumter Tours — Liberty Square and Patriots Point departures