Recommended Hotels
Please note: While we will not be blocking any rooms or making any housing arrangements, here are a few suggestions if you wish to book a hotel near the event and other attractions. Out-of-town guests are encouraged to reserve hotel rooms at least 60 days in advance.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Charleston Downtown Riverview
- 98 Ripley Pointe Dr Charleston, SC, 29407-7597 United States, 888 734 8503
- 3.2 miles from James Island County Park
La Quinta Inn & Suites Charleston Riverview
- 11 Ashley Point Drive Charleston, SC, 29407-7553 United States
- 3.3 miles from James Island County Park
Sleep Inn Charleston
- 1524 Savannah Hwy Charleston, SC, 29407-7845 United States, 888 734 8503
- 3.8 miles from James Island County Park
Charleston - Days Inn Patriots Point
- 261 Johnnie Dodds Blvd Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464-2934 United States, 888 734 8503
- 7.2 miles from James Island County Park
Comfort Inn Downtown Charleston
- 144 Bee St Charleston, SC, 29401-5701 United States, 888 734 8503
Again we are NOT blocking rooms. Please contact the hotel directly for rates and availability.
Getting Around Charleston
Fly to Charleston: Flying into the Charleston International Airport is a pretty straightforward affair. American Airlines, United, Delta, US Airways, Southwest, and JetBlue all offer flights. Other options include the inexpensive Spirit Airlines, which flies into Myrtle Beach International Airport, 90 miles north of Charleston. Once you land, you'll have to take a taxi or shuttle into the city, about 15 minutes to downtown, unless you rent a car.
Hop a Train: Amtrak pulls into Charleston thanks to the Palmetto service, which spans New York City to Savannah, Georgia, with stops in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and other spots, including Charleston. The ride is pleasant, but the train station is on the rough side, so have a taxi or other ride waiting to take you the 15 minutes into town.
Drive in: Two main highways feed into Charleston—Highway 17 and Interstate 26.
To gauge driving distance, the city is 265 miles from Atlanta, 173 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina, and 85 miles from Savannah, Georgia.
In the City: A car isn't a must in this walkable city, but for those who prefer not to hoof it, there are bikes, pedicabs, tour buses, water taxis, ground taxis, and the CARTA trolley buses, plus buses that go to the burbs and beaches. Street parking is irksome, as meter readers are among the city's most efficient public servants. (But if you purchase a SmartCard from the Division of Motor Vehicles downtown, you can "deposit" meter money and credit it back to your card when you leave a metered spot.) Parking garages, both privately and publicly owned, charge approximately $1.50 an hour.
Over the Bridges: If you plan to head over the bridges to see the beaches or plantations, you'll need to rent a car. Avis, Hertz, National, and Budget have outposts at the airport, and Enterprise has offices both there and downtown.
Hop a Train: Amtrak pulls into Charleston thanks to the Palmetto service, which spans New York City to Savannah, Georgia, with stops in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and other spots, including Charleston. The ride is pleasant, but the train station is on the rough side, so have a taxi or other ride waiting to take you the 15 minutes into town.
Drive in: Two main highways feed into Charleston—Highway 17 and Interstate 26.
To gauge driving distance, the city is 265 miles from Atlanta, 173 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina, and 85 miles from Savannah, Georgia.
In the City: A car isn't a must in this walkable city, but for those who prefer not to hoof it, there are bikes, pedicabs, tour buses, water taxis, ground taxis, and the CARTA trolley buses, plus buses that go to the burbs and beaches. Street parking is irksome, as meter readers are among the city's most efficient public servants. (But if you purchase a SmartCard from the Division of Motor Vehicles downtown, you can "deposit" meter money and credit it back to your card when you leave a metered spot.) Parking garages, both privately and publicly owned, charge approximately $1.50 an hour.
Over the Bridges: If you plan to head over the bridges to see the beaches or plantations, you'll need to rent a car. Avis, Hertz, National, and Budget have outposts at the airport, and Enterprise has offices both there and downtown.
Coupons
Take advantage of special savings on Charleston area activities and events. Peruse these coupons from participating businesses and print the savings you wish to use during your upcoming visit to the Charleston area. Click here
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James Island Restaurants
Andolini's 967 Folly Road, James Island, SC 29412 (843) 576-7437 Fresh tossed pizza, salads, calzones. Open 7 Days a week. Dine In or Carry Out 11am-10pm.
Athens Restaurant & Grill 1939 Maybank Highway, James Island, SC 29412 (843) 795-0957 Mousaka, gyros, spanakopita, pasta, seafood & steaks. Open 7 Days a week.
Black Bean Company 869 Folly Road, Charleston SC 29412 (843) 277-2101 Charleston's Energy Food Restaurant for your health offering vegan & natural organic food. Open 7am - 10pm Daily.
Bowens Island Restaurant 1870 Bowens Island Road, Charleston SC 29412 (843) 795-2757 Located at the tip of a 13-acre island, 5 minutes from Folly Beach, the restaurant is famous for its locally harvested oysters, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, Frogmore stew, cold beer, and its undisturbed view of river, marshes, islands, and wildlife. Open Tues-Sat 5pm-10pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Brick House Coastal Kitchen & Bar 1575 Folly Road James Island SC 29412 (843) 406-4655 Brick House Kitchen serves up their vision of coastal comfort food on the grounds of a century old farm house relaxed under live oaks. Fresh seafood and produce help to inspire our menus daily. Open Daily.
California Dreaming 1 Ashley Pointe Drive Charleston SC 29412 (843) 766-1644 Steaks, seafood, ribs, chicken, salads. Water view. Open 7 Days a week.
Charleston Crab House 145 Wappoo Creek Drive, Charleston SC 29412 (843) 795-1963 James Island - Waterfront Dining & Outdoor Patio Seating on the Intracoastal Waterway. Open Daily.
The Hideaway Pizza Kitchen 608-A Harbor View Rd., James Island SC 29412 (843) 762-2003 Pasta, pizza, subs, salads. Open 7 Days a week.
Kickin' Chicken 1175 Folly Road Charleston, SC 29412 (843) 225-6996 One of the few places around James Island that have seen so many others come and go. Beautiful bar, comfy booths & some of the friendliest people make this place homey and fun. Daily 11am-2am.
Lemon Grove Grill 1014 Fort Johnson Rd Charleston, SC 29412 (843) 225-6698 Mediterranean cuisine at a very modest price. Open Mon-Sat. Closed on Sunday.
Mondo's Italian Restaurant 915 Folly Rd Charleston, SC 29412 (843) 795-8400 Italian-American Cuisine. Patio Dining. Lunch and Dinner. Open Mon-Sat. Closed on Sunday.
Mustard Seed 1970 Maybank Hwy James Island, SC 29412 (843) 795-9554 Along with several tasty vegetarian options, the menu features a handful of chicken and seafood dishes, hearty pastas, light salads and sandwiches, crab cakes and the like. Open Lunch, Dinner Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday.
Osaka 100 Folly Rd., James Island, SC 29412 (843) 852-9979 Japanese sushi and regional Chinese dishes. Open Daily.
Smoky Oak Taproom 1234 Camp Road, James Island SC 29412 (843) 762-6268 Serving authentic BBQ and down-home sides complemented by 45 craft beers on tap in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Zia Taqueria 1956 A Maybank Hwy James Island, SC 29412 (843) 406-8877 Authenic Mexican taqueria that serves high quality, moderately priced food and beverages using only natural ingredients. Open Daily Lunch and Dinner.
Athens Restaurant & Grill 1939 Maybank Highway, James Island, SC 29412 (843) 795-0957 Mousaka, gyros, spanakopita, pasta, seafood & steaks. Open 7 Days a week.
Black Bean Company 869 Folly Road, Charleston SC 29412 (843) 277-2101 Charleston's Energy Food Restaurant for your health offering vegan & natural organic food. Open 7am - 10pm Daily.
Bowens Island Restaurant 1870 Bowens Island Road, Charleston SC 29412 (843) 795-2757 Located at the tip of a 13-acre island, 5 minutes from Folly Beach, the restaurant is famous for its locally harvested oysters, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, Frogmore stew, cold beer, and its undisturbed view of river, marshes, islands, and wildlife. Open Tues-Sat 5pm-10pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Brick House Coastal Kitchen & Bar 1575 Folly Road James Island SC 29412 (843) 406-4655 Brick House Kitchen serves up their vision of coastal comfort food on the grounds of a century old farm house relaxed under live oaks. Fresh seafood and produce help to inspire our menus daily. Open Daily.
California Dreaming 1 Ashley Pointe Drive Charleston SC 29412 (843) 766-1644 Steaks, seafood, ribs, chicken, salads. Water view. Open 7 Days a week.
Charleston Crab House 145 Wappoo Creek Drive, Charleston SC 29412 (843) 795-1963 James Island - Waterfront Dining & Outdoor Patio Seating on the Intracoastal Waterway. Open Daily.
The Hideaway Pizza Kitchen 608-A Harbor View Rd., James Island SC 29412 (843) 762-2003 Pasta, pizza, subs, salads. Open 7 Days a week.
Kickin' Chicken 1175 Folly Road Charleston, SC 29412 (843) 225-6996 One of the few places around James Island that have seen so many others come and go. Beautiful bar, comfy booths & some of the friendliest people make this place homey and fun. Daily 11am-2am.
Lemon Grove Grill 1014 Fort Johnson Rd Charleston, SC 29412 (843) 225-6698 Mediterranean cuisine at a very modest price. Open Mon-Sat. Closed on Sunday.
Mondo's Italian Restaurant 915 Folly Rd Charleston, SC 29412 (843) 795-8400 Italian-American Cuisine. Patio Dining. Lunch and Dinner. Open Mon-Sat. Closed on Sunday.
Mustard Seed 1970 Maybank Hwy James Island, SC 29412 (843) 795-9554 Along with several tasty vegetarian options, the menu features a handful of chicken and seafood dishes, hearty pastas, light salads and sandwiches, crab cakes and the like. Open Lunch, Dinner Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday.
Osaka 100 Folly Rd., James Island, SC 29412 (843) 852-9979 Japanese sushi and regional Chinese dishes. Open Daily.
Smoky Oak Taproom 1234 Camp Road, James Island SC 29412 (843) 762-6268 Serving authentic BBQ and down-home sides complemented by 45 craft beers on tap in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Zia Taqueria 1956 A Maybank Hwy James Island, SC 29412 (843) 406-8877 Authenic Mexican taqueria that serves high quality, moderately priced food and beverages using only natural ingredients. Open Daily Lunch and Dinner.