How to Get Around South Carolina

A car is necessary for everything except central Charleston, which is compact and best walked — parking there is scarce and expensive, so leave the car at the lodging.

Interstate 95 runs the length of the state and carries very heavy holiday traffic; Interstate 26 links the coast to the interior.

Charleston, the Grand Strand and the Upstate all have airports with domestic connections, and the Charleston one is the most useful for the Lowcountry.

Amtrak serves several towns along the eastern corridor, but the stations are generally well outside the centres and a car is still needed at the other end.

Beach towns charge for parking in season and enforce it briskly; some island communities restrict day-visitor access entirely.