Downtown meters run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday; city garages charge by the 20 minutes. CARTA's free DASH circles the peninsula. CARTA: 843-724-7420.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from the City of Charleston’s parking page and bike share questions, CARTA and Charleston International Airport.

Charleston is a peninsula city tied to its suburbs by bridges, and most residents drive. Downtown, parking is the puzzle: the city runs 13 garages and metered lots, and CARTA’s free DASH shuttle covers the core. Road work and closures are in our road construction guide.

Who to call

  • CARTA buses: 843-724-7420; plan your trip
  • Broken parking meter, parking tickets: Revenue Collections Parking Division, 843-724-7375
  • Monthly garage parking: ABM Management, 843-805-3232
  • Live traffic: dial 511 or 511sc.org
  • Charleston International Airport: 843-767-7000

Main roads

  • I-26 runs between downtown and North Charleston.
  • I-526 loops from West Ashley across North Charleston to Daniel Island and Mount Pleasant.
  • U.S. 17 crosses the Ashley River into West Ashley as Savannah Highway and the Cooper River to Mount Pleasant.
  • Folly Road and Maybank Highway serve James Island; Maybank Highway and Main Road serve Johns Island.

Flood-prone downtown streets close at the highest tides and in heavy rain; check the city’s WaterWise page and TIDEeye before you drive.

CARTA buses

CARTA, the region’s transit agency, runs these routes serving Charleston neighborhoods, from its maps and schedules page:

Route Name
30 Savannah Highway
31 Folly Road
32 North Bridge
33 St. Andrews/Ashley River Road
301 Glenn McConnell Connector
102 North Neck
203 Medical Shuttle
10 Rivers Avenue
11 Dorchester Road/Airport

DASH, the free downtown shuttle: 210 CofC/Aquarium, 211 Meeting/King and 213 Lockwood/Calhoun. Fares and passes for other routes are on CARTA’s fares page, and real-time arrivals are in the Transit app. CARTA posts weather service changes on its home page.

The airport

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is at 5500 International Blvd. in North Charleston. CARTA Route 11, Dorchester Road/Airport, serves it. Garage, daily and valet parking details are on the airport’s parking page.

Parking downtown

On-street meters must be paid Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Sundays and city holidays, at $3 an hour with a one-hour minimum. Meters take credit cards, the city’s SmartCard, pay by text and pay by app.

Meters are being replaced by ParkMobile. The city said Oct. 15 that peninsula street parking moves to ParkMobile over the coming weeks, with meters removed over several months, starting on the east side. Pay by app, online or by phone; meters keep working until removed. Details in our story on the switch.

City garages charge $1 per 20 minutes, up to $24 a day:

Garage Address
Aquarium 24 Calhoun St.
Camden/Exchange 35 John St.
Charleston Place 85 Hasell St.
Charleston Tech Center 4 Conroy St.
Concord/Cumberland 1 Cumberland St.
East Bay/Prioleau 25 Prioleau St.
Gaillard Auditorium 32 Alexander St.
Majestic 211 King St.
Marion Square 399 King St.
Midtown 558 King St.
93 Queen Street 93 Queen St.
34 Saint Philip 34 St. Philip St.
99 West Edge 99 West Edge St.

Evening flat rates apply at 93 Queen Street, East Bay/Prioleau and Majestic. A lost ticket costs $50. The city has no vacancies for monthly garage accounts and is not keeping a waiting list.

King Street on weekend nights: street parking on King Street between Spring and John streets is banned from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Use the Midtown or Marion Square garages.

Disability placards: state law allows free parking in city, county and state meters, garages and lots with a state-issued placard or plate; show it when leaving a garage.

Bikes

Holy Spokes, the city’s bike share, has 27 hubs on the peninsula, with a system area reaching to just north of Heriot Street. Sign up through the app, unlock with your account number and PIN, and return the bike to a hub; the city charges a fee for ending a ride outside a hub or outside the system area. See the city’s bike share questions. The Ashley River Crossing bridge is under construction along U.S. 17; see our road construction guide for overnight lane closures.

What this means for you

  • Feed the meter until 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday; Sundays are free.
  • Ride DASH downtown for free instead of moving the car.
  • Do not leave a car on King Street after 6 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.

Related guides: road construction and closures, hurricane prep and moving to Charleston.

Frequently asked questions

When do you have to pay for parking meters in Charleston?

City parking meters must be paid Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Sundays and city holidays, at $3 an hour with a one-hour minimum.

Is there a free bus in downtown Charleston?

Yes. CARTA’s Downtown Area Shuttle, or DASH, is free. Its routes are 210 CofC/Aquarium, 211 Meeting/King and 213 Lockwood/Calhoun.

What bus goes to the Charleston airport?

CARTA Route 11, Dorchester Road/Airport, serves Charleston International Airport, 5500 International Blvd. in North Charleston. Plan the trip on CARTA’s trip planner.

Can you park on King Street at night?

No on weekends: street parking on King Street between Spring and John streets is banned from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The Midtown and Marion Square garages are nearby.

Is there a bike share in Charleston?

Yes. Holy Spokes, the city’s bike share, has 27 hubs on the peninsula, covering the area to just north of Heriot Street. Riders sign up through its app.