outside of Charleston airport

Car Rental Charleston International Airport (CHS)


Download Your CHS Car Rental Guide Here

How Do I Get to Baggage Claim?

When arriving at the airport check to make sure you have your reservation, identification card and all carry-on items. If you are traveling with luggage, follow signs for baggage claim. There are only three baggage carousels, labeled numerically, located directly next one another. There are clearly marked display screens above indicating which carousel has the baggage from your arriving flight. After that, keeping going to get to car rental Charleston International Airport area.

Where are the Charleston Airport Car Rental Locations?

After gathering your bags continue to follow signs for “Rental Cars”. The airport’s Rental Car Pavilion is located just past the baggage claim area. Here, you will find several different car rental counters. Get in line and make sure to have all your documents and payment method ready. After picking up your keys you can head right outside; there is no shuttle necessary if you’re renting from Alamo, National, Avis, Budget, Enterprise or Hertz! The rental cars are all within a short walking distance and ready to go. Both Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Car Rental are accessible by a direct shuttle pick up service from the airport, see more instructions below!

Which Car Rental Companies are at the Charleston SC Airport?


  • Avis Car Rental Charleston Airport Hours of Operation:
    • Monday through Sunday 6:00AM to 12:00AM
    • AFTER-HOURS RETURNS: Available. Park & lock the vehicle. Place the completed contract & the keys in the Drop Box located on counter. Please remember to take your personal belongings with you.
    • Avis Car Rental and Budget Rent a Car at the Charleston International Airport Rental Car Pavilion are closed every day from midnight to 6:00 AM.
    • Address: 5500 International Blvd, Charleston, SC, 29418, U S A
    • Map: Here
    • Reviews: Yelp

    Budget Rent a Car Charleston Airport Hours of Operation:

    • Monday through Sunday 6:00AM to 12:00AM
    • AFTER-HOURS RETURNS: Available. Park & lock the vehicle. Place the completed contract & the keys in the Drop Box located on counter. Please remember to take your personal belongings with you.
    • Address: 5500 International Blvd, Charleston, SC, 29418, United States
    • Map: Here
    • Reviews: Yelp

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car Charleston Airport Hours of Operation:

    • Monday through Sunday 7:00AM to 11:59PM
    • AFTER-HOURS RETURNS: When getting a car from Enterprise, after hour returns are allowed. Place keys in the drop box located at the Enterprise counter inside the terminal. Car rental Charleston SC airport Enterprise has some of the best reviews for this airport location.
    • Address: 5500 International Blvd #114 Charleston, SC, 29418, US
    • Map: Here
    • Reviews: Yelp

    The Hertz Corporation Charleston Airport Hours of Operation:

    • Monday through Sunday 5:30AM to 12:30AM
    • AFTER-HOURS RETURNS: After hours drop off available and after hours pickup available. When returning after hours you will have to place your keys in the drop box at the end of counter where you initially picked up the car or other rental vehicle
    • Address Listed: 5500 International Blvd. Charleston (North Charleston), South Carolina 29418 United States
    • Map: Here
    • Review: Yelp

Which Companies Can I Take a Shuttle to from the Airport?

When renting from either of these companies it is important to remember the counter locations are NOT at the airport. Both Dollar Car Rental and Thrifty Car Rental are accessible by a direct free shuttle from the airport. After gathering your items from baggage claim follow signs for the free shuttle. It is right outside baggage claim, across the street and clearly labeled. There is one shuttle for both Dollar Car Rental and Thrifty Car Rental as both share the same office building and lot. Check our matrix to ensure this is the more affordable option. 

Dollar Car Rental & Thrifty Car Rental Charleston Airport Hours of Operation:

  • Monday through Sunday 4:00AM to 12:00AM
  • AFTER-HOURS RETURNS: Please call individual providers for details
  • Address: 3826 W Montangue Avenue, Charleston, SC 29418
  • Map: Here & Here
  • Reviews: See Yelp or other review sites for information on the separate rental companies

How many terminals does Charleston airport have?

Charleston International Airport consists of a single passenger Terminal.

Where is Each Car Rental Company Located in Airport?


All the car rental company counters are inside the Charleston International Airport at the Rental Car Pavilion directly next to the baggage claim area in the main terminal. To get to your car you only need to walk outside and follow the designated signs. No shuttle is required at this airport to pick up your rental.

What are the Airport Car Rental Company Phone Numbers?

Alamo Rent a Car

Counter Phone Number: 843–556–1255

Customer Service: 800–522–9292

Avis Car Rental

Counter Phone Number: 843–767–7030

Customer Service: 800–331–1212

Budget Rent A Car

Counter Phone Number: 843–552–1771 & Customer Service: 800–527–0700

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Counter Phone Number: 843–767–1109 & Customer Service: 800–261–7331

The Hertz Corporation

Counter Phone Number: 843–767–4550 & Customer Service: 800–654–3131

National Car Rental

Counter Phone Number: 843–767–3078 & Customer Service: 800–227–7368

What Are Some Things to Do in Charleston?

Whether you’re in Charleston, South Carolina for business or pleasure there’s plenty to do in The Palmetto State. 

The downtown area in Charleston is home to exquisite restaurants, charming backroads, years of history, beautiful parks and live music. A Charleston favorite for a Saturday night on King Street is Uptown Social and Prohibition.

Prohibition always has something going on whether it’s a flapper night, a live band or just a romantic ambiance for you and your significant other. While here be sure to try their famous deviled eggs, they’re also known for their wide selection of bourbon and whiskey. A true Charleston gem.

Be sure to stop by the downtown Historic Charleston City Market area on Meeting Street where you can find local crafts, vintage clothes, scented candles and more! Byrd’s Famous Cookies is also a must visit for some free samples, they’re so good you’ll want to buy some and take them home to share.

While staying on Folly Beach be sure to checkout the funky summer vibes at Chico Feo, regulars can’t get enough of their yummy tacos. The streets on Folly are lined with restaurants, bars and cute shops for tourists. With your rental car or rental truck, be sure to drive out to the Washout, this is a great spot for surfing and exploding nature. Take a left at the last stoplight on Folly Beach Road and keep driving down East Ashley Avenue until it ends. If you’re feeling really adventurous try a surf lesson with Sol Surfers.

More Things to Do Near CHS Airport

If you’re looking to drive out to a quitter, cozier beach be sure to check out Sullivan’s Island. It is one of the nicest locations in Charleston. You can spend the afternoon wandering the beach while searching for shells, taking in the ocean breeze and end the day with an ice cream cone from Beard Cat’s. If you’re interested in history make sure to visit Fort Moultrie and Poe’s Tavern, Edgar Allen Poe was stationed here for the majority of 1828 and the restaurant is covered with his work, excerpts and photographs.



Download Your CHS Car Rental Guide Here

Still Have Questions About Renting a Car from the Charleston International Airport?

The Charleston International Airport customer Information desk is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and weekends for your convenience. The number to the desk is (843)-767–7009 and more information can be found at: https://www.iflychs.com/Travel-Information/Information-Desk.

If you don’t have questions and feel you’re ready to book a rental car at the Charleston, South Carolina airport visit AutoRentals.com to start a car reservation. We have vehicles in almost every car class and brand you could need.

Looking for other airports near Charleston? We recommend trying the following:


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3 Comments

    1. Thank you for reaching out!

      AutoRentals.com does not charge any fees for canceling a reservation, however, make sure to check with the individual provider. Larger companies like Enterprise, National and Alamo normally do not require a credit card when booking so there is not a cancellation fee charged. Smaller and midsize rental companies like Sixt typically give a 24-hour period in which there are no fees charged for the cancellation.

      This can also vary if you have prepaid for the vehicle.

      Upon checkout you should see the options and fees associated with the car you are renting from one or our partners.

      If you would like to make changed to your reservation visit the Review/Change/Cancel Reservation section of our website and select the Cancel this Reservation link at the top of the page. You will need your Rental Car Itinerary Number and the email address you entered when you reserved your car.

  1. Can you find a reservation for July. Then canceled right away. I never got a confirmation for the reservation or the cancellation. I don’t have any of the details. The reservation was to pick up a car at Charleston WV on the 31st of July until the 3rd of August. I need to cancel. Please reply.

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