Charleston car rentals

The average gas price in Charleston is 14.46 ﷼ per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between 173 ﷼ and 231 ﷼, depending on the car size.

Intermediate (Toyota RAV4 or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Charleston.

Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

An Intermediate car rental in Charleston costs 249 ﷼ per day, on average.

A Mini car rental in Charleston costs 439 ﷼ per day, on average.

A Standard car rental in Charleston costs 247 ﷼ per day, on average.

Different car rentals in Charleston suit different drivers with different driving needs. A compact vehicle, for instance, is suitable for cruising on the wide highways in Charleston. Drivers driving on the city center’s narrow street can go for a smaller vehicle to make it easier for them to navigate through the narrow streets. You can opt for a bigger car if you are traveling in the city as a group or with your family to ensure everyone is comfortable throughout the road trip.

Even if you are visiting for pleasure or work, picking up a cheap rental car in Charleston will make things easier for you. You can also view things on your own time and at your own convenience. Visit different attractions and go sightseeing affordably. You can also go for a road trip and see what the area around Charleston has to offer.

The speed limit in Charleston depends on where you are driving. Motorists driving on the congested roads in downtown, such as King Street, Bedons Alley, and Rainbow RowCharleston and other public areas, such as near schools and hospitals should maintain a speed limit of around 25 mph. You should maintain a speed limit of between 55 mph and 70 mph while driving on freeways within the city. Drivers driving on highways outside the city can drive at 70 mph.

Take a drive of about 55 minutes to Folly Beach County Park, which lies about 12 miles away from Charleston. The city provides beautiful beaches surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Folly River. Visitors enjoy surfing, fishing, swimming, and viewing the marine life. The road trip from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens will take about 26 minutes to drive about 13 miles away. Here you will get to see the historic house with gardens. On the other hand, a one hour's drive from Charleston to Moris Island is about 15 miles. The city boasts a calm, relaxing beach complete with a lighthouse.  

You should plan to pay for parking in most parts of the city because there are few parking lots, especially in the city center. Luckily there are affordable parking lots in the city, such as Cumberland Street Garage, Marion Square Garage, and Queen Street Parking Garage, which typically cost around $5. You can also park your car in private parking lots like Palmetto Parking Inc. and Palmetto Parking lot, although you will have to pay around $8 to around $10 for parking in most private car parks. Alternatively, you can use public transportation to get to your destination if you predict you won’t get parking space at your destination. Walking can also save you money on parking fees because you won’t need to pay for parking if you walk to a nearby destination from your hotel.