Airports / South Carolina / CHS
Charleston International Airport
KCHS / CHSCharleston, South CarolinaELEV 46 FT
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
43 nm
To the nearest alternate
Beaufort MCAS - Merritt Field (KNBC).
Overview
Charleston International Airport (KCHS / CHS) sits in Charleston, South Carolina, where it functions as a large commercial airport. The airport sits 46 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into CHS for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Beaufort MCAS - Merritt Field (KNBC, 43 nm), Hilton Head Airport (HHH, 52 nm), and Orangeburg Municipal Airport (OGB, 53 nm).
Planning a trip? The Charleston, SC destination guide covers routes, aircraft options, and what to expect on the ground. In directories and search listings it also appears under Charleston Air Force Base. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Charleston.
What fliers highlight
Easy in & out
5/5 reviews“TSA tends to be quick especially in the off-peak.”
Max Rosenthal5★ on Google
Terminal & facilities
5/5 reviews“Clean with a large, open atmosphere and good restaurants.”
Max Rosenthal5★ on Google
Staff & service
2/5 reviews“Another thing we enjoy is that the airport reflects the welcoming charm of Charleston itself.”
Brian Murphy4★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Charleston International Airport — every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KCHS
IATA
CHS
FAA / Local
CHS
Elevation
46 ft
Coordinates
32.8962° N · 80.0382° W
Airspace
C · CharlieClass C — CharlieRadar-controlled airspace around mid-size hubs. Aircraft must be in two-way radio contact and squawking a transponder while approach control sequences arrivals.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs SC fields
state range 10–1,048 ft
At 46 ft, CHS sits lower than 76% of the 33 South Carolina fields on the register.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance — every listing links to its own field brief.
- 43nmKNBCBeaufort MCAS - Merritt FieldBeaufort
- 52nmHHHHilton Head AirportHilton Head Island
- 53nmOGBOrangeburg Municipal AirportOrangeburg
- 68nmSSCShaw Air Force BaseSumter
- 72nmMMTMc Entire Joint National Guard BaseEastover
- 73nmMYRMyrtle Beach International AirportMyrtle Beach
Destinations served
Location
Open the full mapKCHS · Charleston International Airport · Charleston, SC
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Charleston International Airport — tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.