Do we need a car in Charleston?
 

My husband and I are going to Charleston at the end of Februrary, arriving on a Wednesday night and leaving on Sunday. We are tentatively staying at the Harborview Inn and are trying to decide if we should rent a car. Is there plenty to do within a walkable area or are there some can't miss things that we need a car to get to? We like museums, historical sights, and just walking around to get the feel of a place. Thanks for any advice you can offer.

There is tons to do in the historic part of the city without a car. However, the times I have been there (stayed down by the battery), I have rented a car to visit sites outside the city (plantations, gardens, etc). So if you want to visit sites away from the historic district, rent a car. Also, note that parking can be a problem.

Everytime we've been there we've been driving so had a car, but I don't think we ever used one once during our stay. The Harborview is in a perfect location for walking.

mhulot has a good point about plantations out of the city, though. In three days there you might want to do just that.

I don't think you need a rental car if you are just staying in Charleston. You could always rent a car for the day if you decide to leave the city for a plantation visit. ((b))

You really don't need a car to explore the historic district in Charleston. The only time you may want a car is if you wanted to drive out to see any of the plantations for the day. In that case, it would be best to just get a one day rental. When I went to Charleston, I took a tour out to the Magnolia Gardens plantation, so that may be an option as well, if you are interested in that kind of thing. the only problem with that is that I would have liked to have spent more time there than was allowed on the tour, so a car would have been better.

Definately worth hiring a car if you want to see the plantations. You can probably visit 2 in a day. You could also drive down the coast to Beaufort or up the coast to Pawleys Island and Broadgreen Gardens.

Historic Charleston is absolutely wonderful & the only way to see the sights in town is to walk. Charleston has done a terrific job in preserving its historic venues. You do not need a vehicle to visit the historic areas of downtown, in fact, a vehicle would be inconvenient. However there are wonderful sights outside of the city that would be a shame to miss on a visit & for those you need a car. Rent a car for a day & pick out a couple of plantations to visit that day. There are several that are just minutes from downtown & they are loaded with history. You won't be sorry. A couple of years ago my wife & I visited Charleston & Savannah. Spend 3 days in each. It wasn't enough time for those places. Couldn't wait to return. We did this year. I bet you do the same.

Well, I agree with others. With that length of stay I would think you would want to get outside a bit to visit plantations and/or beach areas, so I would plan on renting a car for a couple of days.

Changed my mind. I misread your length of stay. Maybe rent for a day. You will have enough to do in Charleston the rest of the time.

I usually like to stay closer to Market Street (Planters Inn, Doubletree, Charleston Place) but the Harborview looks lovely and the location is fine. I have not stayed at the Harborview so I can't give you any first hand experience.

Don't rent a car. You can walk to all the great restaurants, attractions, and shopping that are downtown. If you decide to leave downtown, you can rent a car for the day. Otherwise you'll just pay parking and rental on a car you aren't using.

Adamhornets, I think you mean Brookgreen Gardens, not Broadgreen Gardens. Brookgreen Gardens is definitely worth the trip.

Just got back today and agree no car. Skip the plantations. And do stay closer to Meeting. Ideal: Doubletree Guest Suites, many B&Bs, Days Inn or charleston Place.

MYCMOM, I'm curious why you suggest skipping the plantations. Did you visit some? If so which ones and why were you disappointed? Or why do you sugges skipping them?

One word of warning, the parking enforcement officers of Charleston are ferocious.

I don't think you need a car in Charleston. We stayed at the Days Inn (surprisingly nice) and were able to walk everywhere in the Historic District. We booked a tour (we got information about it at the Visitor's Center) to one of the plantations and that worked out really well. I do recommend visiting a plantation. We went to Middleton Place and it was interesting and beautiful.

Patrick, not to slam MYCMom or anyone else but some people just don't 'get' the plantations and their historical significance. Middleton Place has world class gardens but if you aren't into horticulture you probably will not care.

further plantation commentary:

Also, I think the plantations are not so impressive if it's not Azalea and Dogwood time.

I prefer Drayton Hall, it seems a little less "touristy" (not that there's anything wrong w/ being a tourist) and is the only remaining grand plantation house on the Ashley. The others are reproductions. (GoTravel, correct me if I'm wrong on that)

Litespeed, I'm not sure if it is original but it very well could be. I'll take your word!

Few original plantation houses remain as most burned to the ground. The few plantations that weren't subdivided are golf courses.

Litchfield Plantation in Pawley's Island is a textbook example of a plantation ahd also has the original house.

Just a comment. Drayton Hall on Ashley River Rd is an unfurnished original structure. No modern elements have been introduced to the stucture - it is as it was except for the lack of furnishings. Boone Hall is not an original structure however very interesting original stave cabins still stand which is not to say that the restructured plantation is not in itself interesting because a person gets a real insight of what it was like at that time. The structure on Magnolia Plantation is a pre-Revolutionary structure placed on the foundation of the original & contains early American furniture valued in excess of $500,000. Only a small restored part of the original mansion still stands at the Middleton Place Plantation. Most was burned during the Civil War but the foundation can still be seen which can lead one to envision what an impressive place it must have been in those days. The grounds, the structures original or not, and the history of these places make them interesting any time of the year but Litespeed Chick is correct that March/April when the blossoms are erupting is the best time to visit. However if you are in Charleston try to visit at least one no matter the time of year. It may just induce you to see another. The foregoing plantations are all within, probably, 20 miles of Charleston.