We are driving from Charleston, SC on June 16 AM and flying out of Charlotte around 11 a.m. on the 17th. Is there any suggestions on some things we should see or do? We will need overnight accomodations along the way too.

We have not been to SC or NC before, FYI.

Without knowing your interests, it is hard to make a suggestion. Any children on the trip? I would suggest spending as much time as possible in Charleston, there is more to do there than in Charlotte. I believe the drive between the C and C is about 3 hrs. I would suggest staying overnight in Charlotte close to the airport. You would probably need to be at the airport at about 9 am and our rush hour traffic can be really bad and unpredictible. Since I live in Charlotte, I don't have first hand experience with airport hotels, but most of the major hotel chains have hotels close by. tripadvisor.com has a good list of hotels, look for airport or colisuem location, not uptown.

I agree that you will want ot stay in Charleston & probably drive up to Charlotte later in the evening. I would guess your drive time would be closer to 4 hours (it's about 200 miles) but it just depends. If you are just looking for a place to sleep, you might try the Airport area but I would not really suggest it. Uptown is fairly close to the Airport, if you want to do anything after you arrive in Charlotte, Uptown would be the place to stay. You shouldn't have any trouble getting to the Airport from Uptown as you would be going 'against' traffic, + the 17th is a Saturday so no problem.

There must be something to see in Columbia, SC, right?

Driven through those areas many times, but never actually "visited" Columbia. As the capital of a Southern state, it should have some interesting civil war and civil rights stuff.

Gosh, I can't believe that no one has suggested swinging over to "South of the Border!" "You never sausage a place!" We still don't have a trip report from there ...

I must agree with lovestogo, spend as much time in Charleston as possible, great food, wonderful walks, some small museums, so charming. Charlotte has ENDLESS sprawl.

The drive to Charlotte from Charleston is about 3 hours--very fast on the interstates--and very boring. Do you have to turn the rental car in at the Charlotte airpor.
If you want to spend the night near the airport there are actually at least 2 very nice hotels--the Renaissance and The Embassy Suites. I imagine both of them have shuttle service.
You need an hour and a half inside the airport in Charlotte, I think. There is curbside check in.

I'm not sure I'd like to ride w/the folks getting to Charleston in 3 hours & I drive plenty fast. From downtown to downtown is 209 miles (my original guess was pretty close) so y'all are averaging 70 mph, no stops, no traffic, no lights, nothing. Just getting through Columbia is time comsuming, I don't see it. Anyway, I fly out of Charlotte quite a bit, if you check-in online you should be able to cruise right through. Worst case, if you can't do that, use the check-in kiosks & avoid the lines (you can also check bags at the kiosks). I'm guessing if you are turning in a rental, allow time for that but typically there are seldom long waits. For the quickest security go to the 'D' gate which is at the end. Puddle jumpers also go out of the 'E' gate which shares the same hallway as 'D' for a ways. I had forgotten about the Embassy Suites (I am guessing the one near the Farmers Market ?) but still, there is nothing else there. So if you just need a place to sleep, it would be fine...Otherwise, Uptown.

I agree - I never get to the airport more than 1 hour before my flights, but I'm also not waiting in line to check bags (though this may not add significant time). One hint: if one security line looks long (rare), just go to any other one down the terminal(there are 3-4 open at any time). All gates can be accessed from any security line.

And if you have any interest in a nice urban environment, downtown Charlotte is quite nice, with good restaurants, bars and clubs within walking distance of hotels. You might try Priceline for a 4* downtown hotel. You can be at the airport in less than 20 minutes from downtown. No need to stay out at airport.

I have done it in that time. I think we also need to know what their time needs are. I hope they check back.

There are 4 of us, two middle aged adults and two daughters aged 18 and 20.

We are staying in Charleston for 3 nights prior to leaving for Charlotte to fly back to Kansas City. So the 4th night is probably going to be in Charlotte arriving the evening of the 16th.

After contemplating your suggestions I thought since Middleton Place Plantation (one of my ideas of things to do) is "sort of" on the way towards Charlotte from Charleston we could do that activity on the 16th? Spend 4-5 hours there and then take a leisurely drive to Charlotte arriving around late dinner time (7 p.m. or later) -- does that sound reasonable?

Thanks for all the Fodorites input

I doubt that you would even need that much time at the Plantation & it is on the way. Shouldn't be a poroblem.