Fly in · drive in · get through the gate
Getting to the islands
Private flights land on Johns Island itself, at Charleston Executive, 15 driving miles from Kiawah. Airlines land at Charleston International, about 30 miles from the Kiawah and Seabrook gates. Here is how each works, what the gates charge your ride, and who can drive you in.
Last verified
Photo: Cantbeatpie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)
Live · AviationWeather.gov and the FAA
Right now at the two airports
Reading the airports’ weather reports…
JZI or CHS
Two airports, run by the same authority, for two different trips.
| What | Charleston Executive · JZI | Charleston International · CHS |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Johns Island, 2742 Fort Trenholm Road | North Charleston, 5500 International Boulevard |
| Flights | Private and charter only — no airlines, no control tower | 11 airlines, nonstop to more than 55 airports |
| Runways | 5,350 ft (9/27, with an instrument landing system) and 4,313 ft (4/22) | 9,001 ft and 7,000 ft, shared with Joint Base Charleston |
| Customs | None — international arrivals clear at CHS | Yes — Signature lists on-site customs and immigration |
| Private terminal | Atlantic Aviation: office 6 am–10 pm, runways open around the clock | Atlantic Aviation and Signature, both open 24 hours |
| Hangar space | Up to a Challenger 604 (Atlantic) | Up to a Gulfstream G550 (Atlantic) |
| To Kiawah | 15 driving miles (the resort's figure) | 29 miles to the Kiawah gate (the airport's taxi brochure) |
| To Seabrook | The Town of Seabrook lists JZI as a nearby airport | 30 miles to the Seabrook gate (the airport's taxi brochure) |
Sources: airnav.com (1) · iflychs.com (1) · atlanticaviation.com (1) · airnav.com (2) · iflychs.com (2) · atlanticaviation.com (2) · signatureaviation.com · kiawahresort.com · iflychs.com (3)
Johns Island · private aviation
Charleston Executive (JZI)
- The fieldPublic use, no control tower. Common traffic frequency 122.8; automated weather 123.775, or by phone at (843) 559-3123. Attended 6 am to 10 pm.
- The terminalAtlantic Aviation, the only one on the field: (843) 559-2401, after hours (843) 746-7600. Ground handling, crew cars, a pilot lounge, showers and a conference room; Go Rentals cars on site.
- Fuel and serviceSelf-serve 100LL at Atlantic. Interstate Turbine on the field for maintenance, avionics and oxygen: (843) 559-3855. Ask Atlantic about jet fuel before you file.
- For pilots, a local touchThe FAA’s published departure procedure out of JZI is named KIAWAH TWO.
Sources: airnav.com · iflychs.com · atlanticaviation.com
From Army airfield to executive airport
The sources don’t agree on every date, so both versions are here.
- 1942Letters in Sen. Burnet Maybank's papers discuss the Army's development and expansion of the “Johns Island Airport.” findingaids.library.cofc.edu
- 1943The FAA dates the field to April 1943; Air Force history calls it Johns Island Army Airfield, an emergency field. The Aviation Authority's account says it was built in 95 days near the end of the war. en.wikipedia.org
- 1945 or 1948It passes to local hands: in August 1945 by the Air Force's history, in 1948 to Charleston County by the Aviation Authority's. postandcourier.com
- 1972–1975The new Aviation Authority leases the field from the county in 1972 and takes it over in 1975, as a reliever for CHS. postandcourier.com
- 1982Fort Trenholm, the 1864 Confederate earthwork on the airport grounds, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It sits on airport property; we found no public access. schpr.sc.gov
- 2008Atlantic Aviation opens its 6,000-square-foot private terminal. ainonline.com
- 2021The Authority pays $4 million for about 137 acres on the north side, toward a possible third runway of 6,700 to 7,000 feet. The FAA's October 2026 data still shows two runways. postandcourier.com
- 2025South Carolina renames the Charleston County Aviation Authority the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority (Act 76, signed May 8). scstatehouse.gov
North Charleston · the airlines
Charleston International (CHS)
Eleven airlines fly nonstop to more than 55 airports (our count of the airport’s destinations page, October 2026). The newest: Breeze to Buffalo, twice a week from July 2, 2027.
- Air Canada
- Alaska
- Allegiant
- American
- Avelo
- Breeze
- Delta
- jetBlue
- Southwest
- Sun Country
- United
Under construction: four more gates on the west side, due in early 2027, and a new 5,164-space garage with a consolidated rental-car center, due in fall 2027. The Club, the shared lounge, sells day passes at the desk or online.
Sources: iflychs.com (1) · iflychs.com (2) · iflychs.com (3) · iflychs.com (4)
From CHS to the islands
Taxi
From the median outside baggage claim; a starter quotes the fare. $17 minimum. The airport's March 2024 brochure estimates $87 to the Kiawah gate and $90 to the Seabrook gate by the meter.
Sources: iflychs.com
Uber, Lyft and KreweCar
Request in the app, then walk to pickup Zones 1, 2 or 3, across both roadways. Read the gate rules below before you ride to Kiawah.
Sources: iflychs.com
Rental car
Counters past baggage claim; returns on Level 1 of the parking deck. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty. A new garage with a consolidated rental-car center is due in fall 2027.
Sources: iflychs.com
Bus
CARTA buses leave from a shelter outside baggage claim for downtown and Tanger Outlets. No CARTA route is named for Johns Island, Kiawah, Seabrook or Wadmalaw — plan on a car.
Sources: ridecarta.com
Parking
Garages, an economy lot with a shuttle every 5 minutes, valet and a free cell-phone lot. Rates change — see the airport's parking page.
Sources: iflychs.com
Read this before you book the ride
The gates, explained
Kiawah and Seabrook are private behind their gates, and each has its own rules for cars that aren’t yours.
Kiawah
- Every car service pays Kiawah's commercial gate fee, Uber and Lyft included, even carrying an owner home. A one-day commercial pass starts at $23 (KICA, May 2025).
- Uber has paid ahead and drives straight through. Lyft drivers stop to pay — and a driver who hasn't paid may expect you to cover it.
- No taxi, car service or rideshare can come in on a member's guest pass.
- Prepaid at the gate, by KICA's list: Charleston Black Cab, Coastal Limo of Charleston, Marquee Limo, SC Express and Uber.
Sources: kica.us (1) · kica.us (2)
Seabrook
- Owners with ID arriving by taxi or rideshare get a free owner's pass.
- UPS and other couriers, Amazon, newspapers, utilities and SIPOA's own vendors are exempt. Store deliveries that charge a Seabrook premium come in free, 7 am–7 pm.
- Every other business buys a pass — there are no free commercial passes.
- SIPOA doesn't publish how a guest arriving by rideshare gets in. Call the Gate House at (843) 768-6641 before you book the ride.
Sources: sipoa.org (1) · sipoa.org (2)
Johns Island and Wadmalaw
- No gates. Rides out can be scarce: the Charleston Tea Garden warns visitors not to count on a rideshare back.
Sources: charlestonteagarden.com
Getting around
Golf carts, low-speed vehicles (LSVs) and e-bikes, island by island.
| Island | Golf carts | Low-speed vehicles | E-bikes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiawah | Not allowed on the roads or trails | Not allowed (since January 6, 2020) | Banned on the beach (Town code §16-305) |
| Seabrook | Not allowed on the roads | Allowed on streets with a SIPOA pass issued to that vehicle, registered, insured and plated | Class 1 pedal-assist allowed |
| Johns Island and Wadmalaw | State law: permitted and insured, daylight only, roads posted 35 mph or less, within 4 miles of home | State registration and plates | — |
Sources: kica.us · library.municode.com · sipoa.org (1) · sipoa.org (2) · scdps.sc.gov
Bikes, brought to the door
Island Bike & Surf Shop
Rentals on Kiawah and Seabrook, delivered.
(843) 768-1158
Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Anyone can rent by phone; free delivery on two days or more. Not licensed for Seabrook or Johns Island.
(843) 768-6001
Seaside Cycles
Serving Kiawah and Seabrook.
(843) 768-5080
SurfScooter
Delivers to vacation addresses on Kiawah and Seabrook, then picks up.
(843) 768-9585
Shuttles, and who can ride them
The resort's island shuttle
Door to door to any resort restaurant or amenity on Kiawah — for guests who booked directly with the resort.
Andell Inn
A daily shuttle from Freshfields to Beachwalker Park.
The Dunlin
Guests can borrow the hotel's Mercedes-Benz cars for up to four hours at a time.
The beach rules for bikes, dogs and the rest are on the beach rulebook.
Bohicket Marina, between the Kiawah and Seabrook gates
Photo: chucka_nc, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)
Coming by boat
No ferry or water taxi serves the islands. These marinas take visiting boats or can tell you who does.
Bohicket Marina
Between the Kiawah and Seabrook gates. Transient slips from $3.50 a foot a night (published, undated), booked through Dockwa; gas, diesel and a ship's store.
(843) 768-1280
St. Johns Yacht Harbor
On the Stono at the Maybank Highway bridge. Gas, diesel, a ship's store and a courtesy car. Call ahead about transient space.
(843) 557-1027
Behind the Kiawah and Seabrook gates we found no marina with slips for visiting boats. On the Stono, the oyster bar planned at the Maybank Highway bridge promises free boat slips — see what’s coming. Tides: Island Today.
Private terminals · car services · on the water
Arrive in style
The private terminals
Atlantic Aviation · JZI
Johns Island. The only private terminal at Charleston Executive; Go Rentals cars on site.
(843) 559-2401
Atlantic Aviation · CHS
North Charleston, open 24 hours. Hangar space up to a Gulfstream G550.
(843) 746-7600
Signature · CHS
North Charleston, open 24/7, with on-site customs and immigration.
(843) 414-9200
Flying in from abroad? Clear customs at CHS — JZI has none. Charter brands publish JZI pages too, such as XO’s.
Car services prepaid at the Kiawah gate
KICA’s list, each confirmed on the company’s own site. Alphabetical, not ranked.
Charleston Black Cab Company
Service pages for Charleston Executive Airport and for Kiawah and Seabrook.
(843) 216-2627
Coastal Limousine of Charleston
Sedans to buses, by the trip or the hour; names Kiawah and Seabrook.
(843) 501-2777
Marquee Limo Company
Has a Kiawah Island transportation page.
(843) 530-3257
SC Express
Sedan and SUV chauffeurs and airport transfers; names Kiawah.
(843) 860-0009
Private boats
The resort's boat charters
Dolphin, sunset, shelling and birding trips from $450 for up to six; a four-hour Holy City Harbour Cruise into Charleston Harbor, $950; custom charters plus a 22% service charge.
Captain Jack's Kiawah Sailing
A 33-foot sailboat out of Bohicket Marina, up to six guests: day and sunset sails, dolphin trips and beach picnics. $530 a sail — its pages list both 2.5 and 3 hours, so ask.
Prices are as each business published them on October 13, 2026; check with them before you book.
Quick answers
How far is Kiawah Island from the airport?
Charleston International (CHS) is 29 miles from the Kiawah gate, by the airport's taxi brochure. Charleston Executive (JZI), the private-aviation airport on Johns Island, is 15 driving miles from Kiawah, by the resort's figure.
Can Uber and Lyft get through the Kiawah gate?
Yes, but every car service pays Kiawah's commercial gate fee, from $23 a day. Uber has paid ahead and drives straight through; Lyft drivers stop to pay, and a driver who hasn't paid may expect you to cover it.
Does Charleston Executive Airport have customs?
No. Flights from abroad clear customs at Charleston International, where Signature lists on-site customs and immigration.
Can I drive a golf cart on Kiawah or Seabrook?
Not on Kiawah: golf carts and low-speed vehicles are banned on its roads and trails. On Seabrook golf carts are banned, but registered low-speed vehicles with a SIPOA pass issued to that vehicle are allowed on the streets.
How do guests get onto Seabrook Island by rideshare?
Owners with ID arriving by taxi or rideshare get a free owner's pass. SIPOA doesn't publish the rule for guests, so call the Gate House at (843) 768-6641 before you book.
Flying in to look at homes?Book an Island Buyer CallAsk ValGet the island report
The marsh from Kiawah
Photo: olekinderhook, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)
Two ways in
Talk it through with Mike, or ask Val — the guide’s AI assistant, answering from this site’s sourced facts.