Kiawah Island, South Carolina, has been a popular beach and golf destination since development began on the island in the 1970s. Before then, the island was privately owned, and much of the land around it remains mostly undeveloped, which gives the island a serene beauty but can make transportation tricky. There are several airports near Kiawah Island, but most are 30 miles away or more, so you'll need to have transportation waiting at the airport to finish your journey.
Located just 30 minutes from Kiawah Island, Charleston International Airport is the nearest major airport for travelers en route to Kiawah Island. Several different car rental companies, including Avis, Budget and Enterprise, rent cars from the Charleston Airport so you can make the 33-mile drive to Kiawah Island.
Charleston International Airport
5500 Internal Boulevard #101
Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 767-1100
chs-airport.com
Charleston Executive Airport on Johns Island is the closest airport to Kiawah Island--it's just 15 minutes away--but since it caters to private fliers and has no scheduled commercial flight arrivals, it's a practical option only if you're chartering a plane or flying yourself.
Charleston Executive Airport
2700 Fort Trenholm Road
Johns Island, SC 29455
(843) 767-7010
You can secure a rental car from one of five on-site rental car companies if you're willing to make the 110-mile drive from Hilton Head Island Airport to Kiawah Island. Just two airlines fly into Hilton Head's small, easy-to-navigate airport, so crowds and long lines are rare here, according to the airport's website.
Hilton Head Island Airport
120 Beach City Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-5400
bcgov.net/Airport_HHI
There are seven rental car companies at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Savannah to choose from for the 115-mile drive from Savannah to Kiawah Island. Five different air carriers offer nonstop flights from locations like Atlanta and Washington, D.C., to the Savannah/Hilton Head Airport.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
400 Airways Avenue
Savannah, GA 31408
(912) 964-0514
savannahairport.com
If you don't mind a bit of a road trip to reach Kiawah Island, there are other airports within a few hours' drive. Myrtle Beach International Airport, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is 118 miles from Kiawah Island, and Columbia Metropolitan Airport, in Columbia, South Carolina, is a 132-mile drive.
Myrtle Beach International Airport
1100 Jetport Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-1589
myrtlebeachairport.com
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
3000 Aviation Way
West Columbia, SC 29170
(803) 822-5000
columbiaairport.com
