Top 5 Biggest Airports in South Carolina in 2024 

South Carolina, is mostly known for its humid summers, mild winters, beautiful white sand beaches, festivals, and the list might go on and on! Making it a desired location for vacation. 

Amidst this allure, the state’s airports stand as crucial gateways, not just facilitating travel but also serving as the first impression for many visitors embarking on their South Carolina adventures. 

The biggest airports in South Carolina are a vital way between you and your floating holiday, and staying up to date with them is very important. But is it all you need to know about? let’s explore what makes these airports not just transit points, but integral parts of the South Carolina travel experience.

South Carolina has 6 airports that offer regular year-round commercial flights. So let’s take a quick rundown on the top 5 biggest airports in South Carolina in 2024. 

Charleston International Airport (CHS)

The Charleston International Airport is leading the race, when it comes to the largest airport in South Carolina. Not only that but it is also known as the busiest airport, over 6 million passengers chose CHS, according to a survey conducted in 2023. Why everyone is going gaga over this airport? What’s so special about it? Well, let’s find out! 

Non-stop air services – 180 destinations around the globe benefit from the services that Charleston International Airport provides.

Getting to and from – from the time you reach the airport to the time you leave, this airport has got you covered with services like parking, ground transportation, ride-sharing, rental cars, taxi and hotel shuttles, and bus services. 

Dining – your dining experience just got better at one of the major airports in South Carolina. Unlike the rest, you will get to see a set of trendy brands together like Caviar & Bananas, Charleston Beer Works, Harvest & Grounds, Burger King, Cinnabon, Dunkin’ Donuts, Chick-fil-A, Verde, Common House Ale Works, etc., and the list goes on. 

Shopping – isn’t this everyone’s favorite pastime at the airport? Passengers can find a wide range of shopping brands at the largest airport in South Carolina. From Veranda News Discover Charleston, tech on the go, Hudson store, sunglass hut, and Flight Ready Market But be careful all these brands can make you miss your flight!

Premium lounge – The biggest airport in South Carolina has the biggest premium lounge, with a seating space of 83 people in a 4,041 square-foot lounge. Sit back in a peaceful and quiet environment until your flight arrives. 

Paws for Takeoff: This is an in-house program for certified therapy dogs. They help create a calm and light environment for special members and the guest service team.

Other amenities and services: animal relief spots, luggage carts, nursing suites, FedEx drop-off boxes, cash-to-card conversion kiosks, etc. 

Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)

Being the most popular tourist destination, Myrtle Beach, this airport serves as one of the busiest in South Carolina. Another name for it is the main airport close to Myrtle Beach. This airport’s low average rates are another factor contributing to its high ranking, along with its 50+ nonstop destinations. This airport can manage enormous volumes of aviation traffic, despite being mostly congested due to the popular tourist attraction. 

3,459,803 passengers passed through its terminals in total, demonstrating the airport’s capacity to manage a sizable amount of air traffic and satisfy the area’s rising demand for air travel. Let’s explore the further facilities this airport has to offer. 

Getting to and from: the first thing anyone would look out for is how easily passengers can reach from one spot to another. The parking accommodations vary from hours to weeks, short term, long term as well as economy lot. There are many things to do near Myrtle beach airport that you should not miss.

Handicap parking: Myrtle Beach International Airport is committed to providing the best and hassle-free experience to all! 

Dining and shopping: no more killing yourself out of hunger or boredom, just because of not very few healthy food options available. This airport has healthy, as well as tasty, options available for all! You can find these options- Chick-fil-A, Aviators, salt and Tide, Pavilion Bar & Grill, Starbucks, Hudson New, subway, Nacho Hippo Cantina Maxima, etc. 

Lactation Suite: this lactation suite provides a close, quiet, and composed space for mothers to nurse their babies. Anyone can easily find it near concourse A and B across from the subway. You can also download the app Mamava for easy access to the suite.

pet-friendly zone: if you are a pet parent, then this point is for you! You don’t have to leave your beloved pet behind anymore. MYR is a pet-friendly airport with all the facilities you and your pet would need. 

Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport

If not first, the Greenville- Spartanburg International Airport is the second-biggest airport in South Carolina. It covers 385 acres at an elevation of 1047 ft. This airport is situated between Greenville and Spartanburg. Air cargo, including automotive parts and other goods, is regularly flown to and from the airport, as well as throughout the United States. A total of 100 non-stop flights are operated by six major airlines daily to 19 destinations and hundreds of cities around the world. 8 major airlines serve 2.31 million passengers per year. 

let’s find out the other amenities that this airport has to offer us.

Online parking reservations: This is one of the best features any airport could offer! The second-largest and busiest airport in South Carolina, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, did a terrific job of letting visitors reserve parking spaces well in advance. Passengers not only save money and time but also have a hassle-free travel experience. 

Conference room: this airport makes sure that you have nothing to miss out on! Spacious conference room with all professional types of equipment, like projector, audio, free Wi-Fi, etc 

Restaurants: one of the biggest attractions for tourists is the restaurants available at the South Carolina airport. With a touch of local flavors and world-class cuisine, it is ready to elevate your airport experience to a high-end. Brands you will find here are -Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’ Donuts, Chick-fil-A, Sweet South Carolina, Thomas Creek Grill, and The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck. 

Shopping: the Greenville- Spartanburg International Airport makes sure that you don’t get bored while waiting for your flights. for your last-minute shopping needs, we have shopping brands such as Upstate Marketplace and Hudson Gift Shop.

Pet-friendly: another reason to love this airport is its pet-friendliness! Only a few things need to be kept in mind, emotional support animals and pets should be in carriers while you are in the terminal building. You can find the pre-security pet relief area in front of Garage B. 

Restrooms and nursing rooms: each level of the terminal has a restroom. you can find the family room near gates A3 and B4 also in the airline ticket lobby. Next to the same, you can find nursing rooms that have facilities like soft lighting, sinks, electrical outlets, and comfortable seating. 

Airlines: Eight airport airlines serve domestic routes to midwestern and east coast cities. 

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)

The airport covers 2,600 acres, making it the third-largest airport in South Carolina. This is one of the few airports to have a yoga studio. Just like any other airport, this one is also full of lots and lots of amenities, making a smoother process of your traveling. 

let’s find out the other amenities that this airport has to offer us.

Pre-book reservations: you can pre-book or pre-save a parking spot for your vehicles when at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

Runways: the Columbia airport has two runaways – 11/29 is 8,601 ft × 150 ft (2,622 m × 46 m) and 5/23 is 8,001 ft × 150 ft (2,439 m × 46 m). Major airlines that serve the Columbia metropolitan airport are – Delta Air Lines, United Airways, and American Airlines. 

Free Wi-Fi: finding it difficult to connect with your loved ones when at the airport? You don’t have to worry about it when at this airport because, from the entrance to the existing one, you can access high-speed internet in seconds without any lengthy process. 

Dine-shop- chill: no matter what we are a bit punctual when it comes to catching flights, early arrivals have done no harm yet, and when you have so many options to spend quality time, why would you mind being early? You can find The Sky Bar & Café Runway Food Court and Red Eye Express Coffee here to dine and chill, on the other hand, we have The Paradise Shops/ PGA Store for shopping.

Art in the Airport: this unique concept at Columbia Metropolitan Airport makes it one of the best. This program was launched recently, in the year of 2020. The concept revolves around displaying the works of art created by artists right here in the Midlands.

Hilton Head Airport

The fourth-largest airport in South Carolina is Hilton Head Airport. This airport is located on an island. The location of this airport is a blessing to the eyes and soul while traveling, giving passengers the right vacation vibes as soon as they reach here. Stressing here on a stress-free experience because most of the people traveling through the Hilton head airport are on vacation.

To keep the chilling spirits alive, this airport promises to deliver a low-stress and high-end experience. With a passenger count of 399,918 till the year 2023, this is the most visited airport in the area. Apart from being well-known as a vacation spot, you will face no issues with the services, they don’t get hung up even with huge numbers of travelers at the same time. 

Let’s take a look at the amenities these airports have to provide us!

Parking: these people know that the first and foremost thing anyone would go through is the parking facilities, that’s why the Hilton Head Airport excels at it. It takes $12 to get a full day parking, and free parking up to 2 hours. You can also use the ParkMobile app for pre-paid options. 

Transportation: Onsite rental car companies are located within 200 feet of the terminal, and taxis are available for both on- and off-island destinations. Some destinations have fixed rates.

Free Wi-Fi: you can enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout the airport. 

Food and others: well, you can’t find big brands over here for some dining and chill, but you can surely enjoy snacks and beverages from the vending machines. 

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s A Wrap! 

There are many different airports in South Carolina that service both domestic and foreign travelers. Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the largest airport in South Carolina when it comes to passenger volume. It’s the state’s biggest and busiest airport.

We hope you now have all the answers to your inquiries. These five airports rank highest among us when it comes to upscale amenities, ease of access, comfort, and interaction. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, business traveler, or vacationer, our list of the top 5 airports in South Carolina will make flying simple and pleasurable.