Travel

Flight

Charleston International Airport

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the closest airport and where you will want to book your flight in and out of. Kiawah Island is about 45 minutes from the airport. Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) services are sometimes available at the airport but are often unreliable with low volume of availability. Ubers are able to get on the island, but Lyft will charge a fee. Uber and Lyft services are not available once on Kiawah Island.

Rental Car

Charleston International Airport

Having a rental car may be beneficial depending on where you stay on the island, especially if you are not staying at a Kiawah Island Golf Resort property. There are plenty of rental options available at the airport including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.

Travel Note

Transportation to Kiawah If Not Renting A Car

If not renting a car, the best way to travel to and from the Charleston airport and Kiawah Island will be to book a car service in advance of your stay. Here are a few of the companies: - The Kiawah Island Resort Villa’s and Private Home Concierge, please call (843) 768-2790 - The Sanctuary Concierge, please call (843) 768-6251 - SC Express: www.scexpresscharleston.com - Island Transportation Services: www.island-transportation.com - Charleston Black Cab Company: www.charlestonblackcabcompany.com

Travel Note

Rideshare Information

Ubers and Lyfts are not available on the Island so we do not recommend relying on this as a transportation option. Car rentals are readily available at the Charleston airport. We highly recommend this option for maximum flexibility or if you are not staying at a Kiawah Island Golf Resort accommodation with access to the on island shuttle. Car services to and from the airport can easily be arranged in advance of your stay. If possible, sharing transportation with friends/family is another great option.

Shuttle

The On Island Shuttle

August 9, 2025 5:00 pm

Once on the island, guests have access to the complimentary Kiawah Island shuttles if staying at a Kiawah Island Golf Resort accommodation (villa and home rentals through KIGR or the Sanctuary), which can take you to any resort restaurant or amenity across the island. Call extension 82900 and the shuttle will pick you up within 30 minutes of your call (noting pick up can take longer during busy weekend times). The shuttle only runs during specified hours.

Hotel

Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn

The Andell Inn is not far from Kiawah Island. Located just outside the gate of Kiawah, in Freshfields Village, it is surrounded by a number of great restaurants and shops. The hotel is a Marriott property and includes a pool and fitness area. Please note that guests staying here will have not have access to the island, its amenities or its beaches other than for wedding events.

Hotel

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

The Sanctuary is an oceanfront luxury 5-star resort centrally located on the island. The hotel is part of the Kiawah Island Resort and provides access to the amenities listed above. Rooms are $600+/night. Staying in the hotel will likely be pricier than renting a villa or home. Currently, it is best to call the hotel directly to book. Please mention the Curtin/Emmerich Wedding or booking number 22385 for 10% off your room either on the phone or in the comments section of the online booking page. The discount will be factored in once confirmed by the resort team.

House Or Rental

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Villa & Home Rentals

We encourage booking hotel rooms, villas, and houses through the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, as these come with significant perks including complimentary shuttle service to resort venues around the island, access to resort pools, discounts and preferred reservations for golf and tennis, and preferred dining and spa reservations. If availability is low or these perks are not important to you, there are many other housing options through other rental websites. The Kiawah Island Resort also offers a wide range of rental opportunities for villas (one to three bedroom) or homes (all sizes). Many come with waterfront views, pools, and other vacation amenities! Similar to the Sanctuary mentioned next, if you rent through the resort you have access to pool complexes, tennis/golf discounts, preferred dining/spa reservations, and door-to-door transportation to any resort-owned facility. Please mention the Curtin/Emmerich Wedding or booking number 22385 for 10% off your room either on the phone or in the comments section of the online booking page. The discount will be factored in once confirmed by the resort team. If you are looking for the most affordable housing option, we recommend sharing a villa (prices start at $200+ a night) or home (prices start at $450+ a night) with a group. For villa rentals, we recommend booking in the East Beach village area due to proximity to resort activities, including Mariner’s watch and Windswept villas (oceanfront) and Turtle Point, Turtle Cove, and Parkside villas (short walk to the ocean). Feel free to contact us for questions/advice on villa or home rental locations.

Travel Note

Alternative Rental Options

In addition to homes available through Kiawah Island Resort, there are also many properties that can be rented through Akers Ellis, Kiawah Exclusives, Sweet Grass Rental Homes, Airbnb, and VRBO. Just a reminder that these properties will not be affiliated with KIGR and therefore will not come with the perks and amenities outlined above when booking a home or villa with KIGR or a room at the Sanctuary.