Where to Stay in Charleston for a Bachelorette Party

hannah jeffries
Apr 8
3 min read

Charleston offers Southern charm, historic beauty, and lively entertainment, perfect for a bachelorette weekend. Despite its small-town feel, the city's spread-out nature means choosing the right location is crucial to avoid wasting time and money on transportation or enduring long walks in uncomfortable shoes.

Use this guide to help choose your accommodations in Charleston for a perfect bachelorette weekend.

Charleston Bachelorette Where to Stay Neighborhoods and Air B and Bs or Vrbos

DOWNTOWN

If you're looking for a charming, close-to-everything location, Downtown Charleston is your best best.

PROS: Centrally located to restaurants, classic activities, and nightlife with a chic but historic vibe.

CONS: Most costly area, further from the beach than some locations.

Good to Know:

While essentially the entire peninsula is "walkable"-- I would argue that's not the case in cute shoes, when the weather is hot, or when you've have one too many cocktails. Fortunately Ubers downtown are easy to catch, but it's always a good idea to plan your days according to what areas you'll be in to save time and money.

There are two main downtown areas; the Historic District (sometimes called the French Quarter) and the new and trendy Upper King area. The Upper King area is where I would recommend for staying as it's younger and has more nightlife and Air B and B options than the historic district. They are about a 10 minute Uber (or 30+ minute walk) apart.

The historic district includes some of the most famous Charleston areas to visit such as Rainbow Row, the Battery, and Waterfront Park, though isn't necessarily the best place to stay.

The Upper King area is more geared towards people in their 20s and 30s and is going to have way more Air B and B as well as nightlife options.

FOLLY BEACH

If laidback beach days and sunsets are your heart's desire, consider staying on Folly Beach-- a laidback beach near Downtown Charleston. Folly is a bohemian vacation destination and has plenty of restaurants and late-night options to keep the girls group entertained all weekend.

Folly Beach has a very "surfer town" vibe with down-to-earth eats and spots.

PROS: Beach access, plenty of restaurants, nightlife options, one of the closer Ubers to downtown.

CONS: Beach traffic during summer can make getting on and off the island time-consuming and costly, less options for dining and nightlife than downtown.

Good to Know: The main area for restaurants and bars is Center Street. The distance to this can be not walkable depending on where you are staying on the island. Beach access across the island is easy.

ISLE OF PALMS

A classic beach vacation destination, if you're looking for a blend of upscale homes and casual restaurants, Isle of Palms (IOP) is a great option.

A little more upscale and lowkey on the party scene than Folly Beach, Isle of Palms has some of the best Charleston beaches.

PROS: Beach access, plenty of restaurants.

CONS: Beach traffic during summer can make getting on and off the island time-consuming and costly, less options for dining and nightlife than downtown.

Good to Know: Isle of Palms has a great beachfront area with spots such as the Windjammer for nights out. Be aware of sound ordinances in place, as IOP does has strict laws to make it a family-friendly spot.

MOUNT PLEASANT

A suburb of downtown Charleston, Mount Pleasant is a charming town between downtown and Isle of Palms/Sullivan's Island that is mainly residential. However, it's central location makes it an option for bachelorettes.

The Shem Creek area of Mount Pleasant.

PROS: Centrally located between beaches and downtown, lower priced options than the beaches or downtown.

CONS: Ubers will be necessary almost all places.

Good to Know: Mount Pleasant's Shem Creek area is a great place to go for sunset dinner and drinks.

North Charleston

If staying within budget is critical, consider staying in North Charleston. North Charleston's hip Park Circle neighborhood also allows you to be close enough to downtown for reasonable Ubers while saving cash on your rental.