Travel Information

Conference Venue
The conference venue is located at the Charleston Place Hotel, 205 Meeting St, Charleston, SC‎ - +1 (888) 575-3800.

Map of Airport, Train, and Venue/Hotel
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1lCaZ_4NRg_Yac6MzC5TGFyMpCsoqOpM&usp=sharing

Arriving in Charleston

The closest airport is Charleston International Airport (CHS), which is 12 miles northwest (~ 25 min driving time) from the conference venue at the Charleston Place Hotel in downtown Charleston. Numerous non-stop flight options are available.  

The closest Amtrak station is North Charleston, SC (CHS) - 4565 Gaynor Avenue, North Charleston, SC, which is 9 miles north (~18 min) from the venue at the Charleston Place Hotel in downtown Charleston. 

Transportation to the Conference Venue from the Airport 
The Charleston International Airport Ground Transportation Site has lots of great information with options including: 

Ride Sharing
The Charleston International Airport (CHS) offers passengers a covered shelter as the designated pick-up location for ridesharing services (Uber or Lyft). Follow signs outside of the baggage claim. The sheltered pickup area is across both roadways and to the right of the last sidewalk. The typical cost is $20-$30 USD from CHS Airport to the Charleston Place Hotel. 

Use the Uber App to arrange for your ride.
Use the Lyft App to arrange for your ride.

Taxi
The typical taxi fare from the Charleston International Airport (CHS) to downtown Charleston is $42 (minimum fare is $15). There are several companies available. To request a taxi, please proceed to the ground transportation booth. Taxi service is located in the center median outside Baggage Claim. You will be greeted by a starter who will quote a rate based upon destination.

Transit
Bus service is available from the Charleston International Airport (CHS) to downtown Charleston on CARTA.  The bus stop is located just outside of Baggage Claim. 

 CARTA provides an easy to use planning application to estimate the cost and travel time for your trip.  While very reasonably priced at <$5 USD, the travel times can exceed 1 hour and may require transfers.  For planning purposes use [From: Charleston International Airport; To: Charleston Place Hotel].

Rental Car
Once in downtown Charleston, there really is no need to have a car, as the city is very walkable and there is a frequent and free Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH).  However, if your travels will take you away from the city, there are several rental car companies located at the Charleston International Airport (CHS). Rental Car pickup is located in the Rental Car Pavilion at the end of the terminal past Baggage Claim. 

Driving to the Conference Venue 
The Charleston Place offers valet parking for $45 per night. The hotel has three electric car stations: two Tesla and one universal. For non-valet, a City of Charleston self-park garage is located adjacent to the hotel, accessible from the hotel’s Meeting and Hasell Street entrances. The Charleston Place Parking Garage is located at 85 Hasell Street, Charleston, SC 29401, USA (Enter on Hassell Street).  There is a 6’ 9” height restriction.

Getting Around Downtown Charleston

  • On Foot – The downtown area is a flat coastal area and easy to traverse on foot.  Downtown maps will be available at the registration desk.
  • DASH - The Charleston Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) is free way to get around the historic part of the city on trolley buses. 
  • Rickshaws – When you get tired of walking, enjoy the sights and sounds on your personal rickshaw ride about the city.  Call  +1 (843) 723-5685 or visit the Charleston Rickshaw Co. website to schedule your ride. 
  • Downtown Parking – The City of Charleston operates 12 parking garages in downtown Charleston with 6,700 public parking spaces for $2/hour with a $20/day maximum.  A more comprehensive parking guide including commercial garages and surface lots can be found on Parkopedia

Local Time
The time zone during the conference in June 2023 is Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) which is 4 hours behind UTC.

Visa Information
Visa requests can be made during online registration.  Visa letters will be emailed upon confirmation of payment.

Travel Restrictions
All FUSION 2023 international travelers, the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over yet. To help protect yourself and others from COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States has issued the up-to-date “International Travel to and from the United States” guidance information on their website. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is required for nonimmigrant non-US citizens (i.e., not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa) before traveling by air to the United States from a foreign country.  You can check the following link for detailed requirements and recommendations before, during, and after your travel to the United States. International Travel to and from the United States | CDC