Should You Stay in Park Circle Charleston?

September 11, 2025

Charleston’s Park Circle neighborhood is quiet, close to the airport and Downtown, and very walkable. If you’re visiting Charleston and have a car, it’s an ideal neighborhood to stay in if you crave a quieter vibe than Downtown.

Find out everything you need to know before booking your stay in Park Circle, Charleston.

Is Park Circle a Good Place to Stay in Charleston?

Yes, if you have a car (or are renting one) and don’t mind staying a 15-minute drive from Downtown Charleston, Park Circle is a good place to stay.

It’s very walkable, there are plenty of restaurants nearby, and the neighborhood is a bit quieter than areas Downtown.

Pros & Cons of Staying in Park Circle

Quieter Charleston Neighborhood
Close to the Airport
Good Place to Stay Near Plantations
Very Walkable
Plenty of Restaurants & Bars
Less Expensive Than Downtown
Near Tangier Outlet Mall
Need to Rent a Car or Drive
Only House Rentals (No Hotels)

Reasons to Stay in Park Circle Charleston

Quieter Charleston Neighborhood: Park Circle is more of a residential neighborhood, situated around Park Circle Park. On the southern edge of the neighborhood is Riverfront Park, which is adjacent to the Cooper River.

Since this is a residential neighborhood, it’s much quieter than Downtown Charleston.

Close to the Airport: If you have an early-morning flight, Park Circle is a great place to stay! It’s only about a 10-minute drive from the airport.

Conveniently Located Near Plantations: Since Park Circle is in North Charleston, it’s much closer to the plantations than the hotels located Downtown. If you plan to spend most of your vacation touring the Charleston plantations, this is the perfect place to stay.

Magnolia Plantation is only a 30-minute drive from Park Circle. (In all fairness, the French Quarter is also only about a 30-minute drive away, but you won’t need to deal with as much traffic getting in and out of the city or city parking.)

Very Walkable: Once you’ve parked at your rental, you can pretty much walk anywhere in Park Circle. Most of the restaurants are located on the east side of the neighborhood and are only about a 10-minute walk from each other.

Plenty of Restaurants & Bars: Speaking of restaurants, Park Circle is a foodie haven! There are about a dozen or so restaurants with cuisines that range from New American to Filipino food to Mexican food. There is also a brewery and a distillery in the neighborhood.

Good Shopping Options: One of the most popular shopping areas, the Tangier Outlets, is only a 15-minute drive from Park Circle. If you plan on scouting for some deals while you’re in the Holy City, Park Circle is a good place to stay in Charleston for shopping.

There are also some specialty stores in the neighborhood itself, including The Station, a very popular antique store.

15-Minute Drive to Downtown: Of course, we don’t expect you to spend your entire vacation in Park Circle. Luckily, Downtown Charleston, where our Holy City history tour begins, is only a 15-minute drive away. You’ll definitely need a car if you stay in this neighborhood, so Park Circle is ideal if you’re planning on renting a car when you get here or planning on driving to Charleston anyway.

Less Expensive Than Staying in Downtown Charleston: There are no hotels in Park Circle, but there are plenty of vacation rentals. These options are much less expensive than the ones in Downtown Charleston. Vacation rentals in Park Circle start at around $88 to $140 a night, making it a budget friendly Charleston accommodation option.

Things to Do in Park Circle

There aren’t too many attractions in Park Circle. The appeal of staying in this neighborhood is that it’s a bit quieter than other areas of Charleston. Yet, there are a few attractions, including a brewery and a distillery, an outlet mall, and a family friendly Charleston museum.

Holy City Brewing: This brewery features a tap room that’s open seven days a week. Try a flight of small-batch beer, grab a bite to eat, and play a game of pool.

Firefly Distillery: Take a private guided tour of this local distillery, taste the first-ever sweet tea vodka, and chow down on a pulled-pork sandwich. Firefly also features live music and food trucks once a month.

Tanger Outlet Center: One of the most popular destinations for shopping in Charleston, the Tanger Outlet Center features more than 85 high-end stores, including Saks Off Fifth, Michael Kors, and Coach.

Friends of the Hunley: A family friendly Charleston museum with an interactive experience center, the Friends of the Hunley offers information about the H. L. Hunley, which was a submarine that dates back to the Civil War.

Where to Eat in Park Circle

There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance in Park Circle. Some of our favorites included the Tattooed Moose, Rebel Taqueria, Jackrabbit Filly, and Barnyard Chicken.

The Tattooed Moose: This North Charleston eatery has been featured on several “Best Sandwich” lists and offers a menu of stick-to-your-ribs sammies. Try the duck club or the Chinese BBQ pork belly sandwich.

Rebel Taqueria: Charlestonians head up to Park Circle to nosh on classic and next-level tacos like the ground beef chorizo taco and the flaming hot cheesy chicken taco. The Yoda Balls (or jalapeno hush puppies) are a must-try.

Jackrabbit Filly: Feast on dim sum, rice bowls, and noodle bowls at this Asian fusion hot spot. Menu favorites include the hand-made scallion pancake, krab rangoon cheeseball, and the tuna sashimi bowl. The spicy Korean pierogies are not to be missed.

Barnyard Chicken: Head over to Barnyard Chicken for some of the best fried chicken in Charleston. This Park Circle hot spot features a fried chicken club, a fried thigh sandwich with kimchi, a bacon-wrapped chicken breast, and a brick chicken dip sandwich.

Places to Stay in Park Circle

There aren’t any hotels in Park Circle proper, but there are plenty of home rentals in the neighborhood. These rentals start at only around $89 per night, so staying in Park Circle is much more budget friendly than staying in other areas of the city.