Yes. The vacation rentals nearest Waterfront Park sit in the blocks around East Bay and Concord Streets, at the southeast edge of downtown Charleston. CHC Vacation Rentals does not have a home in that pocket. Every CHC home is north of Calhoun Street, at the other end of the peninsula from the park.
We would rather say that on the first screen than let you find it out after booking. Waterfront Park is at one end of the peninsula and our homes are at the other, and no amount of careful wording changes that.
What this article does instead is tell you what is actually at the park, what the rentals closest to it get you, and what you give up or gain by staying farther north. Park details below come from the City of Charleston's own park directory.
Where Is Waterfront Park and What Is There?
It runs along Concord Street between Vendue Range and South Adger's Wharf, on the Cooper River side of downtown. The City of Charleston describes it as an eight-acre linear park and pier along the Charleston Harbor entry.
Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. called it this generation's gift to the future, and the park carries his name. It opened in May 1990 after more than a decade of planning, and Hurricane Hugo did about a million dollars of damage to it during construction in September 1989. It opened about a week later than planned anyway.
| What is there | Detail |
|---|---|
| The Pineapple Fountain | The photographed one, on the lawn in front of the City Gallery |
| The promenade | A 1,200-foot palmetto-lined esplanade along the water's edge |
| The pier | Covered, with swinging benches facing the harbor |
| A second fountain | The interactive one, where children splash |
| Cost | Free. It is a public city park |
Know before you go: Published opening hours differ between listing sites, so check the city's page if you are planning a sunrise photo or a late evening walk.
What Do the Rentals Closest to the Park Get You?
Location, mostly. The homes in those blocks put you inside the Historic District, within a short walk of the park, the City Market and the East Bay restaurants.
Parking is another thing to consider in that part of town. If you are flying in and walking everywhere, it may not matter. If you are driving down with a family, check the parking arrangements before you book.
If proximity to the old streets is the whole point of your trip, read our guide to staying near the Historic District before you book anything.
Where Do CHC's Homes Sit Compared to the Park?
North of Calhoun Street, on the upper peninsula, in and around Cannonborough-Elliottborough. Every CHC home is in ZIP code 29403. Waterfront Park is in 29401, at the other end of downtown.
These are opposite ends of the peninsula, so plan how you will travel between the two. Walking, biking, the downtown shuttle and a rideshare are all options, and the section below covers them.
| Home | Sleeps | Bedrooms | Parking | To upper King Street |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Charles | 4 | 1 bedroom | 1 space | 1 block |
| Pool House | 4 | 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths | 1 space | Nearby |
| 3 Tully | 6 | 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths | 1 space | 1 block |
| 33 B Cannon | 8 | 3 bedrooms, 2 baths | 1 space | 3 blocks |
| 179 St. Philip E | 10 | 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths | 2 spaces | 1 block |
| 118 President Street | 16 | 6 bedrooms, 6 baths | 6 spaces | 4 short blocks |
See all of them on our collection of Charleston homes.
Is It Worth Staying Farther From the Park?
For most trips, yes. The park is one stop on a Charleston itinerary. Where you sleep shapes the rest of the trip more than how close you are to any single landmark.
What you get for staying north of Calhoun is the stuff you use every day: a whole home instead of a room, an off-street parking space, a kitchen, and upper King Street within a few blocks of most of our homes.
The honest version of the trade is this. If you want to walk out of your front door into the park, book in those southeastern blocks. If you want space, parking and a base you can cook in, stay north and travel down to the harbor when you want it.
How Do You Get to Waterfront Park Without Driving?
Walk, bike or take the free downtown DASH shuttle. Driving down means finding a space near the park, which is the part most visitors have not planned for.
Our guide to getting around Charleston without a car covers the shuttle, walking routes and when a car earns its keep. If you are coming from the airport first, the airport to downtown guide covers that leg.
Once you are down at the water, two other stops sit nearby. The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square is at 340 Concord Street, and the South Carolina Aquarium is at 100 Aquarium Wharf. Doing two of the three in one trip means you only park once.
FAQs
Yes, in the blocks around East Bay and Concord Streets at the southeast edge of downtown. CHC Vacation Rentals does not have a home in that pocket. Every CHC home is north of Calhoun Street, in the 29403 part of the peninsula, at the other end of downtown.
No. It is a City of Charleston park, free to enter, with public restrooms and free Wi-Fi on site. Published opening hours vary between listing sites, so check the City of Charleston page before you plan an early morning photo or a late evening walk.
Children do get wet there. The park has two large fountains, including an interactive one where kids play. Bring a towel and dry clothes, and check the City of Charleston page for any posted rules before you let them splash.
Book in the blocks near East Bay and Concord Streets, where the closest rentals sit. If you would rather have space, a kitchen and an off-street parking space, staying farther north and traveling down to the park is usually the better trade.
The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square is at 340 Concord Street, and the South Carolina Aquarium is at 100 Aquarium Wharf. Both are on the downtown waterfront near Waterfront Park, so one trip down can cover two or three stops.
Each CHC home comes with an off-street parking space, and it is worth asking where yours sits when you book. Parking near Waterfront Park itself is a separate problem, and our guest guide to downtown parking covers the garages, meters and free hours.
How Do You Book a CHC Home?
Tell us your dates and how many people are coming. We will tell you which homes are open, where the parking space sits, and how far you will be from the part of town you care about, before you pay anything.
Check availability or call 843.329.2040 or email bookings@chcvacationrentals.com