Comparison · Atlanta vs Charleston · United States
Atlanta vs Charleston
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AtlChampion, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Atlanta for Martin Luther King Jr., Civil rights history and lower day-to-day costs; choose Charleston for Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and beaches. Atlanta is generally less expensive, and the two are about 428 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 428 km
- Less expensive
- Atlanta
- Best time for Atlanta
- April–May and October–November
- Best time for Charleston
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Atlanta | Charleston | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Martin Luther King Jr., Civil rights history and Georgia Aquarium | Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and Lowcountry cuisine |
| Best time to visit | April–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$350 | $250–$400 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | Folly Beach |
| Airports | ATL | CHS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Atlanta for…
Martin Luther King Jr., Civil rights history and lower day-to-day costs. Atlanta is the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. and the city that reshaped itself for the 1996 Olympics, and both stories are easy to trace: King's birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church and his tomb line Auburn Avenue, while Centennial Olympic Park anchors…
Choose Charleston for…
Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and beaches. Charleston sits on a narrow peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, and its historic core — from the Battery north to Marion Square — is small enough to walk in a day. Its streets of single houses with side piazzas, church steeples and gas lamps are…
Top sights compared
| # | Atlanta | Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Aquarium | The Battery and White Point Garden |
| 2 | Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park | Rainbow Row |
| 3 | National Center for Civil and Human Rights | Fort Sumter National Monument |
| 4 | World of Coca-Cola | Charleston City Market |
| 5 | BeltLine Eastside Trail | Joe Riley Waterfront Park |
Food compared
| Atlanta | Charleston |
|---|---|
| Lemon pepper wings | Shrimp and grits |
| Fried chicken and the meat-and-three | She-crab soup |
| The Varsity chili dog | Lowcountry boil |
| Shrimp and grits | Oyster roast |
Which is cheaper?
Atlanta is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $200–$350 per person there, against $250–$400 in Charleston (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Atlanta on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Atlanta and Charleston are about 428 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Atlanta and 4 in Charleston.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Atlanta or Charleston cheaper?
Atlanta is usually less expensive: about $200–$350 a day mid-range against $250–$400 (estimates).
+Is Atlanta or Charleston better for a first trip?
Pick Atlanta for Martin Luther King Jr., Civil rights history and lower day-to-day costs, or Charleston for Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and beaches.
+How far is Atlanta from Charleston?
About 428 km in a straight line.