Hotels in historic Charleston range from large luxury properties on Meeting Street and King Street to smaller historic inns on Broad Street and boutique hotels around Market Street. Notable options include The Charleston Place, Mills House, Francis Marion Hotel, Planters Inn, and John Rutledge House Inn.
Charleston's Old and Historic District contains more than 4,800 historic structures and is one of the most intact historic urban areas in the southeastern United States. For travelers, the choice of where to stay within or near the district depends on several factors: location on the Peninsula, hotel size, historic designation, pool and dining options, parking, and room configuration. This guide compares notable hotel and inn options across those variables.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- What is the Historic District in Charleston, SC?
- Which hotels and historic inns are in Charleston's Historic District?
- Which hotels have formal historic designations?
- What is the difference between Meeting Street, King Street, Market Street, and Broad Street?
- What should you check before booking a historic Charleston hotel?
- Is a bed and breakfast near the historic district worth considering?
- FAQs: Hotels in Historic Charleston SC
What Is the Historic District in Charleston, SC?
Charleston established its Old and Historic District through a city zoning ordinance in 1931, creating one of the country's earliest local historic-preservation systems and its Board of Architectural Review. The district has since expanded to protect more than 4,800 historic structures.
The district was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1960 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. These are district-level designations: they apply to the area as a whole, not to every individual building within it as a separate listing.
Most visitor-facing hotels are in the northern and central portions of the district, along King Street and Meeting Street. Smaller historic inns, including properties on Broad Street, are further south, in or near the South of Broad neighborhood.
Source: Charleston Historic District — National Park Service
Which Hotels and Historic Inns Are in Charleston's Historic District?
The following five properties are a selected comparison of notable hotels and historic inns in and around Charleston's Historic District. This is not an exhaustive list of all lodging options in the area.
| Hotel | Address | Rooms | Opened | Affiliation | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Charleston Place | 205 Meeting St | 433 | Not stated | Independent luxury hotel | Club Level; rooftop pool; 40,000 sq ft event space |
| Mills House | 115 Meeting St | 218 | Mid-19th century | Curio Collection by Hilton; HHA member since 2024 | Rooftop pool; Iron Rose restaurant; 7 floors |
| Francis Marion Hotel | 387 King St | 235 | 1924 | Historic Hotels of America member since 1999 | 12 stories; overlooks Marion Square |
| Planters Inn | 112 N Market St | 64 | 1844 | Relais & Chateaux boutique hotel | Peninsula Grill; private piazzas; garden courtyard |
| John Rutledge House Inn | 116 Broad St | 19 | 1763 | National Historic Landmark; HHA member since 1989 | 19 guestrooms across three buildings; South of Broad |
The Charleston Place
The Charleston Place at 205 Meeting Street operates as an independent luxury hotel with 433 rooms and suites, including 78 Club Level rooms. Club Level guests have access to a private lounge with dedicated butler service. The property has a rooftop pool, multiple dining options, and more than 40,000 square feet of event and meeting space.
Mills House
Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton, is located at 115 Meeting Street near Queen Street. The 218-room property spans seven floors and features a rooftop pool, Iron Rose restaurant, The Black Door Cafe, and additional bar spaces. Its pink exterior is one of its recognizable features.
Mills House traces its hotel history to the mid-19th century. Its current Hilton profile describes the property as welcoming guests since 1853, while Historic Hotels of America, which lists the property as a member since 2024, records the original property opening as 1852.
Francis Marion Hotel
The Francis Marion Hotel at 387 King Street was built in 1924. The 12-story hotel overlooks Marion Square from King Street and has 235 guestrooms and suites. It has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 1999. The hotel's Swamp Fox Restaurant and Bar serves Lowcountry cuisine and is currently in operation.
Planters Inn
Planters Inn at 112 North Market Street opened in 1844. It is South Carolina's only Relais & Chateaux property. The hotel has 64 rooms and suites with private piazzas, a hidden garden courtyard, and four-poster beds. It overlooks Charleston City Market and is one block from King Street. Planters Inn was named Travel + Leisure's #1 Best U.S. Boutique Hotel in 2014. The Peninsula Grill restaurant at the property is currently operating.
John Rutledge House Inn
The John Rutledge House Inn at 116 Broad Street occupies a property that dates to 1763. It is a National Historic Landmark and has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 1989. The inn has 19 guestrooms spread across three buildings in the South of Broad neighborhood. It is one of the most historically significant lodging properties in the Charleston district.
Which Hotels in Historic Charleston Have Formal Historic Designations?
Historic character and formal historic designation are different things. A property can be old and set in a historic building without holding a formal designation from a recognized preservation program.
Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Membership requires a hotel to be at least 50 years old, have qualifying National Historic Landmark or National Register status, and be recognized for its historic significance. As of 2026, three properties in or around Charleston's Historic District are members.
| Property | Historic Status / Affiliation |
|---|---|
| John Rutledge House Inn | National Historic Landmark (property dates to 1763) + Historic Hotels of America member since 1989 |
| Francis Marion Hotel | Historic Hotels of America member since 1999 |
| Mills House | Historic Hotels of America member since 2024 |
| Planters Inn | Relais & Chateaux member; property dates to 1844 (Relais & Chateaux is a hospitality association, not a preservation designation) |
| The Charleston Place | Independent luxury hotel; no Historic Hotels of America membership confirmed |
| 257 Rutledge (B&B) | Three restored historic Victorian homes in Cannonborough-Elliottborough, near the Historic District |
Relais & Chateaux membership, which Planters Inn holds, is a hospitality quality designation rather than a historic preservation designation. It reflects the property's boutique character and service standard, not its preservation status specifically.
Full HHA directory: historichotels.org.
What Is the Difference Between Meeting Street, King Street, Market Street, and Broad Street?
Hotels and inns in Charleston's Historic District are spread across several streets, each with a distinct character and position on the Peninsula.
| Factor | Meeting Street | King Street | Market / N Market St | Broad Street |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key properties | Charleston Place (205), Mills House (115) | Francis Marion Hotel (387) | Planters Inn (112 N Market) | John Rutledge House Inn (116) |
| Neighborhood feel | Central district, toward South of Broad and the waterfront | Primary retail and restaurant corridor; Marion Square access | Adjacent to Charleston City Market; French Quarter area | South of Broad; quieter, residential |
| Nearby landmark | Four Corners of Law nearby | Marion Square directly across the street | Charleston City Market | South of Broad Historic District |
Meeting Street runs through the central district and provides access to South of Broad, Rainbow Row, and the waterfront. King Street is Charleston's main commercial corridor, running parallel one block to the west, with concentrated shopping and restaurants and direct access to Marion Square.
Market Street and North Market Street sit in the French Quarter area, adjacent to the Charleston City Market. Broad Street, one of the oldest streets on the Peninsula, runs east-west through the South of Broad neighborhood and has a quieter, more residential character than King or Meeting Street.
What Should You Check Before Booking a Historic Charleston Hotel?
For a MOF commercial-investigation query, the decision variables matter more than a ranking. The table below maps each factor to the relevant question to ask before booking.
| Factor | What to Ask Before Booking |
|---|---|
| Location on Peninsula | Which street and how far from the specific landmarks or neighborhoods you plan to visit |
| Hotel size | Room count ranges from 19 (John Rutledge House Inn) to 433 (The Charleston Place) — affects atmosphere and amenity level |
| Historic designation | Whether the property holds a formal designation (HHA, National Historic Landmark) or simply dates from a historic period |
| Pool | Not all properties have pools. Mills House and The Charleston Place both have rooftop/outdoor pools. Confirm availability and seasonal hours. |
| Dining | Peninsula Grill at Planters Inn, Swamp Fox at Francis Marion, Iron Rose at Mills House — confirm current operating hours |
| Parking | Parking policies and fees vary. Charleston Place lists valet at $62/night. Public garages are also available downtown. |
| Room configuration | Historic properties can have layouts that differ from newer builds. Confirm room size and layout if that matters for your stay. |
| Accessibility | Contact the property directly if you have specific mobility or accessibility requirements before booking. |
Parking
Parking policies vary by property. The Charleston Place currently lists valet parking at $62 per night. Charleston also operates public garages downtown, including garages near Marion Square and the Historic District. Check the hotel's current parking terms directly before booking.
Building configuration
Historic properties can have layouts and building features that differ from newer hotels. Travelers with specific mobility or accessibility requirements should confirm room features directly with the property before booking.
Seasonal demand
Spoleto Festival USA takes place in Charleston each year and can increase demand for downtown accommodation during the festival period. The festival has not yet announced its 2027 dates. Travelers planning ahead should check the current festival calendar at spoletousa.org before booking.
Is a Bed and Breakfast Near the Historic District Worth Considering?
Travelers who prefer smaller-scale accommodation, a quieter neighborhood, and a more residential feel sometimes choose a B&B over a large hotel. The Historic District hotels range from 19 guestrooms at John Rutledge House Inn to 433 rooms at The Charleston Place. A B&B operates at a different scale entirely.
257 Rutledge is a B&B in the Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood, north of the central Historic District. The property consists of three restored historic Victorian homes. Accommodation options include four private-entry suites, five apartments with full kitchens, and a standalone three-bedroom home.
Guest amenities include a shared, heated saltwater guest pool and guest parking. Parking arrangements vary by accommodation type; confirm current details when booking. The property describes King Street as four blocks away.
Book directly with 257 Rutledge. View guest accommodations
FAQs: Hotels in Historic Charleston SC
Several prominent hotels are located on or near Meeting Street and King Street, while other notable properties are on Broad Street and around Market Street. The Charleston Place and Mills House are on Meeting Street. The Francis Marion Hotel is on King Street. Planters Inn is on North Market Street. John Rutledge House Inn is on Broad Street in the South of Broad neighborhood.
Yes. Planters Inn at 112 North Market Street is a 64-room boutique hotel and South Carolina's only Relais & Chateaux property. Smaller historic inns such as John Rutledge House Inn, with 19 guestrooms across three buildings, offer a similar small-scale experience. Both are in or adjacent to the Historic District.
Parking availability and pricing vary by property. Some hotels offer valet parking, which carries a separate nightly charge. The Charleston Place lists valet at $62 per night as of 2026. Public garages are also available downtown. Check each property's current parking policy and rates before booking.
257 Rutledge is a B&B in the Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood, north of the Historic District's core. It offers four private-entry suites, five apartments with full kitchens, and a standalone three-bedroom home across three restored Victorian properties. It is not a hotel, does not operate at hotel scale, and offers direct booking at 257rutledge.com.