Charlotte Travel Essentials

• Charlotte has a subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and cool winters. Average temperatures range between 39°F in winter and 80°F in summer.
• Rain falls evenly throughout the year. Expect between 7 and 10 rainy days per month on average.
• May–September is the warmest period in Charlotte. Summer record high temperatures can reach up to 104°F, especially in July and August, the hottest months of the year.
• The peak tourist season is in June–August. Hotel rates and the number of visitors are in line with the temperatures at this time of the year: high.
• The best times to visit Charlotte are March–May and September–November. Spring and autumn are when you can find good hotel offers, pleasant weather conditions, and fewer people at the top attractions. You just have to choose between nature in blossom or nature in vibrant autumn colours.

• Plug type: A and B
• Electricity: 120 V
• Currency: United States Dollar (US$)
• International dialling code: +1 704 and +1 980
• Emergency telephone number: 911

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is the main gateway to Charlotte. Owned by the city of Charlotte, it’s among the busiest airports on the east coast of the US.

You can also get to Charlotte by Amtrak train on the Carolinian, Piedmont, and Crescent lines. If you’re on a budget or want to travel at a slower pace, you can get to Charlotte by Greyhound bus.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is 6 miles west of the city centre. It’s served by non-stop flights from more than 150 destinations worldwide and sees more than 700 arrivals and departures daily on its 4 runways and 1 passenger terminal.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. Ground transport options for getting to your hotel are as follows:

• There are 4 taxi companies – City Cab, Crown Cab, Green Cab, and Yellow Cab – as well as limousine, shuttle, and coach services available at the airport. The taxi rank is outside the Arrivals/Baggage Claim level. The journey from the airport to the city centre takes about 20 minutes.
• The app-based rideshare pick-up area is in Zone 4 on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim level.
• Charlotte Area Transit System runs a bus line, the Sprinter bus (Route 5), to downtown Charlotte. The bus stop is in front of the terminal. Rides can take twice as long as a taxi, but it’s the cheapest way to get to the city centre.
• A handful of major car rental companies are inside the Level 2 lobby, opposite the terminal.

Charlotte Amtrak train station

Run by Amtrak, Charlotte Station is on North Tryon Street, 2 miles northeast of the city centre. Charlotte is on the Amtrak route that links New York City to New Orleans. Wi-Fi is available on Amtrak trains.

Once at the station, you can get to your hotel by taxi, rideshare, light rail, or bus.

Charlotte Greyhound bus station

The Greyhound bus station is on West 4th Street, a short stroll west of the historic Fourth Ward district and downtown Charlotte. From here, you can be transferred to your hotel by taxi, rideshare, or public bus.

Travel tips

Charlotte city centre covers an area of roughly 2 square miles, so it’s easily walkable. Besides a lively scene of restaurants, bars, and shops, downtown Charlotte is home to an excellent choice of landmarks and attractions such as the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Mint Museum Uptown, and the Bank of America Stadium.

Riding a bicycle is also a popular way of exploring Charlotte. For longer distances, depending on your budget and preference, you can get around by taxi, rideshare, light rail, trolley, public bus, or rented car.

Taking a taxi in Charlotte

From Crown Cab (+1 704-334-6666) to Green Cab (+1 704-777-1117), Yellow Cab (+1 980-785-1405), and many more, taxis are easy to find in Charlotte. You can also easily find taxi lines in front of hotels and attractions. It’s easy to hail one on the street, too.

Convenient yet rather expensive, getting around the city by taxicab is not your best option if you’re on a budget, although a taxi ride may be your only option to get back to your hotel if you’re a night owl. Note that tipping for taxis in the US is usually between 15 and 20% of the fare. Most taxi drivers accept credit cards, though sometimes reluctantly.

Uber and Lyft are the 2 main ride-sharing apps used in Charlotte. Their rates are slightly cheaper than standard taxicabs.

Travelling by public transport in Charlotte

Charlotte offers a good variety of public transport. Run by the municipality, Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) features buses, light-rail trains, and trolleys. This network allows everyone to get around the city and Mecklenburg County affordably.

The LYNX Blue Line is the name of the light-rail system that links I-485 at South Boulevard to UNC Charlotte’s main campus in University City. It’s almost a 20-mile route with 26 stops.

The CityLYNX Gold Line is a streetcar that offers free rides throughout the city centre. It has 6 stops connected to the CATS bus and/or light-rail networks.

One-way, 10-ride, and other multi-day passes are available. You can buy single tickets on the bus with the exact amount in cash. Passes are available in many locations such as Harris Teeter, Food Lion Store, and Compare Foods chains throughout Charlotte. A simpler way of purchasing tickets is by installing the CATS mobile app on your phone.

Renting a car in Charlotte

Renting and driving a car is a good choice for exploring Charlotte and its surroundings. It’s certainly more expensive than public transport, but it gives you the freedom to go anywhere, whenever you want. Navigating Charlotte can be a bit difficult for first-time visitors, but online maps on your smartphone can help you easily get to the destination of your choice.

Foreigners can use their standard driving license for up to 90 days in North Carolina. Car rental companies are available at the airport and throughout the city.

Cycling around Charlotte with Charlotte B-Cycle or Lime

Two bike-share systems are available in Charlotte, namely Charlotte B-Cycle and Lime. Charlotte B-Cycle has over 20 stations spread around the city while Lime runs a dockless bike-sharing scheme. Both work with an application you need to install on your phone.

Although Charlotte isn’t yet officially a bike-friendly city, improvement is underway to offer cyclists safe journeys. Some streets in the city centre are bike-friendly and you can find bike-route and cycle-track maps online.

Speed Street

• May
• A 3-day festival held right before the extremely popular Coca-Cola NASCAR race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, when the streets of uptown Charlotte feature live music, food stalls, and NASCAR merchandising stalls.
• Where: Uptown Charlotte

Festival in the Park

• September
• Festival in the Park is a 3-day event held since 1964, dedicated to big band music, all types of art, and food. This family-friendly festival offers children the opportunity to produce their first artworks.
• Where: Freedom Park

Carolina Renaissance Festival

• October/November
• A kid-friendly event in the storybook village of Fairhaven where you can travel back in time. Highlights range from jousting knights on horseback to the ancient art of falconry and more.
• Where: North of Charlotte, between the towns of Huntersville and Concord

Fourth Ward

The historic neighbourhood of downtown Charlotte that dates to the early 19th century. Today, it’s a residential area home to charming Victorian houses in quiet, tree-lined streets.

Mint Museum Uptown

A museum that has a modern, polygonal architectural design, inside which you can admire various international art exhibits and scheduled live performances. There’s a total of 5 floors with exhibits displayed on 4 of them.

Rosedale Plantation

A historic plantation house built around 1815 by Archibald Frew, 3 miles northeast of downtown Charlotte. Today, the house and its 9-acre garden are open to visitors, offering a glimpse of a bygone era.

Hezekiah Alexander Homesite

The oldest edifice in Mecklenburg County and part of the Charlotte Museum of History. Dating back to 1774, it’s in the same state as it was right after its construction.