How to travel safely through busy South Carolina holiday

MORNING HEADLINES | Charleston International and other airports across the Palmetto State are advising travelers to pencil in some extra time through at least the end of the month in preparation for the annual Christmas rush.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration haven’t released updated travel projections, but the AAA travel c lub is projecting a record 8 million travelers will take to the skies within the U.S. between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1. That’s a 2.3% increase from last year.

And it’s not just airports that will seem busier. The nation’s highways and byways will be jammed. AAA projected a record 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day holiday period. Roughly 89% of them will be in cars.

The S.C. Department of Public Safety is stepping up traffic enforcement to compensate for the extra traffic.

Here are some tips and reminders to keep you on-track and safe during the jam-packed holiday season:

Drivers must buckle up, slow down and put away distractions. South Carolina this year made it illegal to hold a cell phone or other electronic device while behind the wheel.
Leave during off-peak hours. Hit the road in the early morning or late at night to avoid heavy traffic flow when beginning your road trip.
Ensure your vehicle is winter-ready. Check the weather ahead of you and make sure your vehicle can handle rain, snow or ice, depending on your destination.
A Real ID is now required to get past security checkpoints at U.S. airports. An alternative option is to show a second accepted form of ID, such as a valid passport or military ID.
Arrive early to airports and expect a wait time to get through security. Most officials recommend arriving at least two hours before your scheduled departure time.
Leave gifts unwrapped as security agents may need to inspect them.
Make a parking plan. Parking spaces fill quickly during busy travel periods. Allow extra time for getting from remote lots via shuttles to the terminal.

View our updated online calendar

Our new online events calendar is even more packed than holiday roadways. It has scores of events around the Lowcountry every day, making it the most detailed calendar of what’s happening in the area.

Just click on “Events” above at right under the black toolbar. You’ll be amazed at what you find.

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In Friday’s issue of the Charleston City Paper

CP OPINION: Make South Carolina safer in 2026 with two much-needed gun reform laws. “Fifteen people celebrating Hanukkah died on Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach Sunday. At least 40 were wounded in the country’s worst gun massacre in 30 years. The mass shooting by a father-son team was inspired by the Islamic State, Australian authorities said.”

CP FEATURE: New SC250 film seeks to incite Revolutionary enthusiasm. South Carolina is getting fired up about the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year with The Battle of Sullivan’s Island. It’s a new film production by Wide Awake Films commemorating Charleston’s role in the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and you’ll feel right at home.

CP NEWS: Native American group eyeing proposed CofC dorm. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma wants to “consult” with the College of Charleston about its proposed dormitory on a former city-owned potter’s field, a tribal spokesman told the Charleston City Paper.

CP FOOD: Charleston restaurants where you can ring in the new year. Before the 2026 ball drops in Times Square and you serenade your friends and family with “Auld Lang Syne,” make sure you wine and dine the night away on Dec. 31. Charleston loves a holiday and New Year’s Eve is no different at these restaurants.

CP MUSIC: Blue Dogs ‘Homecoming’ set for Dec. 27 at Music Hall. The only complaint received by the Blue Dogs, the veteran Charleston rockers, about its annual “Homecoming” shows is that the band “doesn’t play enough Blue Dogs songs,” one member says.

In other recent headlines

Confederate memorial finds new home in downtown Charleston’s Marion Square. A 2.4-ton stone memorial to Robert E. Lee, who served as commander of the Confederate States Army, now sits in Marion Square. The memorial appeared five years after Charleston removed a statue of John C. Calhoun, a 19th century U.S. senator and vice president from South Carolina and champion of slavery.

Previous CP coverage: Confederate marker materializes at Marion Square

Construction on Awendaw’s environmentally sensitive White Tract back on hold — for now. The state’s highest court has paused construction of a potentially pollutive subdivision on the doorstep of one of South Carolina’s most pristine wilderness areas.

Charleston County gives first approval for controversial Bees Ferry townhome development.

Opening of Mount Pleasant’s new arts center acts as homecoming for theater troupe. The launch of The Venue MTP marks a milestone for Mount Pleasant’s arts community and a homecoming for The Village Repertory Company, the company putting on the inaugural production.

Lowcountry nonprofit helping new moms in need survive the holidays. While many families focus on gifts under the tree during the holidays, one Lowcountry nonprofit is focusing on something parents can’t live without: the basics.

Mother of Jamal Sutherland reacts to homicide of Mary Brucato. Five years after her son died in custody at the Charleston County jail, Jamal Sutherland’s mother says there is still no accountability for the ongoing deaths inside the facility.

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