Gate-side magazines and snacks at Hudson in the Main Terminal
Just past security in the Main Terminal concourse, Hudson is the standard news and convenience stop at CHS. You’ll see the usual wall of magazines and paperbacks near the front, with grab-and-go drinks and snacks running along the right side. It’s the spot most people hit after TSA for a bottled water, soda, or a quick candy fix before heading toward the gates.
Hudson keeps airport-style hours, typically opening early enough for the first morning departures around 5:00–5:30 a.m. and running into the evening bank of flights. Expect typical airport pricing: a 20 oz soda or water runs higher than downtown Charleston, and packaged snacks like chips or trail mix sit in the $3–$6 range. You’re paying for being 50 yards from your gate, not for bargains.
Stock is national-brand heavy rather than local: think Pepsi, Coke, and Starbucks bottled drinks, plus big-name candy and chips, not Charleston-specific goods. You’ll also find basic travel gear on the back racks—phone chargers, earbuds, neck pillows, and simple health items like pain relievers and travel-size toiletries that keep you from hunting through your checked bag at 6:00 a.m.
Lines here spike right before the 7:00–8:00 a.m. departures and again around the 4:00–6:00 p.m. bank, since Hudson is one of the few quick options in the Main Terminal concourse. If you want a cold drink and a magazine without a crowd, swing by right after clearing security instead of waiting until your boarding pass shows Group 3.