Traveling by train from Savannah GA to Charleston SC

Traveling by train from Savannah GA to Charleston SC - Young ethnic man in earbuds listening to music while waiting for transport at contemporary subway station

I am looking to travel from Savannah, Georgia to Charleston, South Carolina in February. I have done searching and found the following options:

  • Rent a car; probably ~$100 for economy level car, plus some cab fare to and from (it doesn't seem worth it to hold onto a rental car for a few days because most hotels charge a lot for parking in Charleston), plus the liability associated with renting a car
  • Take a shuttle bus; $49 per person and only one trip per day in the middle of the day — overpriced (2 people and it's already basically cheaper to rent a car) and doesn't run when I need to leave
  • Take the train (Amtrak) seeing $22 tickets the cheapest (plus cab to and from stations on either end); morning departure works nicely for my itinerary and trip seems to last about as long as driving.
  • Greyhound bus, apparently $24 / person and 2 h long based on comment below. Not quite as comfortable as a train.

I have seen a lot of people online suggesting renting or the shuttle bus, but surprisingly little recommending the train. Is there a specific reason? Is it unreliable, uncomfortable, or inconvenient? In general I haven't really ever taken an Amtrak train, but I was surprised to see the tickets were so cheap.

My goal is to minimize cost without adding too much time or inconvenience/discomfort. Seems pointless to rent a car just for a couple hours.



Best Answer

Based on your description, it seems Amtrak would be the most practical option. A car would be faster, but all things considered, Amtrak is also an option.

The Amtrak stations are not city-center so Uber, cab or local bus would be required.

I have travelled on various inter-city Amtrak services and I would describe it as 'perfectly serviceable'. The seats are fine for 2-3 hours but describing them as 'sleeper' is a huge exaggeration.

Amtrak is either on-time...or it's not. That segment is right in the middle of the long-haul service so some delay wouldn't be surprising.




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Traveling by train from Savannah GA to Charleston SC - A Woman Leaning Out of a Window Train
Traveling by train from Savannah GA to Charleston SC - Exteriors of modern illuminated glass buildings in downtown at night
Traveling by train from Savannah GA to Charleston SC - People Walking Near Train



Can you take a train from Savannah to Charleston?

There are 2 daily trains from Savannah to North Charleston. Traveling by train from Savannah to North Charleston usually takes around 10 hours and 46 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Palmetto train can make the trip in one hour and 33 minutes.

Does Amtrak go into Charleston South Carolina?

Charleston, SC (CHS) | Amtrak.

How do I get from Charleston to Savannah without a car?

The best way to get from Charleston to Savannah without a car is to line 10 bus and line 104 bus and train which takes 4h 21m and costs $30 - $50. How long does it take to get from Charleston to Savannah? It takes approximately 4h 21m to get from Charleston to Savannah, including transfers.

Does Amtrak go through Savannah Georgia?

Amtrak's Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains travels along the east coast to Savannah from major cities including New York, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Orlando and Miami.



Taking Amtrak silver meteor from Charleston SC to Savanah GA




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