How much is the train ticket from Philadelphia to Charleston?

The cheapest train tickets from Philadelphia to Charleston start from R 1 597. The average price for this train route is around R 2 224. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from Philadelphia to Charleston?

The average train journey time from Philadelphia to Charleston is 12h, covering a distance of 898 km. The quickest train can get you there in 12h and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the Philadelphia to Charleston route?

Several major train operators run on this route, with 2 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Philadelphia to Charleston?

The earliest train from Philadelphia to Charleston departs at 07:30. And the latest train departs at 16:15.

Train Philadelphia to Charleston from R 1 523 | Refundable Tickets

Next train departures

Next departures from Philadelphia to Charleston on 13 December
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	CheapestFastest
	Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags

Next departures from Philadelphia to Charleston on 14 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	CheapestFastest
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags

Next departures from Philadelphia to Charleston on 15 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	CheapestFastest
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags

Next departures from Philadelphia to Charleston on 16 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	CheapestFastest
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags

Next departures from Philadelphia to Charleston on 17 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	CheapestFastest
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags

Next departures from Philadelphia to Charleston on 18 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	CheapestFastest
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags

Next departures from Philadelphia to Charleston on 19 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	CheapestFastest
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags

Next departures from Philadelphia to Charleston on 20 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	CheapestFastest
Train	07:30	30th Street Station	12h	19:30	Charleston Station	No tags
Train	16:15	30th Street Station	12h 33m	04:48	Charleston Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 11:33 PM EST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from Philadelphia to Charleston

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as a good way to reach Charleston. The journey takes about 12 hours and with fares starting at just R 1 597, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2train per day

12hAverage duration

898 kmDistance

82kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 1 456 - R 4 993	Average duration23h 25m	CO₂ emissions 23kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 1 597 - R 5 016	Average duration12h	CO₂ emissions 82kg CO₂e

Train Companies

Amtrak

4/55 641 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

Based on 5641 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at R 1 597

US train companies: Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Philadelphia, PA to Charleston, SC, US by train

Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or differ at the time of your trip.

How much is the train ticket from Philadelphia to Charleston?
The cheapest train tickets from Philadelphia to Charleston start from R 1 597. The average price for this train route is around R 2 224. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from Philadelphia to Charleston?
The average train journey time from Philadelphia to Charleston is 12h, covering a distance of 898 km. The quickest train can get you there in 12h and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the Philadelphia to Charleston route?
Several major train operators run on this route, with 2 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Philadelphia to Charleston?
The earliest train from Philadelphia to Charleston departs at 07:30. And the latest train departs at 16:15.

Find cheapest prices for trains

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

11/12

R 2 647

12/12

R 3 235

Today

R 2 647

14/12

R 3 235

15/12

R 2 647

16/12

R 1 523

17/12

R 1 782

18/12

R 1 523

The cheapest trip from Philadelphia, PA to Charleston, SC, US was searched and found on 16 Dec 2025 with a price of R 1 523

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from Philadelphia, PA to Charleston, SC, US as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from R 1 523 to R 10 950 for a train ticket from Philadelphia, PA to Charleston, SC, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 1 523, which is on 2025-12-16.