How to Book Train Travel From New York to Charleston

Traveling by rail from New York to Charleston, South Carolina offers magical vistas of colorful country and coastline inaccessible by auto. Spend half a day dreaming out windows full of Civil and Revolutionary War landscape, weaving American history scenery into your imagination.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• A phone.
• A computer with access to the Internet.
• A credit card.

Select Train Tickets

1. Take advantage of Amtrak's same day, direct 89 Palmetto service for early morning arrival into Charleston from New York with lounge car only service.

2. Catch up on sleep after getting your dining car fix, by traveling aboard Amtrak's 97 Silver Meteor service, departing New York each afternoon and arriving to Charleston very early the following day.

3. Opt out of Amtrak's Regional 67 service, which leaves New York in the wee hours and connects with the 89 Palmetto train in Washington D.C. Take this route, and you'll spend several extra hours at Union Station waiting for your connecting train.

4. Maximize efficiency by booking online. Once you've decided which route you want to take, book your tickets online at the Amtrak Web site.

Prepare for Your Train Ride

1. Arrive to the station at least 45 minutes prior to your departure time or risk losing your seat to last minute travelers!

2. Carry the credit card used to book your travel with you to the station for fast automated kiosk service, and you'll be able to forego longer lines at the ticket windows!

3. Know your station codes. Knowing that NYP and CHS stand for the New York and Charleston stations respectively can simplify your life and streamline your mechanized ticketing experience.

Enjoy Train Travel from New York to Charleston

1. Bring your own snacks and drinks so that you don't have to rely on the costly snack offerings found on daytime trains that have lounge service only.

2. Come prepared with cards, chess, backgammon or another popular, familiar game to make fast friends with other travelers in lounge cars.

3. Bring warm clothes or a blanket, as the trains can get cold.

4. Prop your head on the pillow you brought!

Tips & Warnings

• If the convenient 89 Palmetto service is fully committed, reserve tickets on the Regional 67 train and get to the station by 2:30 a.m.

• Verify important bookings at least one day prior to your departure, preferably via phone.

• Call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit the link below.

• Holiday weekends spell high-volume; book travel on major holidays at least 1 to 2 weeks in advance.

• Wireless signal lapses spell unreliable cellular phone and internet service on trains traveling the New York to Charleston route.