How to Book Train Travel From Charleston to Savannah

Travel by train from Charleston to Savannah for a scenic, inexpensive and time-saving alternative to motor vehicle travel between these beautiful Southern cities. At a little over an hour in travel time, Amtrak's Silver Meteor and Palmetto lines whisks passengers from a mini-metropolis to a charming, slow-moving Eden of Southern living at less cost than a tank of gas.

Things You'll Need

• A credit or debit card.
• A computer or PDA with access to the Internet.

Instructions

Book Tickets

1. PDA your way into a Charleston-bound reservation with Amtrak's new PDA-friendly Web feature.

2. Procure the best deals via by booking via the Internet, but call if you're confused. Amtrak's automated phone system is a snap, and the phone reservationists are feeling neglected since the online revolution.

3. Save a few bucks by booking early. Last-minute reservations can cost over $30 extra, and be impossible to come by.

4. Book Silver Meteor morning service if you're an early riser, and grab breakfast in Savannah. Choose the Palmetto service to travel later in the day.

5. Visit Amtrak's Web site for the least expensive and most efficient means of procuring tickets from Charleston to Savannah.

Prepare for Train Travel

1. Make advance transportation arrangements to the Charleston station on Gaynor Street, as it's about 8 miles from downtown!

2. Pack light, a beverage at most, as this short jaunt will be over before you know it.

3. Negotiate taxi fare before getting underway to the Charleston station, or risk spending a lot more than you should on transportation.

4. Hit the snack car for a wide array of snacks, quick bites, beer, wine and sodas or fill up on Southern yummies in Charleston.

Tips & Warnings

• Book holiday and weekend travel early, as limited departures and higher volume make reservations scarce!

• Click your way into a hot deal by clicking the orange button of the same name at Amtrak's Web site.

• Give the AAA a call, if you're a member. You can make reservations and sometimes get discounts by using their travel service.

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

• Charleston is short on cabs, so midday excursions bode better if you'll require a public lift to the train station!

• Don't dream of boarding without a ticket. You risk arrest or citation at worst, big time hassle at least!

• Know that limited service between Charleston and Savannah can spell sell outs, so book early!