There are 7 ways to get from Charleston to Washington DC by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), car, subway, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Charleston International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
best- Fly from Charleston International Airport (CHS) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)plane CHS - DCA
3h 29m$555–1,074Fly Charleston International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport, subway
cheapest- Fly from Charleston International Airport (CHS) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)plane CHS - IAD
- Take the subway from Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform to McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 1 Platformsubway
4h 1m$81–473Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Charleston Amtrak Station to Alexandriatrain Palmetto / ...
10h 11m$303–459Bus
- Take the bus from Charleston Bus Station to Raleigh Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0645S
- Take the bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Washington Union Stationbus Greyhound US0700 / ...
15h 32m$102–172Drive 498.5 mi
- Drive from Charleston to Washington DCcar 498.5 mi
9h 20m$86–124Fly Charleston International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, train
- Fly from Charleston International Airport (CHS) to Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)plane CHS - BWI
- Take the train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Stationtrain
4h 19m$784–1,442Drive to Hilton Head Airport, fly to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Drive from Charleston to Hilton Head Airport (HHH)car
- Fly from Hilton Head Airport (HHH) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)plane HHH - DCA
4h 39m$116–629
Charleston to Washington DC by bus and foot
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Charleston to Washington DC is to drive which costs $85 - $130 and takes 9h 20m.
The fastest way to get from Charleston to Washington DC is to fly which takes 3h 29m and costs $550 - $1,100.
No, there is no direct bus from Charleston to Washington DC. However, there are services departing from Mary St / Meeting St and arriving at Franklin Square+Bay A via N. Charleston SuperStop, Charleston Bus Station, Raleigh Bus Station and H St NE+Union Station Garage. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 32m.
No, there is no direct train from Charleston station to Washington DC. However, there are services departing from Charleston Amtrak Station and arriving at Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 1 Platform via King St-Old Town, Yellow/Blue Line Center Platform. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 11m.
The distance between Charleston and Washington DC is 467 miles. The road distance is 501.5 miles.
The best way to get from Charleston to Washington DC without a car is to train which takes 10h 11m and costs $300 - $460.
It takes approximately 3h 29m to get from Charleston to Washington DC, including transfers.
Charleston to Washington DC bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Charleston Bus Station.
Charleston to Washington DC train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Charleston Amtrak Station.
The best way to get from Charleston to Washington DC is to fly which takes 3h 29m and costs $550 - $1,100. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $300 - $460 and takes 10h 11m, you could also bus, which costs $100 - $180 and takes 15h 32m.
What companies run services between Charleston, SC, USA and Washington DC, USA?
American Airlines flies from Charleston International Airport (CHS) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) every 4 hours. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Charleston Amtrak Station to Alexandria twice daily. Tickets cost $270–420 and the journey takes 9h 16m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Charleston International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
Flights from Charleston International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Wednesday, Monday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $100–650
Flights from Charleston International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Tuesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $80–490
Flights from Charleston International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 46m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $80–470
Flights from Hilton Head Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–600
Flights from Hilton Head Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–600
Flights from Hilton Head Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 22m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $110–650
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Charleston International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–450
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Charleston International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–470
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Charleston International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Charleston Amtrak Station to Alexandria
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 16m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $270–420
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $16–26
- Website
- Amtrak
Subway from Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform to McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 1 Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–3
- Website
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- Phone
- 1-866-743-3682
- Website
- Maryland Transit
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- Maryland Transit
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- Amtrak Acela
- Website
- Amtrak
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Charleston Bus Station to Raleigh Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Charleston to Washington DC bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Raleigh Bus Station.
Charleston to Washington DC train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Alexandria station.
Yes, the driving distance between Charleston to Washington DC is 501 miles. It takes approximately 9h 20m to drive from Charleston to Washington DC.
There are 1607+ hotels available in Washington DC.