There are 7 ways to get from Washington DC to Charleston 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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Charleston International Airport
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Charleston International Airport (CHS)plane DCA - CHS
4h 45m$415–1,106Drive 500 mi
cheapest- Drive from Washington DC to Charlestoncar 500 mi
9h 18m$92–132Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Charleston Amtrak Stationtrain Silver Meteor / ...
10h 54m$192–372Bus
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Raleigh Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0700 / ...
- Take the bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Charleston Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0645S
16h 14m$101–196Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to Charleston International Airport
- Take the subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platformsubway
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Charleston International Airport (CHS)plane IAD - CHS
5h 20m$554–1,105Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to Charleston International Airport
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshalltrain
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to Charleston International Airport (CHS)plane BWI - CHS
5h 24m$386–1,754Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Hilton Head Airport, drive
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Hilton Head Airport (HHH)plane DCA - HHH
- Drive from Hilton Head Airport (HHH) to Charlestoncar
5h 47m$121–631
Washington DC to Charleston by foot and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington DC to Charleston is to drive which costs $90 - $140 and takes 9h 18m.
The fastest way to get from Washington DC to Charleston is to fly which takes 4h 45m and costs $410 - $1,200.
No, there is no direct bus from Washington DC to Charleston. However, there are services departing from 13 St NW+G St NW and arriving at Transit Mall via Washington Union Station, Raleigh Bus Station, North Charleston Transit Center and Rivers Ave / Cosgrove Ave. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 14m.
No, there is no direct train from Washington DC to Charleston station. However, there are services departing from Metro Center, Red Line Track 1 Platform and arriving at Charleston Amtrak Station via Washington Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 54m.
The distance between Washington DC and Charleston is 469 miles. The road distance is 502.9 miles.
The best way to get from Washington DC to Charleston without a car is to train which takes 10h 54m and costs $190 - $380.
It takes approximately 4h 45m to get from Washington DC to Charleston, including transfers.
Washington DC to Charleston bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Washington Union Station.
Washington DC to Charleston train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Washington Union Station.
The best way to get from Washington DC to Charleston is to fly which takes 4h 45m and costs $410 - $1,200. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $190 - $380 and takes 10h 54m, you could also bus, which costs $100 - $200 and takes 16h 14m.
What companies run services between Washington DC, USA and Charleston, SC, USA?
American Airlines and Delta fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Charleston International Airport (CHS) every 2 hours. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Washington Union Station to Charleston Amtrak Station twice daily. Tickets cost $160–330 and the journey takes 9h 24m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Charleston International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Charleston International Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Charleston International Airport via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–700
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Charleston International Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–370
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Charleston International Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–440
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Hilton Head Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Hilton Head Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Charleston International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–430
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Charleston International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Charleston International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Charleston International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–550
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Charleston International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–360
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to Charleston Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 24m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $160–330
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–20
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 202 466 3876
- Website
- wmata.com
Subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–3
- Website
- https://www.wmata.com
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- Phone
- 1-866-743-3682
- Website
- mta.maryland.gov
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- https://www.mta.maryland.gov
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Raleigh Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–80
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Charleston Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–110
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Raleigh Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Schedules at
- greyhound.com
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Raleigh Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Raleigh Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $40–70
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Washington DC to Charleston bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Raleigh Bus Station.
Washington DC to Charleston train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Charleston Amtrak Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington DC to Charleston is 503 miles. It takes approximately 9h 18m to drive from Washington DC to Charleston.
There are 1678+ hotels available in Charleston.














