Between Marion Square in Charleston and Johnson Square in Savannah, driving is the simplest choice if you already have a car. Amtrak gives you a through train journey, but both stations require a transfer to or from the centre. Greyhound and FlixBus bring you closer to central Savannah, with a longer journey and less freedom over when you leave.
Compare the whole journey, not just the ticket: a public-transport fare is per person, while a taxi can be shared. Your luggage, party size and plans after arriving can change which option makes sense.
Car, train or bus?
| Criterion | Existing car | Amtrak plus taxis | Greyhound/FlixBus plus taxi and walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined travel components | About 2 hoursBest | About 2 and a half hours, using Silver Meteor | About 3 hours 45 minutes minimum |
| Transfers | NoneBest | Taxi–train–taxi; no train change | Taxi–coach–walk |
| One-way cost and unit | Roughly $15–25 fuel per vehicle; parking extra | Rail ticket: —; roughly $45–80 total taxis per vehicle | Ticket from $19.98 per adult; roughly $25–45 taxi per vehicle |
| Service frequency | Leave when you choose | 2 southbound trains daily, weekdays and weekends | At least 1 trip daily |
| Limiting last departure | No scheduled limitBest | — | 1:50pm daily from North Charleston |
Choose the car for departure freedom, particularly if you want to leave later in the day. The driving cost here assumes you already have the vehicle. A hire car adds rental charges. Fuel use and pump prices move the estimate, while taxi prices vary with demand and pickup arrangements.
Without a car, Amtrak suits you if you prefer a rail journey and can arrange both station transfers. The coach suits an afternoon departure and a walk at the Savannah end. Its starting ticket price is not the complete journey cost: add the Charleston taxi for your party.
With children or several bags, consider each loading and unloading, not just the ride. Taxis keep the train journey manageable at both ends. The coach’s final walk is more appealing with light luggage, since a further taxi would add cost. Shared transfer costs can make rail more attractive for a group, but every traveller still needs their own ticket.
Driving via US-17 and I-95
From Marion Square, the direct drive to Johnson Square follows US-17 and I-95 for about 108 miles and takes about 2 hours. There are no tolls on this route into central Savannah. The main advantage is staying with your bags from departure to arrival, rather than moving them between taxis and public transport.
Yes, the drive has scenic stretches, especially along US-17 through Lowcountry marshland. Tidal creeks and broad salt marshes are visible from the road, and the journey includes crossing the Savannah River near the state line. These are sights along the direct route, not a reason to treat the entire trip as a leisurely coastal drive: the interstate portion is principally about getting south.
If you need to hire a car, allow roughly $50–100 per day for a standard vehicle before taxes, insurance and any one-way drop-off fee. Busy dates and returning the car in a different city can push the cost higher. For a single traveller making a one-way trip, those extras may outweigh the convenience, while for a group returning to Charleston, sharing the vehicle cost can be more appealing.
A driving day trip is workable if you leave early and reserve time for the return. Keep traffic and breaks outside the travel allowance in the comparison, and decide when you want to be back before adding activities in Savannah. Johnson Square places you in the Historic District, where you can leave the car parked and enjoy the squares on foot. A focused visit with a meal and time to stroll is more comfortable than trying to cover the whole city before driving back.
Amtrak services and station transfers
You can take a through Amtrak train from Charleston to Savannah on the Palmetto or Silver Meteor, staying on the same train throughout. From the Marion Square starting point, however, you first need to reach Charleston Amtrak station in North Charleston, rather than a station in Charleston’s historic centre.
The station is at 4565 Gaynor Avenue, on the transport-centre property also used by intercity coaches. A taxi from Marion Square takes about 17 minutes. Allow roughly $25–45 per vehicle for this transfer, with demand and the pickup arrangement affecting the price. Tell the driver you are boarding Amtrak so you reach the rail entrance rather than the bus boarding area.
The Silver Meteor rail leg to Savannah takes about 2 hours. The train lets you leave the driving to someone else, but the station-to-station ride is only part of the trip. Keep your ticket ready for the conductor, showing the barcode for an eTicket, and carry valid photo ID to show if requested. Buy your ticket before boarding at a staffed station or one with an Amtrak kiosk.
Savannah Amtrak station is on Seaboard Coastline Drive, outside the Historic District. The final taxi ride to Johnson Square takes about 13 minutes. Allow roughly $20–35 per vehicle. This transfer gets you into the central squares without having to carry your bags on a long approach from the station.
Taxis often wait outside for arriving trains, but arrange a cab to meet a very early or late arrival rather than relying on one being there. Give the cab company your train details when arranging pickup. Uber and Lyft are alternatives, though you still need to allow for a vehicle to reach you. Keep the transfer arrangements accessible during the rail journey, especially if Johnson Square is only an intermediate stop before your accommodation.
Greyhound and FlixBus
Greyhound and FlixBus offer the North Charleston–Savannah connection, with a published minimum bus journey of 3 hours 10 minutes. Starting again from Marion Square, you need a taxi to North Charleston before boarding. The coach then arrives within walking reach of Johnson Square, unlike the outlying Amtrak station.
Charleston Bus Station is on the North Charleston Transit Center property at 4565 Gaynor Avenue. The taxi approach from Marion Square takes about 17 minutes, using the same transport-centre destination as the rail transfer. Ask station staff for the bus boarding location, rather than assuming you should use the Amtrak entrance. Leave room in your departure plans to find the correct boarding point with your bags.
- Name
- Greyhound Bus Lines
- Location
- 4565 Gaynor Ave, Charleston, SC 29405 Maps
Have a valid printed or electronic ticket ready to present when boarding. If your journey uses another carrier, Greyhound requires a printed ticket. Keeping a paper copy accessible is particularly useful when you are carrying luggage and cannot easily retrieve a phone or charge it.
In Savannah, the coach stops at Savannah Bus Station, 610 West Oglethorpe Avenue. The walk to Johnson Square is about 0.7 miles and takes about 16 minutes. Choose the final walk if your luggage is comfortable to carry or wheel, but with children, heavy bags or limited walking mobility, a taxi from the bus station may be the better finish. That adds a separate ride to the ticket and Charleston transfer costs.
- Name
- Greyhound Package Express
- Location
- 610 W Oglethorpe Ave, Savannah, GA 31401 Maps
Sources & fact-checking
Checks against the sources below cover: services, fares and charges, and key figures.
