Amtrak brings you to Savannah, but its station is outside the Historic District. Plan the onward transfer as part of your train journey, especially for an early-morning arrival. Johnson Square is a useful central endpoint for comparing rail with flying and for finding your way into the district’s squares and streets.
Rail and flying
- Rail operator
- Amtrak
- Direct from New York Penn Station
- Palmetto and Silver Meteor
- Direct departures
- One per service daily, including weekends, in each direction
- Connecting example
- Acela to Washington, then Palmetto to Savannah
Choose rail for an overland journey or sleeping accommodation, and fly if your time is limited. Brightline serves South Florida and Orlando, not Savannah.
Between New York Penn Station and Johnson Square, budget roughly $120–$300 per person one-way for Amtrak coach, or $100–$350 for a flight from JFK to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Availability and departure date move both ranges, and a connecting rail ticket can cost more. Private rooms cost extra.
Rail rather than flying, New York Penn Station to Johnson Square
Pros
- The direct trains avoid changing in Washington and travelling out to JFK.
- Rail offers an overland journey, with a private sleeping room available on the Silver Meteor.
Cons
- The Acela–Palmetto example via Washington takes about 15 and a half hours to Savannah station, followed by a separate road transfer.
- Flying involves E subway and AirTrain access to JFK, about three quarters of an hour, then the flight and an onward drive of about 24 minutes to Johnson Square.
- Coach at roughly $120–$300 per person one-way is not necessarily cheaper than a $100–$350 flight. Both need a paid transfer in Savannah, and flying also needs separate subway and AirTrain tickets.
- Allow separately for rail boarding, connection waiting, airport procedures and vehicle pickup when planning when you will reach Johnson Square.
AirTrain costs $8.75 per adult one-way, separate from the subway ticket. For a taxi or rideshare, allow roughly $20–$35 per vehicle from Savannah station or $30–$50 from the airport. Traffic and rideshare demand can raise these estimates, while travellers sharing a vehicle divide the cost.
Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Floridian
The Palmetto offers coach and business-class seats, not beds. It stops at Savannah and suits travellers who are comfortable making the journey seated. Selecting a higher seating class does not turn it into an overnight sleeping compartment.
The Silver Meteor stops at Savannah on its New York–Miami route along the East Coast. Choose it from New York if you want a private sleeping room without a train change. Its accommodation includes roomettes, bedrooms and accessible bedrooms with overnight berths.
The Floridian also stops at Savannah and offers roomettes and bedrooms, subject to availability. Its corridor runs from Chicago to Miami via Washington. The Floridian is a temporary service combining the former Capitol Limited and Silver Star routes, so use the Floridian name when choosing that combined service, rather than treating Silver Star as a separate booking option.
A direct train keeps you on the same service through to Savannah. The Washington example instead changes from Acela to Palmetto. Allow time to reach the onward train, particularly if your first service is delayed. Missing an onward departure can mean an overnight stop, not simply taking another train shortly afterwards.
If you are approaching from South Carolina, Charleston to Savannah travel options compares the journey between the centres, including station transfers. That distinction matters because a train ticket alone does not take you into Savannah’s Historic District.
Tickets and boarding
Select Savannah, GA (SAV), your travel date and the accommodation you intend to use. A coach fare does not include a private compartment. Choose the room explicitly if you want berths rather than a seat. Amtrak recommends purchasing at least two weeks ahead for the lowest Savannah fares, and prices vary with availability.
For the New York departure, head to Moynihan Train Hall, Amtrak’s main boarding concourse at New York Penn Station. Between 1am and 5am, use Penn Station instead, where Amtrak operations are handled overnight. Allow time to find your boarding area rather than arriving as the train is due to leave.
Have a valid ticket before boarding. Show the mobile eTicket barcode to the conductor for scanning, with no printed ticket needed. Keep the barcode accessible on your device when you settle into your seat.
- Carry-on allowance: two items per passenger, each up to 50 lb and 28 × 22 × 14 inches.
- Personal-item allowance: one item up to 25 lb and 14 × 11 × 7 inches.
- Infants under 2: one additional infant item is permitted.
Pack so you can handle your luggage through the station and keep essentials within reach on board. If your ticket includes an Amtrak Connection service, its operating carrier may apply different baggage policies. The rail allowance does not automatically apply to that connecting vehicle.
The station to the Historic District
On arrival, Savannah station (SAV) is at 2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive, about 5 miles west of the Historic District. You arrive outside downtown, so arrange an onward ride or use the station bus rather than treating the rail platform as your central destination.
A taxi or rideshare to Johnson Square covers about 4.4 miles and takes about 13 minutes driving. Vehicle pickup adds time before you leave. Sharing a car spreads the cost, and it brings you straight to the central square without carrying luggage from the bus terminal.
CAT, Chatham Area Transit, runs Route 29 W. Gwinnett from the Amtrak station to the Joe Murray Rivers, Jr. Intermodal Transit Center at 610 W. Oglethorpe Avenue. Board at the station and alight at this downtown terminal.
The adult bus fare is $1.50 per person one-way. Bring exact-change cash or show an active Token Transit mobile ticket to the operator. If you need a free transfer for another bus, request it before paying.
From the transit centre, the walk to Johnson Square is about 0.6 miles and takes about 15 minutes. Keep your luggage in mind when choosing between that final walk and a direct car transfer.
For late arrivals or a delayed train, arrange a taxi or use an available rideshare rather than relying on the bus. Allow for vehicle availability as well as the drive, particularly when you arrive before daytime services begin.
Sources & fact-checking
Checks against the sources below cover: fares and charges, as well as services.
- Savannah, GA (SAV)
- Brightline — service
- Silver Service / Palmetto Train | Amtrak
- Palmetto Route Timetable | Amtrak
- Silver Meteor Route Timetable
- Palmetto | NC By Train
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Long Island Rail Road) — fares and charges
- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — fares and charges
- Floridian Route Timetable | Amtrak
- Floridian Train Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, Savannah, Tampa/Miami | Amtrak
- Trains to Savannah | Best Ticket Deals | Amtrak
- Travel Guide to Train Fares – Easy Online Booking Options | Amtrak
- Moynihan Train Hall | Amtrak
- eTicketing – You Have Questions. We Have Answers.
- Baggage 101 – What You Can Bring On Board | Amtrak
- Visiting Savannah – Chatham Area Transit (CAT)
- Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT) — service
- Route 29 W. Gwinnett/Cloverdale
- Chatham Area Transit Authority — service
