The cheapest and fastest trains from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC
Cheapest price
$36
Average price
$37
Fastest journey
2 h 21 m
Average duration
2 h 33 m
Trains per day
11
Distance
179 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC will cost around $37 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $36.
Of the 11 trains that leave Charlotte, NC for Chapel Hill, NC on Thu, Jun 04, 10 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Jun 04 the direct trains cover the 179 km distance in an average of 2 h 33 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 21 m .
On Thu, Jun 04 the slowest trains will take 2 h 39 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
72 Piedmont10:25 AM2h35Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC1:00 PMDurham Station, Durham, NC$361One-way0 transfers
72 Piedmont10:25 AM3h01Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC1:26 PMCary Station, Cary, NC$361One-way0 transfers
76 Piedmont5:05 PM2h21Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC7:26 PMDurham Station, Durham, NC$361One-way0 transfers
74 Piedmont2:20 PM3h00Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC5:20 PMCary Station, Cary, NC$361One-way0 transfers
80 Carolinian6:45 AM2h38Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC9:23 AMDurham Station, Durham, NC$361One-way0 transfers
76 Piedmont5:05 PM2h21Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC7:26 PMDurham Station, Durham, NC$361One-way0 transfers
78 Piedmont7:45 PM2h30Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC10:15 PMDurham Station, Durham, NC$361One-way0 transfers
72 Piedmont10:25 AM2h35Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC1:00 PMDurham Station, Durham, NC$361One-way0 transfers
80 Carolinian6:45 AM2h38Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC9:23 AMDurham Station, Durham, NC$361One-way0 transfers
74 Piedmont2:20 PM2h39Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC4:59 PMDurham Station, Durham, NC$361One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $33. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 2h 35m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $33, and a flight costs an average of $141.
Distance: 111 miles (179 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$35 Average price Cheapest | $38 Average price | $412 Average price | $26 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 5m Average total duration Fastest 2h 35m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 45m Average total duration 3h 15m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 49m Average total duration 2h 49m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 2h 10m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC:
A train is $3 (€2) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC costing on average $38 (€31).
A train is $377 (€305) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC costing on average $412 (€333).
Other travel options to Chapel Hill, NC take longer:
Flight takes on average 2h 49m.
Bus takes on average 3h 15m.
Tickets start at around $35 (€28) compared to roughly $26 (€21) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-9.21 (€-7.45). The journey takes 2h 35m versus 2h 10m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
Live departures
Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC train times
The table below shows live departures for Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC trains for today, Wednesday, June 3. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 11:45 PM Charlotte, NC | 2h30 | 2:15 AM Chapel Hill, NC | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Thursday, June 4 | |||||
80 Carolinian | 6:45 AM Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC | 2h38 | 9:23 AM Durham Station, Durham, NC | 0 transfersDirect | |
80 Carolinian | 6:45 AM Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC | 3h00 | 9:45 AM Cary Station, Cary, NC | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC by bus, train, or flight
Compare bus, train, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Jun 04
Jun 05
Jun 06
Jun 07
Jun 08
Jun 09
Jun 10
Journey information
Overview: Train from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC
Trains from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC run on average 10 times per day, taking around 2h 35m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $33 (€26) but you can travel from only $25 (€21) by bus.
There are 9 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 06:42, the last at 19:58. The fastest train covers the 111 miles (179 km) distance in 2h 30m.
Distance 111 miles (179 km) |
Average train duration 2h 35m |
Cheapest ticket price $33 (€26) |
Trains per day 10 |
Direct trains 9 |
Fastest train 2h 30m |
First train 6:42 AM |
Last train 7:58 PM |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 7 days |
Train companies: Amtrak from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC trainsAmtrak trains will get you between Charlotte, NC and Chapel Hill, NC from $25 (€21). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Trains from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Chapel Hill, NC, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC
- 24 hours Monday - Sunday
- Free
- Parking is available on site with both short-term and long-term options.
- Alexander Michael's
- The King's Kitchen
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps.
- $0.50
- The Westin Charlotte
- Hilton Charlotte Uptown
- Omni Charlotte Hotel
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, ticket office, and waiting area
- Hall 2: platform access
- Bus: CATS Bus Routes 11, 21, 22
- Light Rail: LYNX Blue Line nearby
Most popular train connections from Charlotte, NC
More options for your journey from Charlotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
