The cheapest and fastest trains from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC
Cheapest price
$98
Average price
$142
Fastest journey
8 h
Average duration
9 h 12 m
Trains per day
3
Distance
529 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC will cost around $142 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $98.
Of the 3 trains that leave Washington Union Station, Washington, DC for Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC on Thu, May 07, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, May 07 the direct trains cover the 529 km distance in an average of 9 h 12 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 8 h .
On Thu, May 07 the slowest trains will take 9 h 48 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.
5:10 PM9h48Washington Union Station, Washington, DC2:58 AMCharlotte Station, Charlotte, NC$981One-way0 transfers
4:08 PM9h48Washington Union Station, Washington, DC1:56 AMCharlotte Station, Charlotte, NC$1401One-way0 transfers
11:30 PM8h00Washington Union Station, Washington, DC7:30 AMCharlotte Station, Charlotte, NC$1891One-way0 transfers
11:30 PM8h00Washington Union Station, Washington, DC7:30 AMCharlotte Station, Charlotte, NC$1891One-way0 transfers
4:08 PM9h48Washington Union Station, Washington, DC1:56 AMCharlotte Station, Charlotte, NC$1401One-way0 transfers
5:10 PM9h48Washington Union Station, Washington, DC2:58 AMCharlotte Station, Charlotte, NC$981One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $56. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 30m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $56, and a flight costs an average of $57.
Distance: 328 miles (529 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$159 Average price | $81 Average price Cheapest | $336 Average price | $77 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
9h 49m Average total duration 9h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 47m Average total duration 9h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 30m Average total duration Fastest 1h 30m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 6h 0m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC:
A bus is $77 (€62) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC costing on average $159 (€127).
A bus is $255 (€203) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC costing on average $336 (€268).
Other travel options to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC take longer:
Bus takes on average 9h 17m.
Train takes on average 9h 19m.
Tickets start at around $159 (€127) compared to roughly $77 (€62) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-81.33 (€-64.98). The journey takes 9h 19m versus 6h 0m 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
Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC train times
The table below shows live departures for Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC trains for today, Wednesday, May 6. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
79 Carolinian | 1:05 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h40 | 10:45 PM Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC | 0 transfersDirect | |
19 Crescent | 6:30 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h00 | 2:30 AM Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Thursday, May 7 | |||||
![]() | 4:08 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h48 | 1:56 AM Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC by train, bus, or flight
Compare train, bus, 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.
May 06
May 07
May 08
May 09
May 10
May 11
May 12
May 13
May 14
May 15
May 16
May 17
May 18
May 19
May 20
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 24
May 25
May 26
Journey information
Overview: Train from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC
Trains from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC run on average 2 times per day, taking around 9h 19m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $85 (€68) but you can travel from only $56 (€45) by bus.
There are 2 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 16:08, the last at 23:30. The fastest train covers the 328 miles (529 km) distance in 8h 0m.
Distance 328 miles (529 km) |
Average train duration 9h 19m |
Cheapest ticket price $85 (€68) |
Trains per day 2 |
Direct trains 2 |
Fastest train 8h 0m |
First train 4:08 PM |
Last train 11:30 PM |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Train companies: Amtrak from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC trainsAmtrak trains will get you between Washington Union Station, Washington, DC and Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC from $56 (€45). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Trains from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, 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 Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC
- Mon - Fri: 04:30 - 22:00
- Sat - Sun: 05:00 - 22:00
- Free Wi-Fi in the station courtesy of Amtrak.
- Amtrak provides temporary luggage storage for $10 per bag for 24 hours for customers holding Amtrak tickets.
- Shake Shack
- McDonald’s
- Starbucks
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop
- Chopt Creative Salad Co.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Thunder Grill
- Johnny Rockets
- Jamba Juice
- Ladurée Union Station
- & many more
- Elevators, escalators, wheelchair access. Accessible facilities including restrooms, parking, platforms, ticket office, waiting room.
- Hyatt Recency Washington On Capitol Hill
- Phoenix Park Hotel
- Kimpton George Hotel
- Mon - Fri: 04:30 - 22:00
- Sat - Sun: 05:00 - 22:00
- Located on the train concourse of Level G near the Amtrak Waiting Area.
- Metro lines: Red
- Bus lines: D6, D8, 80, 96,
- Train lines: Acela, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Fredericksburg Line, MARC Brunswick, MARC Camden, MARC Penn, Manassas Line, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Service/Palmetto, Vermonter
- 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 Washington Union Station, Washington, DC
More options for your journey from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC to Charlotte Station, Charlotte, NC
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need


