Is there a way to reach Charleston from Philadelphia without flying?

You have the option of traveling from one city to the other by either bus or train. The two options are convenient and sustainable ways to reach Charleston. Another option you should consider is using carpooling services, which allow you to share a car ride with other travelers.

How long does it take to get to Charleston from Philadelphia by bus?

The travel time from Philadelphia to Charleston is about 23h 5m, but the quickest bus can get you there in about 18h 10m. This is the time it takes to travel the 562 miles (906 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Philadelphia and Charleston?

About 562 miles (906 km) separate Philadelphia and Charleston.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Philadelphia to Charleston?

If you're headed to Charleston from Philadelphia, chances are that your bus will leave from Philadelphia Airport and arrive at Charleston Bus Station. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the most cost-effective way to travel from Philadelphia to Charleston?

The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus. $70 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Charleston from Philadelphia.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Philadelphia to Charleston?

The average price of a one-way ticket from Philadelphia to Charleston is $101. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $70 and $183, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

What are the best sights and things to do in Charleston?

Once in Charleston, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Middleton Place, Fort Sumter, Dock Street Theatre, Theatre 99 and Charleston Ghost and Dungeon Tour.

Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Philadelphia to Charleston?

Yes, you can take a night bus to go from Philadelphia to Charleston. Remember to bring along essentials like a blanket and some snacks to ensure a cozy and convenient journey.

Philadelphia (PA) to Charleston (SC), US Bus Tickets

Compare 2 ways to go from Philadelphia to Charleston.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$70 - $183	Average Duration23h 5m	CO₂ emissions 22kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$86 - $415	Average Duration12h 28m	CO₂ emissions 82kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends taking the train from Philadelphia to Charleston

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Charleston. The journey takes about 12 hours 28 minutes and with fares starting at just $86, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2train per day

12h 28mAverage Duration

$86Cheapest ticket

82kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Philadelphia to Charleston: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$101

Average bus trip duration23h 5m

Number of daily buses7

Earliest bus departure7:05am

Distance557 miles (897 km)

Latest bus departure11:30pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,404 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Greyhound

3.5/586,945 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Los Limousines, Tornado Bus, Valley Transit, New York Trailways, Wanda Coach

Philadelphia to Charleston Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Philadelphia to Charleston. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make it our job to connect you with the most dependable bus companies that cover bus service from Philadelphia to Charleston.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Charleston from Philadelphia, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in Philadelphia and Charleston?

Stops in Philadelphia

A - Philadelphia Airport

B - JFK Bd & N 30th St

C - #2842 St.Vincent St

D - Bus Station

E - Island Av & Suffolk Av MBFS

F - Independence Travel Center

Stops in Charleston

A - Charleston Bus Station

Frequently asked questions for your trip Philadelphia - Charleston

Is there a way to reach Charleston from Philadelphia without flying?
How long does it take to get to Charleston from Philadelphia by bus?
What is the distance between Philadelphia and Charleston?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Philadelphia to Charleston?
What is the most cost-effective way to travel from Philadelphia to Charleston?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Philadelphia to Charleston?
What are the best sights and things to do in Charleston?
Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Philadelphia to Charleston?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

04/23

$84

04/24

$152

Today

$91

04/26

$85

04/27

$89

04/28

No data

04/29

No data

04/30

$82

The cheapest trip from Philadelphia to Charleston was searched and found on Apr 30, 2025 with a price of $82

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Philadelphia to Charleston, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $82 to $162 for a bus ticket from Philadelphia to Charleston based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $82 which is on 2025-04-30.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Philadelphia and Charleston!

From miles long of beauteous natural landscapes to impressive man-crafted sights, you're bound to be in for a visual treat on your bus trip from Philadelphia to Charleston.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Philadelphia to Charleston.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from Philadelphia to Charleston while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

What's the cheapest way to go from Philadelphia to Charleston?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time23h 5m	Avg Price$101	Daily Departures7
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time12h 28m	Avg Price$126	Daily Departures2

Will you be returning to Philadelphia by bus?

Bus from Philadelphia to Charleston

You can also go to Charleston by train

Train from Philadelphia to Charleston

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud helps you easily search, compare and book intercity bus tickets on a worldwide scale with our comprehensive list of bus routes and schedules. With Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Philadelphia, PA to Charleston, SC