Taking the Train to Savannah: Amtrak Station to Downtown Guide

Taking the train to Savannah works well, as long as you know the station is not downtown. The short answer: Amtrak's Savannah station sits at 2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive, on the west side of the city, roughly 4 miles from the Historic District. Visit Savannah puts it at a 10- to 15-minute drive. Rideshare is the simplest way into town, and CAT's Route 29 bus is the budget option when your arrival lines up with its schedule.

Facts below come from Amtrak's station page, Visit Savannah's Amtrak page, Chatham Area Transit (CAT), and a September 2026 Amtrak timetable. Checked October 22, 2026. Train times and bus schedules change, so confirm both for your exact travel date.

TL;DR: Amtrak to Savannah

• Station address: 2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive, Savannah, GA 31401. It is not walkable to the Historic District.
• Trains: the Palmetto (which ends its run in Savannah), the Silver Meteor, and the Floridian.
• Fastest way downtown: Uber or Lyft, about 10 to 15 minutes by car.
• Cheapest way downtown: CAT Route 29 W. Gwinnett to the downtown transit center, $1.50 one way, exact cash or the Token Transit app.
• Watch the clock: some trains stop in Savannah in the middle of the night. Plan your ride before you board.

Where Is the Savannah Amtrak Station?

The station is at 2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive, west of downtown and outside the squares most visitors come for. It opened in 1962, built by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to replace the old Savannah Union Station. Amtrak describes the building as a fine example of mid-century modern architecture, with brightly colored murals inside showing the history of the city and its port.

Because it is a few miles out, do not plan to walk from the platform to your hotel. The road between the station and the Historic District is built for cars, not for people rolling suitcases. Treat the station the way you would treat the airport: a short ride you arrange before you arrive. Our guide to distances around Savannah puts the rest of the region in context.

Which Amtrak Trains Stop in Savannah?

Three Amtrak routes call at Savannah, and a timetable dated September 2026 lists all three:

• Palmetto: the daytime train from New York through Washington, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Savannah is the end of the line, so it is the one route that does not continue into Florida.
• Silver Meteor: the New York to Miami train, with Savannah as a stop between Charleston and Jacksonville.
• Floridian: the Chicago to Miami train via Washington. It took over from the Silver Star in November 2024.

Coming from Charleston? The Palmetto and the Silver Meteor both stop there, which makes the train a car-free way to pair the two cities. Our Savannah vs. Charleston comparison helps you decide how to split the days.

The station handles real traffic. Amtrak counted 73,969 passengers there in fiscal year 2025, per Wikipedia's station entry.

What Time Do Trains Arrive in Savannah?

This is the question that catches people out. In that September 2026 timetable, the Floridian stopped in Savannah in the middle of the night in both directions, and the Silver Meteor's southbound stop came in the early morning. The northbound Silver Meteor and the Palmetto ran at friendlier hours.

We are not printing exact times here, because Amtrak shifts schedules for holidays, track work, and special events. Look up your train on Amtrak.com a few days before you travel and again the day of. If your arrival falls between midnight and dawn, the next two sections matter more.

How Do You Get From the Amtrak Station to Downtown Savannah?

Rideshare: the easy default

Visit Savannah notes that rideshare services are available from the station, and it is the best fit for most travelers. It is door to door, the trip is short, and you do not have to match a bus schedule. For late-night arrivals, open the app before the train pulls in, since drivers can be thin at 2 a.m.

CAT Route 29: the budget option

Chatham Area Transit says Route 29 W. Gwinnett runs between the Amtrak station and the downtown transit center on West Oglethorpe Avenue. CAT lists a local one-way fare of $1.50 and an all-day pass of $3. Fares on the bus are cash only with exact change, or you can buy a pass on the Token Transit app. Transfers are free if you ask for one when you pay on the first bus.

The bus only helps if it is running when your train arrives. Check the Route 29 schedule on catchacat.org before you commit, and plan on a rideshare for overnight arrivals. Once you are downtown, CAT's free DOT shuttle loops the Historic District and connects with the Savannah Belles Ferry, which covers a lot of ground at no cost. Our Savannah on a budget guide has more ways to keep the trip cheap.

Driving or getting picked up

Visit Savannah lists same-day and overnight parking at the station, though it does not post rates. That is handy if a local friend is picking you up, or if you are leaving a car there for a round trip. If you plan to rent a car in town, remember that downtown parking is its own project. Our Historic District parking guide covers garages and meters.

Local tip: if your train lands in the middle of the night, book a hotel with a front desk that stays staffed overnight and tell them your arrival time. Then wait inside the station until your rideshare is close, rather than standing out front.

What Is at the Station?

According to Visit Savannah, the Savannah station is staffed, with ticketing, checked baggage, restrooms, accessible facilities, and vending machines. Do not count on a café or a full meal there, and eat before a long ride. Amtrak's station page lists hours and services, so check it if you need checked baggage or ticket-office help at an odd hour.

Do You Need a Car Once You Arrive by Train?

For most trips, no. The Historic District is compact, flat, and laid out around its squares, so you can walk to the restaurants, museums, and riverfront that fill most itineraries. Our walkability guide explains where walking works and where it does not.

A car starts to make sense if you want Tybee Island, Bonaventure Cemetery, or day trips beyond the city. Even then, many visitors skip the rental and use rideshare or a tour for those outings. For sightseeing without a car, a hop-on hop-off trolley tour covers the downtown highlights, and many Savannah ghost tours start on foot from the squares.

Where Should You Stay If You Arrive by Train?

Pick your hotel for the trip, not for the station. The ride from the station is short to anywhere downtown, so the station barely narrows your choice. Our where to stay in Savannah guide compares the neighborhoods.

If you want the shortest possible ride after a late train, look at the west end of the Historic District, which is the side of downtown closest to the station. The Bluff Hotel on West Bay Street and the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District on West River Street both sit on that end. Browse every option in our Savannah hotels directory, including the boutique hotels closer to the squares.

Train vs. Flying Into Savannah: Which Is Better?

It depends on where you start. From the Carolinas, Virginia, or the Northeast Corridor, the train is a relaxed option with no airport security line, and Savannah connects directly to Charleston and Jacksonville. From farther away, flying into Savannah/Hilton Head International is usually faster. Both arrival points sit outside the Historic District, and both are a short ride from downtown. Our airport to downtown guide covers the flying side.

Bottom Line: Taking Amtrak to Savannah

The train to Savannah drops you about 4 miles west of the Historic District at 2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive. Rideshare gets you downtown in 10 to 15 minutes, and CAT's Route 29 does it for $1.50 if the schedule lines up. Check your train time on Amtrak.com, plan ahead for any overnight arrival, and once you are downtown, leave the car behind and walk. Start planning with our Savannah travel guides.