Traveling by public transportation

While Darlington, South Carolina, doesn’t have an extensive public transit network, there are still a few ways for race fans to reach Darlington Raceway via shuttle or rideshare – especially when planning ahead.

By shuttle

Fans attending the Cook Out Southern 500 can take advantage of the PDRTA Fan Shuttle service operating between the Florence Center in Florence and the Darlington Raceway.

Shuttles usually depart from the Florence Center (3300 W Radio Dr, Florence, SC) several times throughout the afternoon and head directly to the raceway before the event begins.

Return service from Darlington Raceway will start later in the evening, with the final shuttle leaving approximately 90 minutes after the end of the race.

All shuttle passengers are required to register in advance. This service is available to all race ticketholders.

By train

If you're planning to take the train to Darlington Raceway, the most practical option is to travel via Amtrak to Florence, South Carolina. Darlington itself doesn’t have a working train station, but Florence is just about 10 miles (16 km) away from the racetrack. Amtrak trains on the Palmetto and Silver Meteor routes stop in Florence daily, connecting the area with major cities like New York, Washington, Charleston, and Miami.

Once you arrive in Florence, there is no direct public transportation to the racetrack except a special PDRTA Fan Shuttle. 

The other most reliable option is to take a taxi or rideshare such as Uber or Lyft. The ride takes about 20 minutes and usually costs between $40 and $50, depending on demand and time of day. Local buses (PDRTA) may help you get into Darlington town, but they do not reach the track itself, so they’re not recommended unless you’re combining them with other transport or walking the last stretch.

For example, if you're coming from Charleston, you can board an Amtrak train to Florence, then take a taxi to Darlington Raceway. The same applies for cities farther away, such as Washington, DC, or Miami–you’ll take a long-distance train to Florence and then arrange for local transport to the race venue.

In short, there's no direct train to Darlington Raceway, but getting close by train is possible if you route through Florence. Just make sure to plan your final transfer from the station to the track in advance, as local options are limited and no shuttle runs from the train station itself.