Airfarewatchdog
My Fare Alerts | Help
Welcome!
  • Real deals from your departure city
  • Verified by our Dealhounds

Popular Destinations

Popular Routes

NYC to DC: Plane, Train, or Bus?

Travel Q&A

You can submit your own question to us at askgeorge@airfarewatchdog.com. We will try to answer as many as possible. If we use your question in a future newsletter, we will send you a free Airfarewatchdog T-shirt. We do not print your name or other details in our newsletters.

To post a comment to one of our Q&A's please click on "read more" and then "post a comment."

Current posts | Categories

NYC to DC: Plane, Train, or Bus?

Q. My girlfriend and I are flying from Phoenix to New York City in mid-May, and we'd ilke to visit DC for a few days too. What's the best way to go about this? Train? Bus? Plane?

A. We'd choose Amtrak over flying between NYC and DC, any day, hands down. You can leave straight from Manhattan's Penn Station to DC's Union Station, both of which are incredibly convenient and easily accessible by public transport. By the time you factor in airport traffic, check-in, security lines, both trips will run you about the same in travel time, but we find the train to be, well, way less annoying. Relaxing, even! Sure, Penn Station has all the charm of a gas station toilet, but, eh. Can't win 'em all. Union Station on the other hand? Pretty snazzy stuff!

 

Categories: Air Travel

Post a Comment


(Please do not use your real name - this screen name will be your public identity on Airfarewatchdog.com)
(Your email address will not display in post)



Also, with Amtrak, you have the flexibility to change or cancel your trip for a refund. However, sometimes the flights can be cheaper than taking Amtrak. In addition, Reagan airport (DCA) is very convenient. As for the bus, BoltBus, Megabus, and Greyhound can be a great value, but are only worth taking during times where you won't be hitting rush hour traffic. For example, taking the bus at 10AM is a much shorter trip than taking the bus at 4PM.
by Danny on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Mr Habica and Tracy....I love your website...so helpful and energetic and positive. my question is you posted great delta fares from Denver but your lead-in comments said the fares were "to/from Denver". But I didn't see any fares to Denver at these low prices and I actually want to go RT Dayton-Denver. Was that just wishful thinking there or is there some way to pull out a $144 rt fare Dayton-Denver, flying on Fridays?

applauding,
alaska
by alaska on Saturday, January 31, 2009
I enjoy your website and emails, but I beg to differ with your recent reply concerning the best way to travel between New York and Washington. While I, too, enjoy the train, it is way too expensive! A much better way to travel is by bus, using one of the many companies that make that trip several times daily. See for options. We recently took Vamoose bus lines between suburban Bethesda and Penn Station, and it was pleasant, comfortable and efficient. One-way tickets were $25; for trips to/from DC, the fare is often less. I think you are doing your readers a (costly) disservice by recommending the train.

by Sarah on Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I took one of those cheap busses and we were stuck behind an overturned tractor trailer for hours and the one lav on board didn't work. At least on the train you have like 6 lavs. Yes the train is more expensive but there's more leg room and it's faster if all goes well. It's just like anything else you get what you pay for. There's something for everyone in every price range. I wouldn't say this Q&A does anyone a "disservice" just expressing an opinion. I'll pay a few bucks more for the train but it's a free country!! Interesting that this is an airfare web site BTW and they're telling you to take the train when they could be making money presumably selling you airfare. I call that honest.
by Matty on Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I'd take the train any day of the week over flying! When I lived in Philly I used to take Amtrak to Philly and NYC quite frequently. It is very pleasant--so unlike flying!! And Union Station in DC is incredible! Plus you can hook up with their fantastic metro system right there! Definitely the way to go!
by Ckasp on Monday, January 26, 2009
It is great receiving this SATurday ( 1/2 a shout! ) info from George, who pretends he a cute little dog.
Plus the info on NYC to D.C. buses is just what I have been researching for a friend. Now she searches your site every day also. Thanks again for a great job. Di
by Di Pri on Saturday, January 24, 2009
I love the train too. I've taken the bus, but if you hit traffic or an accident it can be a 5 hour nightmare. The train just takes under 3 hours... I think 2hrs45. Yes, it's more expensive but you get what you pay for!
by Dov on Monday, January 26, 2009
Bolt Bus - They are by far the cleanest bus line (altho most expensive at $25 each way). However, if you don't mind spending the money Amtrak is wonderful (bar car?!).
by DCnative on Friday, January 23, 2009
When traveling on business, the train is the only way. On a recent trip from Toronto to Ottawa (not quite a far as NYC to Washington), it took us three hours to get from the house to the airport to flying over the house again. It didn't matter that we were only 38 minutes in the air...we saved ten minutes over taking the train. On the train, you can work or sleep or whatever. The UNINTERRUPTED time is phenomenal. On top of that, you can often snag a first class ticket for about the same as coach class by air. If you are a rail frequent traveler, there are free upgrade to first class coupons. The meals are phenomenal! You are pampered every inch of the way.
by Great Lakes Lover on Saturday, January 24, 2009
MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE VAMOOSE BUS FROM NYC TO BETHESDA, MD LAST SUNDAY. ABOVE MEMO CORRECT RE; PRICE. 25 DOLLARS ONE WAY, 40 round trip. . this is the way to go to or from nyc/dc. clean bus, luggage also taken. daughter had good experience
by ENCEE on Friday, January 23, 2009
Vamoose Bus also stops in Bethesda, MD, a block from Metro into DC. Greyhound and Peter Pan have similar fares and travel to Silver Spring, MD and downtown DC near Union Station. The trip is usually around 4 1/2 hours.
by MMM on Friday, January 23, 2009
The train is the only way to fly anyhwere between NYC/New Haven and DC and in between
by JTB9110 on Friday, January 23, 2009
Why not fly to NYC, ride on the ground to DC, then fly back from DC?
by travellover on Friday, January 23, 2009
Megabus (with which I am in no way affiliated) also runs clean, new buses between Penn Station and DC. Depending on how far in advance you book, fare could be as little as $3 R/T, but more typically around $10 each way. Free wi-fi on the bus, too. Upside: cheap as heck. Downside: you're at the mercy of road traffic.

I'll also weigh in and say that JFK to DCA has a lot of the advantages of Amtrak at about the same price, sometimes less. I agree that time-wise, all things being normal, it's about the same as Amtrak. JFK is surprisingly accessible via public transportation (E train or LIRR in one direction, or A in the other, both transferring to the Airtrain for an additional $5 each way), and DCA is right on the blue and yellow Metro lines.
by met on Friday, January 23, 2009
If you're not familiar with the Vamoose Bus, it is REALLY inexpensive (about $40 round-trip) and leaves from Penn Station taking you to a Metro stop in Arlington, VA, right across from D.C. I've traveled on it and it was safe, clean and quiet. I'm not in any way affiliated with them, but you can find them at www.vamoosebus.com.
by Traveler on Friday, January 23, 2009
Advertisement
© 1998-2012 Smarter Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved Privacy Statement | Terms of Use
Advertisement
http://rd.airfarewatchdog.com/?ad_user_tracking=%5Bsource%3D%2Ctaparam%3D%2Csupmt%3D%5D