Amtrak is a great option for a quick trip. Comfortable seats, picturesque views, and not having to worry about traffic? Not a bad combo at all!
Whenever I visit a new place, I always like to look at short train trips near me. There’s plenty to explore in the city I’m in, of course, but it’s so fun to take a day trip and experience a different environment. In Europe, there are a handful of train lines to take. In the United States, many passenger trains fall under Amtrak. These trains go every which way across the country, and the bulk of their routes are several hours—some even take over a day! Grab a sleeper cart for those.
But Amtrak is also a great option for a quick trip. Comfortable seats, picturesque views, and not having to worry about traffic? Not a bad combo at all! And since these trains can travel at high speeds, you can cross state lines before you know it. Just last month, I went from Philadelphia to Wilmington DE in 19 minutes, and it was a delight.
Here are some trips you can take via Amtrak that are all 45 minutes or less. In general, the routes apply for the reverse direction, too—so, for example, you could also travel from Wilmington DE to Philadelphia. Let’s get rollin’!
New York to Newark, NJ
Travel Time: 16-18 minutes
Cost: Starting at $7
On my last visit to New York, I was flying out of the Newark airport. Because it was rainy and gross outside, I decided to take a Lyft so I didn’t have to deal with the elements. What a dumb decision! The ride cost over $100 and took longer than an hour.
Had I taken an Amtrak, I could have gotten a ticket for as little as $7 from New York’s Penn Station to Newark’s Penn Station. The Newark train station is only three miles from the airport, which you can get to by train, bus, or rideshare. I suppose if you were traveling light, you could even walk. That’s basically a 5k!
By the way, if you stay at the Lex NYC in New York (a wonderful boutique hotel in the Flatiron District), check out The Friends Experience, only a couple of blocks away. You’ll be singing the theme song in no time.
Where to stay in New York: Lex NYC
Where to stay in Newark: Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel
Philadelphia to Wilmington, DE
Travel Time: 19-20 minutes
Cost: Starting at $5
On my quest to visit all 50 states, Delaware had eluded me. So, when I planned a trip to Philadelphia to visit all 30 MLB stadiums, I scanned the map and saw that Philadelphia to Wilmington, DE is just a quick jaunt! Another state off the list. If you’re also a fan of art, I’d highly recommend both the Delaware Art Museum and the GetYourGuide South Philly Art Small Group Walking Tour. Among other places, you’ll get to see the Magic Gardens, which are SO COOL.
The Northeast Regional is the most frequent train between the two cities, with coach prices starting as low as $5, though you’ll likely spend more in the $12-$30 range. Still, that’s much better than you’d find with a rideshare or taxi, and you’ll get there in about half the time. Philadelphia’s William H. Gray 30th Street Station connects with the lone Amtrak station in Wilmington, and it’s a breeze of a trip.
You can get to New York from Philadelphia in under 90 minutes, so you can package these two trips together.
Where to stay in Philadelphia: Alexander Inn
Where to stay in Wilmington: Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington Downtown
Baltimore to Washington, D.C.
Travel Time: 30-40 minutes
Cost: Starting at $10
If you hop on the speedy Acela train, you can get from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., in just under 30 minutes (29, to be exact). There aren’t coach options available for that train, however, so you’ll need to spend around $30 for the honor. Or, save somewhere between $10 and $20 and take the Northeast Regional or Vermonter. You’ll still arrive in good time, between 32 and 40 minutes, depending on the train and time of day.
You’ll depart from Baltimore’s Penn Station and arrive at Washington’s Union Station, which are both centrally located and near cool spots in their respective cities. In fact, on my last visit to Baltimore, I went to an Orioles game (they lost, womp womp), walked back to my hotel about 1.5 miles away, got my luggage, and got to the train station, all within an hour. Gotta love that efficiency!
Where to stay in Baltimore: Tru by Hilton Baltimore Harbor East
Where to stay in Washington, D.C.: Coda on Half, A Placemakr Experience – Navy Yard
Boston to Providence, RI
Travel Time: 33-39 minutes
Cost: Starting at $10
You can drive entirely through Rhode Island in under an hour since it’s the smallest state in the U.S. Providence, the capital, is the largest city with the greatest variety of activities. From Boston’s South Station, you can get to Providence via the Acela or Northeast Regional.
Red Sox fans are probably elated that the Yankees lost the 2024 World Series (though probably less excited that they gave Mookie Betts away to the Dodgers, who won that same World Series). Luckily, you don’t have to like baseball at all to have a good time in either Boston or Providence. Take a skywalk tour in Boston—it IS known as the Walking City, after all—and visit Providence’s Crook Point Bascule Bridge, which was designed to be a functioning bridge but got abandoned in the upright position because construction costs were too high.
Where to stay in Boston: Harborside Inn of Boston
Where to stay in Providence: The Dean Hotel, an Ash Hotel
Tips for Traveling via Amtrak
Traveling via Amtrak is simple enough, though there are a few things to remember to make your trip even easier.
- Buy your tickets in advance. Much like with airlines, waiting until the last minute will usually cause a surge in pricing. Especially for these quick trips, planning a few weeks in advance will save you a lot of time. I also almost always take coach because we don’t need extra bells and whistles on rides under an hour. You can purchase one-way and round-trip tickets easily from the Amtrak website.
- Sign up for text alerts. I find frequent texts to be just as annoying as the next person, but it’s helpful to see things like delays or, in rare cases, a full train cancellation. When my train from Philadelphia to New York was canceled, the text also offered a link for easy rebooking, and Amtrak got me on a train that would normally be more expensive at no additional cost.
- Show up early(ish). I’m a regular traveler, so I’d feel comfortable arriving at an Amtrak station about ten minutes before my train departs. That’s usually when your train will get a track assigned to it. If you haven’t taken Amtrak before, plan for at least 30 minutes before arrival time just so you can get your bearings, use the bathroom, and gather your belongings as you head to your track.
- Pay attention on the train. An attendant will walk through and ask to see your ticket. There’s a free Amtrak app, but I usually just take a screenshot of the barcode via my email or add it to my phone’s wallet if that’s an option. Trains are typically great about clearly announcing the next stop, so as long as you’re somewhat alert, you’ll be fine.
Next time you plan a visit to any of these cities, consider a day trip or weekend getaway to another lovely spot nearby. Happy traveling!
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