Can you do Washington in a day by train?
Yes. The train is the fastest way to reach Washington from New York by land, and on a weekday it can give you about nine hours in the city. The trade-off is that you plan the whole day yourself: the tickets, the route between the sights and the time you need to be back at the station.
Amtrak trains leave from Penn Station, boarding through Moynihan Train Hall on 8th Avenue, and arrive at Washington Union Station, a short walk from the U.S. Capitol.
Northeast Regional or Acela?
The Northeast Regional is the sensible choice for most day-trippers. It takes about 3 hours 20 to 3 hours 30 minutes, runs all day, and has coach seats with the lowest fares. Acela is quicker, at about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours, but sells only Business and First Class seats, and late-booked Acela tickets can reach $200 or more each way.
Fares change daily, so there is no single price to quote. Book a Regional several weeks ahead and you can travel from around $30 each way. Close to the date, expect much more. Check the fare type too. Value fares cannot be changed, while Flex fares cost more but can be changed or refunded without a fee, which is useful if you might stay later than planned.
Which trains to take
For a day trip, the early weekday Regionals work best. On the current timetable, the 4:50 AM from New York reaches Washington at 8:31 AM, the 5:45 AM arrives at 9:06 AM, and the 6:32 AM arrives at 10:01 AM. Saturday has a 5:35 AM Regional arriving at 9:07 AM.
For the ride home on weekdays, the 6:08 PM Regional gets to New York at 9:26 PM, the 7:12 PM at 10:38 PM, and the 9:15 PM at about 12:45 AM. Weekend timetables are thinner, so check your date before you book. Leave at least 20 to 30 minutes to get back through Union Station; the last hour of a day trip always takes longer than you expect.
From Union Station to the National Mall
The Capitol end of the Mall is walkable from the station. It is about 0.8 miles to the Capitol, or 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the station’s front doors.
The Lincoln Memorial is at the other end, about two miles further west. You can walk the whole Mall, and many people do, but it takes a good 45 minutes before you stop anywhere. The Metro saves your legs: take the Red Line from Union Station to Metro Center and change to the Blue, Orange or Silver Line for Smithsonian, which has an exit on the Mall. That takes about 13 minutes. For the Lincoln Memorial itself, Foggy Bottom is the nearest station, but it is still a 15- to 20-minute walk. You can tap a contactless bank card or phone at the faregates, so there is no need to buy a SmarTrip card. A taxi or rideshare is easiest for the long west end if your group is tired.
A six-hour Washington plan
This plan fits between the 6:32 AM train down and a 6:08 PM or 7:12 PM train back, with room to spare.
| Time | What to do |
|---|
| 10:00 AM | Arrive at Union Station and walk to the U.S. Capitol, seen from outside |
| 10:45 AM | A Smithsonian museum on the Mall; free, most open 10 AM to 5:30 PM |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch near the Mall |
| 1:30 PM | Walk west past the Washington Monument to the World War II Memorial |
| 2:30 PM | The Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, and the Vietnam and Korean War memorials |
| 3:45 PM | The White House from outside, via the Ellipse or Lafayette Square |
| 4:30 PM | Metro back to Union Station, with time for a coffee before your train |
Two things need booking well ahead. The Washington Monument uses timed tickets released 30 days in advance on recreation.gov, and a free tour inside the Capitol is booked at visitthecapitol.gov. White House tours are requested through a Member of Congress at least 21 days ahead, so they rarely fit a short trip.
Tours that fit a train day
The Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour is the easiest guided tour to add, because one option leaves from Union Station. It runs after dark for about two and a half hours, with two stops of about 30 minutes: the Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean War Veterans memorials, then the FDR and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials. It costs $60 per person and is rated 4.6 from more than 1,600 reviews. Read our breakdown of the night trolley for the full route.
As a night tour it suits an overnight stay best. In winter, when the sun sets before 5 PM, a day-tripper can fit it in before a late train; in June, with about 15 hours of daylight, it is really one for a night in a hotel. Leave bags at your hotel, because luggage is not allowed on board.
For daytime, a few Washington-based tours fit around the trains:
- The monuments and memorials bike tour covers about 4 miles of flat ground in three hours, from 701 D Street NW. It is $65 per person and rated 4.7 from 433 reviews.
- The hop-on hop-off Old Town Trolley starts at Union Station and has 25 stops, from $55 per person, rated 4.2 from 714 reviews.
- The Arlington National Cemetery tram tour is a 45-minute loop to the Kennedy graves and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, for $22 per person, rated 4.6 from 596. Bring a passport if you are visiting from abroad.
- The private DC tour with a driver-guide is four hours for your group, from $520 per group of up to five, rated 4.8 from 41 reviews. Pickup is from your Washington accommodation, so it pairs best with an overnight.
Train or guided tour?
Take the train if you want more hours in Washington, museum time, or the freedom to linger, and you are happy to plan. It is also the better choice if you are staying overnight or want to see the memorials lit up at night.
A guided coach tour is simpler for first-timers, visitors from abroad and anyone booking late, when train fares are high. Washington-only day trips on this site cost $107 to $129 per person with the transport and a guide included, and they reach Arlington National Cemetery, which is awkward to fit into a train day on foot. Our train vs bus vs tour comparison sets the two side by side, and the day-trip comparison covers every tour from Midtown. If one day feels too tight, the 2-day Washington trip gives you a second morning. Travelling as a family or group? Private Washington tours from NYC compares a private car from your door with the train and a private guide in DC.
If you are travelling by train and want the memorials at night, check dates for the Monuments by Moonlight tour.
