Travel by train: Amtrak destinations to visit from NYC

From Montreal to Miami, Amtrak routes from Moynihan Train Hall turn New York City into a launchpad for mountain towns, Southern cities, Canadian culture hubs and classic East Coast destinations — no airport chaos required.

Whether you’re heading out for a Northeast getaway or a multiday rail ride south or west, Penn Station connects travelers to nearly 160 cities.

Here’s where each major line can take you and what’s worth seeing along the way.

New England and mountain escapes

St. Albans, Vermont

Line: Vermonter

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 8 hours

St. Albans is a gateway to Lake Champlain and northern Vermont’s hiking, cycling and foliage drives. Expect cozy downtown cafes, farm-to-table restaurants and access to quiet outdoor recreation. Hike Mount Philo for breathtaking mountain views, visit the outdoor Shelburne Museum for historic buildings, art galleries and a steamboat or explore the Burlington Waterfront, where you can visit the ECHO Leahy Center and enjoy local cuisine.

Notable stops along the way:

• New Haven, CT: Pizza pilgrimage (Frank Pepe or Sally’s), Yale campus walks and the New Haven Green (1.5 hours)
• Springfield, MA: Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, MassMutual Center and Springfield Armory National Historic Site (3 hours)
• Brattleboro, VT: Retreat Trails, Brattleboro Farmers' Market, artsy downtown shops and local breweries (4.5 hours)

Burlington, Vermont

Line: Ethan Allen Express

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 7.5 hours

Burlington blends lakefront views with a college-town energy. Church Street Marketplace is packed with restaurants, bookstores and live music, and Lake Champlain sunsets are the main event. Explore the Essex Junction Farmers' Market, visit the Champlain Valley Exposition for year-round events or hike the Ethan Allen Homestead Trail.

Notable stops along the way:

• Albany: New York State Capitol tours, Empire State Plaza, Burden Iron Works Museum, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Rensselaer Plateau (2 hours)
• Saratoga Springs: Historic racetrack town with mineral springs and a vibrant outdoor farmer's market (3 hours)
• Rutland, VT: Explore Rutland's Historic Downtown or hike the Appalachian Trail via the Green Mountains (5 hours)

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Line: Berkshire Flyer (Late June through early September only)

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 4 hours

Pittsfield anchors the Berkshires arts scene where summer theater, museums and hiking trails create the area's charm. Hike to the stunning 40-foot waterfall at Wahconah Falls State Park, explore the Berkshire Museum or visit the Hancock Shaker Village. It’s a culture-and-nature hybrid weekend.

Notable stops along the way:

• Hudson: Abundance of antique shops and design boutiques to explore or stroll along the Hudson River and enjoy the scenic views, restaurants, and cultural events (2 hours)
• Rhinecliff: Take in Hudson Valley river views at the Rhinecliff Riverfront Park or tour the preserved 19th-century Wilderstein Historic Site mansion and estate (1.5 hours)
• Poughkeepsie: Historic architecture, Walkway Over the Hudson, Vassar College, Marist University and the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum (1.5 hours)

International trips

Traveling via Amtrak to Canada requires a valid passport, passport card or NEXUS card for U.S. citizens. The train stops at the border for customs inspections, where officers may board to check luggage and documents. Arrive early, comply with all customs regulations and ensure all documents are valid.

Montreal, Quebec

Line: Adirondack

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 11 hours

Montreal feels European without the flight. Explore Old Montreal’s cobblestone streets, cafe culture and festivals, then hike Mount Royal for skyline views. Escape the cold in Underground City, a vast network of interconnected shopping malls, restaurants and metro stations.

Notable stops along the way:

• Ticonderoga: Explore the historic 18th-century fort, take a scenic boat tour on Lake Champlain or visit the Ticonderoga Sentinel Museum (4.5 hours)
• Plattsburgh: Take a boat tour through the Ausable Chasm or enjoy water activities, fishing and scenic views along Lake Champlain (6.5 hours)
• Saint-Lambert, QC: Visit the Parc des Rapides along the St. Lawrence River, explore the Old Town or attend a performance at the Théâtre Hector-Charland (9.5 hours)

Toronto, Ontario

Line: Maple Leaf

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 11 hours

Toronto is a skyline-and-food powerhouse. Ride up the CN Tower, explore waterfront neighborhoods and dive into one of North America’s most diverse dining scenes in the Distillery District. Take a 13-minute ferry ride from downtown to the Toronto Islands, a peaceful escape from the city with beaches, parks, and stunning views of the skyline.

Notable stops along the way:

• Buffalo: Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, Buffalo wings, the Buffalo Botanical Gardens and Niagara Falls (7.5 hours)
• Niagara Falls, ON: Take a boat tour of the falls, ride to the top of the Skylon Tower Observation Deck or explore the tunnels behind the Horseshoe Falls (8.5 hours)
• St. Catharines, ON: A hub of shops, boutiques, cafes, pubs, bistros, the Niagara Escarpment and Welland Canal (9 hours)

Classic northeast city trips

Boston, Massachusetts

Line: Acela or Northeast Regional

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 3.5 to 4.5 hours

Walk the Freedom Trail, catch a game at Fenway and explore waterfront neighborhoods like the Seaport and North End. Take a Duck Boat Tour, a unique sightseeing experience that combines a land and water tour.

Notable stops along the way:

• Mystic, CT: Seaport Museum, Aquarium and Olde Mistick Village (2.5 hours, Northeast Regional)
• Providence, RI: Roger Williams Park, Federal Hill and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum (3 hours)

Washington, D.C.

Note: Riders of the Acela and Northeast Regional lines will face reductions in service to and from Penn Station through March 14 due to Portal Bridge construction between Newark and Secaucus.

Line: Acela, Northeast Regional, Carolinian, Palmetto

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 2.5 to 3.5 hours

Smithsonian museums, monuments and walkable neighborhoods make D.C. one of the easiest cultural weekends from NYC.

Notable stops along the way:

• Philadelphia, PA: Old City history, Liberty Bell, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Reading Terminal Market (1.5 hours)
• Baltimore, MD: National Aquarium, Inner Harbor, Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, M & T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards (2 hours)

Midwest and rust belt adventure

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Line: Pennsylvanian

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 9 hours

Ride the Duquesne Incline, explore riverfront trails and check out the city’s museum scene and food halls.

Notable stops along the way:

• Harrisburg, PA: Riverwalk, National Civil War Museum and Capitol building (3 hours)
• Altoona, PA: Lakemont Park amusement park, Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve (5.5 hours)

Chicago, Illinois

Line: Lake Shore Limited, Cardinal

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 19.5 to 28 hours

Architecture boat tours, deep-dish pizza, Millennium Park and world-class museums.

Notable stops along the way:

• Cincinnati, OH: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Museum Center and breweries (16.5 hours, Cardinal)
• Cleveland, OH: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Museum of Art and Metroparks (10.5 hours, Lake Shore Limited)
• Erie, PA: Presque Isle State Park beaches, hiking trails, boating and fishing, art museum and zoo (9 hours, Lake Shore Limited)
• Indianapolis, IN: Motor Speedway, city market and downtown canal walk (20 hours, Cardinal)

Southern and coastal getaways

Traveling from New York to Miami, the Silver Meteor and Palmetto traverse eight states including Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. While the Palmetto offers a deep dive into the Lowcountry ending in Savannah, the Silver Meteor continues all the way to the tip of Florida, making over 50 potential stops along the way.

Charleston, South Carolina

Line: Silver Meteor, Palmetto

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 14 hours

Historic homes, waterfront parks and some of the best Southern cuisine in the country. Visit Sullivan’s Island via a 25-minute drive from downtown for sand, shopping and shrimp and grits.

Notable stops along the way:
Wilmington, DE: Scenic hiking trails and fishing, river walk, arts and museums (1.5 hours)

Fayetteville, NC: Botanical garden, airborne and special operations museum and river walk (8.5 hours)

Savannah, Georgia

Line: Silver Meteor, Palmetto

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 15 hours

Historic cobblestone streets, Spanish moss squares, southern cuisine and riverfront (16 hours).

Notable stops along the way:

Petersburg, VA: Historic Civil War battlefield, Old Towne shops, dining and art (5.5 hours)

Florence, SC: Blend of rich history, vibrant arts and unique local culture with proximity to the Darlington Raceway (10 hours)

Charlotte, North Carolina

Line: Carolinian

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 12 to 13 hours

Craft breweries, skyline views and motorsports culture.

Notable stops along the way:

Richmond, VA: Rich American history, thriving craft beer scene and vibrant outdoor culture centered around the James River (5.5 hours)

Raleigh, NC: "Smithsonian of the South" with over 40 free museums, parks and cultural sites, along with a vibrant downtown, extensive greenways and a renowned culinary scene (8.5 hours)

Tampa, Florida

Line: Silver Meteor

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 24 hours

Riverwalk strolling, historic Ybor City, spring training and Gulf Coast access.

Notable stops along the way:

• Orlando, FL: Theme park capital (19 hours)
• Lakeland, FL: Lakeside parks and architecture (20 hours)
• Winter Park, FL: Cobblestoned Park Avenue offers high-end shopping, acclaimed dining, art museums (18 hours)

Miami, Florida

Line: Silver Meteor

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 27 hours

Beaches, nightlife and Art Deco architecture.

Notable stops along the way:

• West Palm Beach, FL: Waterfront dining and shopping (22 hours)
• Fort Lauderdale, FL: Canals and boating scene (23 hours)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Line: Crescent

Total travel time from NYC to final destination: 30 hours

Live jazz, Creole cuisine and French Quarter nightlife.

Notable stops along the way:

• Atlanta, GA: Civil Rights history, aquarium and food scene (16 hours)
• Birmingham, AL: Civil Rights landmarks, art, history and culture (21 hours)

Take your car to Florida via the Auto Train

Lorton, VA (Washington, DC)-Sanford, FL (Orlando): Auto Train 

If you want the freedom of a road trip without the drive, Amtrak’s Auto Train lets you bring your car along for the ride. The nonstop overnight service runs between Lorton, Virginia (about 30 minutes south of Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Florida, near Orlando, making it a popular option for snowbirds and long-haul Florida travelers. For Long Islanders, the drive to Lorton takes roughly five to six hours.

Passengers load their vehicles before boarding, then relax in coach or private sleeper rooms while the train travels overnight. In the morning, you step off and drive away in your own car, no rental counter required.

Tickets start at $75 each way plus the cost of your vehicle, which can cost between $310 and $610 round-trip depending on size. Fares are lower the further in advance you book your trip.

Travel time: 17 hours