Scenic train rides to take from New York City

Trains are trending. There’s something to be said for snuggling into your seat, staring out the window watching views of the countryside, rivers, lakes, rolling hills and charming small towns as you pass by. It’s therapy on wheels. Just ask Amtrak customers, who set a record in 2025, with 34.5 million trips, which was a 5% increase over 2024.

A train ride not only gives you a comfy seat to see Mother Nature’s handiwork, but it’s also a different vibe than the airport drama of flight delays, rising fares and the rush. This matters, especially at a time when people are embracing slow travel and are more conscious about their carbon footprint, which is significantly smaller when riding on a train than flying. Better still, train rides, particular on short-distance routes, can be cheaper than flying. Then too, this isn’t your grandparents’ train ride, with Wi-Fi, quiet cars and food that might be much tastier than you expect.

So, if you’re ready to trade a plane for a train, here’s where to go.

Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow, New York

You don’t have to travel far to get to what seems like a world away. From Grand Central Station take Metro-North’s Hudson Line to Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow. Adult train fare starts at $11.75 one-way and one adult can bring up to four passengers ages 5-17 for $1 each, children under 5 are free (mta.info).

In less than an hour, experience nature’s finest as you take in views of the Hudson River and lush greenery. In Tarrytown there are riverfront parks like Kingsland Point Park, which is home to the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse ($5 with county park pass, $10 without pass; Palmer Avenue, parks.westchestercountyny.gov). Another popular spot is Lyndhurst Mansion, a Gothic Revival beauty on an estate overlooking the river. ($10-$15; 635 S. Broadway, 914-631-4481, lyndhurst.org). Downtown is walkable, inviting with its art galleries, boutiques and restaurants that impress like Goosefeather (49 E. Sunnyside Lane, 914-829-5454, goosefeatherny.com) and Sweet Grass Grill (24 Main St., 914-631-0000, sweetgrassgrill.com).

In nearby Sleepy Hollow, check out landmarks from Washington Irving’s classic short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," like the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery ($22.20 for a walking tour; 540 N. Broadway, 914-631-0081, sleepyhollowcemetery.org) and the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow (430 Broadway, 914-631-4497, visitsleepyhollow.com).

Stop in Sleepy Coffee Too (110 Beekman Ave., Sleepy Hollow, 914-426-7815, sleepycoffeetoo.org) for seasonal crisps, lemon-lavender cookies and assorted coffees and teas. The Bridge View Tavern (226 Beekman Ave., 914-332-0078, bridgeviewtavern.com) is a must for specialty sandwiches. Go for the Philly Italian roast pork sandwich or the bacon jam chicken sandwich. For your stay, soak up the history of Tarrytown House Estate, which dates to the 1840s and was once a retreat for the power elite. (49 E. Sunnyside Lane, 914-591-8200, tarrytownhouseestate.com). Room rates start around $216 per night.

Northampton, Massachusetts 

Enjoy the four and a half hour journey to this New England destination. Train fare starts at around $150 round trip (amtrak.com). Make your way through Connecticut with storybook towns like Stamford with its marinas, restaurants and shopping. As you make your way through Massachusetts expect portions of the Connecticut River, historic factory buildings and mills. The Springfield skyline includes the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Arrive in Northampton with its art galleries, music and performance venues. Find out what’s going on at the Academy of Music Theatre (274 Main St., 413-584-9032, aomtheatre.com) with its plays and concerts, or live music at The Iron Horse (18 Center St., 413-200-0424, ironhorse.org), while you’re in town. You can rent a bike and explore the 11 miles of the Norwottuck Rail Trail Bike Path Bridge (446 Damon Rd., 413-586-8706, ext. 3, mass.gov) or you can walk it. Afterward, you might be ready for a cold one at the Northampton Brewery (11 Brewster Ct., 413-584-9903, northamptonbrewery.com). There’s plenty to do at nearby Look Park, including tennis, pickleball, strolling the walking path, picnicking, paddle boating or riding a steam train (passenger vehicles are $5 Monday-Thursday; $10 Friday-Sunday and holidays; 300 N. Main St., Florence, 413-584-5457, lookpark.org). As for where to stay, the historic Hotel Northampton is a short walk from the train station (36 King St., 413-584-3100, hotelnorthampton.com). Room rates start at $175 per night and vary depending on the season.

Burlington, Vermont

The Amtrak Ethan Allen Express train to Burlington is the kind of slow travel that many are seeking. The nearly eight-hour ride is all about relaxation. Train fare starts at around $170 roundtrip (amtrak.com). When you’re passing Rhinecliff, New York, you’ll have a front-row seat to take in the Hudson River views. A few hours into the trip you’ll hit rural countryside, hills and glimpses of Castleton, Vermont, known for its Main Street that boasts 19th-century Federal and Greek Revival homes. As you make your way to Burlington, Mother Nature impresses with the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain.

Arrive in Burlington thoroughly refreshed, ready for the fun, be it sailing, wind surfing, kayaking or biking the Burlington Bike Path along the waterfront. Come with your appetite, Burlington is for foodies. Make a reservation in advance for 2026 James Beard nominee, Fancies (88 Oak St., 802-448-2106, fancysbtv.com), which changes its menu daily, but can include goodies like braised duck rolls and a carrot tostada — salsa verde macha, carrot mole, Brussels sprouts and pepperoncini labneh.

Church Street Marketplace (149 Church St., City Hall, 802-863-1648, churchstmarketplace.com) is home to more than 40 retailers, including jewelers, chocolatiers, a bookstore, boutiques to name brands Lululemon and Urban Outfitters. There are more than 30 local restaurants within the marketplace’s four blocks. As for where to stay, consider Hotel Vermont, steps away from Lake Champlain with views of the Adirondack Mountains (41 Cherry St., 855-650-0080, hotelvt.com). Room rates start at around $470 per night.

Niagara Falls, New York

The roughly 10-hour trip from Penn Station is a little bit of everything. The Empire Service and Maple Leaf Amtrak operates daily, with round-trip fares typically ranging from $130-$240 (amtrak.com). The stretch that includes the Hudson River sets the relaxing mood. Then there’s the awe-inspiring scenery of the Palisades — towering basalt cliffs, small towns like Cold Spring and views of the Catskill Mountains on the horizon. The journey continues through farmland, forests, western New York near Buffalo and then the Falls. 

Formed over 12,000 years ago, Niagara Falls is one of the world’s natural wonders. More than 700,000 gallons of water per second plunge over the American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls, creating a one-of-a-kind experience. Beyond the Falls, Niagara County offers outdoor recreation, public art and wineries. There are budget-friendly attractions, a good mix in types of accommodations and activities that appeal to all ages, including nightly illuminations and seasonal fireworks. For a ride you’ll talk about for years, take to the skies with a Rainbow Air Helicopter Tour, ($180 cash, $185 credit card, $151 for kids; 56 Acheson Dr., 716-284-2800, rainbowairinc.com) or a Live On Air Fallsview Balloon Ride ($60 ages 10 and up, $55 ages 2-9; 454 Main St., 716-513-0001, balloonoverniagara.com). For accommodations, one standout is The Giacomo, a restored 1929 Art Deco landmark, boutique hotel within walking distance of the Falls. Summer room rates start at around $180 per night (222 First St., 716-299-0200, thegiacomo.com).

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Board the Adirondack line for a 11-hour feast for the eyes. Train fares vary, starting at about $140 roundtrip (amtrak.com). The route includes stops like Hudson, with its charming downtown boutiques, shops, galleries and restaurants, and Saratoga Springs, where the landscape changes from the Hudson River views to rolling hills and forests. You’ll get a lengthy look at Lake Champlain as well as the Adirondack Mountains.

You can get off the train en route to Montreal. Consider a pit stop in Ticonderoga for a history lesson at the Revolutionary War site, Fort Ticonderoga in Adirondack Park ($30,$14 ages 5-15; 102 Fort Ti Rd., Ticonderoga, 518-585-2821, fortticonderoga.org).

Other highlights include Westport, known as a center for the arts. Vermont’s Green Mountains and the thrill of wildlife — bald eagles, water birds, deer and to the wonderment.

Once in Montreal, the European flavor is everywhere. Stroll the narrow cobblestone streets, cafes, galleries and dine at Michelin restaurants like Mastard, with its seasonal menu. It’s so popular, book your reservation a few months in advance (1879 Belanger St., 514-843-2152, restaurantmastard.com). Explore sites like the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal, ($16, $14 students ages 17-22, $10 ages 6-16; 110 Notre-Dame St., W., 514-842-2925, basiliquenotredame.ca).

Explore Mount Royal Park (free admission; 2000 Remembrance Rd., 514-280-8989, montreal.ca) and the Montreal Underground City, offering 20 miles of tunnels connecting malls, shops, hotels and metro stations (747 Rue du Square-Victoria, montrealundergroundcity.com).

The recently opened SonoLux hotel is in the historic National Trust Building, a 1914 neoclassical landmark, is a good option, especially for those looking for something beyond the ordinary. Here it’s all about art, audio, technology like soundscapes echoing through stairwells and video projections on lobby walls (225 Saint-Jacques, 514-657-7659, sonolux.ca). Room rates start at $233 per night.