How to Get to Washington from New York

What to See in Washington D.C.

• Washington sits 370 km (230 mi) south of New York as the other major metropolis on the East Coast. With roughly 650,000 residents in the city proper and nearly 6 million in the metro area, it serves as the federal capital of the United States. While New York is America’s economic and financial heart, Washington is the seat of political power.
• You can visit the White House, the official residence of the U.S. President, as well as the Capitol and the Pentagon, headquarters of the Department of Defense. Washington also deserves a visit for its outstanding museums, including the remarkable Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Don’t miss the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, honoring the nearly 60,000 American soldiers who died in the Vietnam War, the grand Lincoln Memorial, and the Iwo Jima Memorial, which pays tribute to the sacrifice of Marines during the Pacific War.
• You have several options for reaching Washington for a day trip. Here are all the possibilities:

Washington by Train

• Train travel is faster than other options but costs more. Trains depart early from Penn Station and arrive at Union Station in Washington roughly 3.5 hours later. That’s 1.5 hours faster than a bus and an hour quicker than a minibus.
• If you’d rather not arrange your own train connections, consider this all-in-one day package: round-trip train fare, a quick lunch at Union Station upon arrival, and a Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket. Explore Washington at your own pace. The Hop-on Hop-off bus stops at all the major sights in the capital, and you can hop off to visit each one whenever you like. Catch the next bus to continue your route. The full loop takes about 2 hours without stops.
• Trains depart Washington late afternoon and arrive back in New York early evening. The entire excursion takes 12 hours door-to-door from Penn Station. For more details, use the booking module above.

Washington by Bus

• A bus is the most economical option, though not the fastest. Expect about 5 hours of travel for round-trip fares starting at $42.
• Several companies operate between New York and Washington. The first departure leaves New York at 6:30 am and arrives in Washington at 11:30 am. For the return, you might take the 6 pm bus, arriving back in New York at 8:30 pm after 4.5 hours.

Guided Tour by Bus

• If you prefer not to explore on your own, you can book a guided day tour to Washington by bus. Meet your guide at 7 am near Times Square. Once in Washington, the tour begins at Arlington Cemetery to visit the grave of former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. You’ll then see the Capitol and the White House, followed by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and Washington’s memorials.
• This well-organized tour covers all the major sights in a single day. Return to New York is around 8 pm. For more information, visit the day tour to Washington from New York page.

Washington by Plane

• Flying is the fastest option: the flight itself takes just one hour. However, this advantage shrinks once you factor in travel to the airport, security screening, and a transfer from Washington’s airport to downtown. When you add it all up, the total travel time is comparable to the train.
• If you have frequent flyer miles available, it’s worth considering.

Washington in Photos