- Must visit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Major collection of American art from colonial works to contemporary pieces, housed in the historic Old Patent Office Building.
Cheapest price
$19
Average price
$81
Fastest journey
1 h 45 m
Average duration
1 h 48 m
Trains per day
32
Distance
196 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC will cost around $81 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $19.
Of the 32 trains that leave 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA for Washington Union Station, Washington, DC on Sat, Jul 04, 32 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sat, Jul 04 the direct trains cover the 196 km distance in an average of 1 h 48 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 45 m .
On Sat, Jul 04 the slowest trains will take 1 h 49 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
135 Northeast Regional
127 Northeast Regional
143 Northeast Regional
195 Northeast Regional
147 Northeast Regional
2271 Acela
2211 NextGen Acela
2255 NextGen Acela
2219 NextGen Acela
2259 NextGen AcelaOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $14. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 1h 53m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $14, and a flight costs an average of $216.
Distance: 121 miles (196 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$39 Average price | $28 Average price Cheapest | $465 Average price | $34 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 23m Average total duration Fastest 1h 53m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 54m Average total duration 3h 24m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 31m Average total duration 3h 31m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 2h 34m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC:
A bus is $11 (€9) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC costing on average $39 (€32).
A bus is $437 (€358) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC costing on average $465 (€381).
Other travel options to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 24m.
Flight takes on average 3h 31m.
You'll arrive about 41m sooner (1h 53m by train vs 2h 34m by car). Tickets start at around $39 (€32) compared to roughly $34 (€28) in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Amtrak, Amtrak.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC trains for today, Friday, July 3. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
143 Northeast Regional | 11:20 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h04 | 1:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
127 Northeast Regional | 11:37 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h04 | 1:41 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
195 Northeast Regional | 12:29 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h00 | 2:29 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2255 NextGen Acela | 12:36 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h48 | 2:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
147 Northeast Regional | 2:22 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h56 | 4:18 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2259 NextGen Acela | 2:33 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h49 | 4:22 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
99 Northeast Regional | 2:45 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h56 | 4:41 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
161 Northeast Regional | 3:35 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h58 | 5:33 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2219 NextGen Acela | 3:35 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h49 | 5:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
19 Crescent | 3:38 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h09 | 5:47 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
97 Silver Meteor | 4:15 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h09 | 6:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
87 Northeast Regional | 4:34 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h54 | 6:28 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2265 NextGen Acela | 4:34 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h50 | 6:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
163 Northeast Regional | 5:35 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h01 | 7:36 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2267 Acela | 6:13 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h52 | 8:05 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
159 Northeast Regional | 6:33 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h10 | 8:43 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
135 Northeast Regional | 7:35 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h06 | 9:41 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
107 Northeast Regional | 7:56 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h58 | 9:54 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
57 Vermonter | 8:26 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h06 | 10:32 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2271 Acela | 9:10 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h45 | 10:55 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
165 Northeast Regional | 9:38 PM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h02 | 11:40 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Saturday, July 4 | |||||
65 Northeast Regional | 4:20 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h09 | 6:29 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
151 Northeast Regional | 4:57 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h01 | 6:58 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
109 Northeast Regional | 7:06 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h59 | 9:05 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
89 Palmetto | 7:32 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h12 | 9:44 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2207 NextGen Acela | 8:18 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h51 | 10:09 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
79 Carolinian | 8:58 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h11 | 11:09 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
101 Northeast Regional | 9:17 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h59 | 11:16 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
153 Northeast Regional | 9:33 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h59 | 11:32 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2211 NextGen Acela | 10:14 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 1h47 | 12:01 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
103 Northeast Regional | 10:20 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h00 | 12:20 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
155 Northeast Regional | 10:38 AM 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA | 2h01 | 12:39 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC run on average 33 times per day, taking around 1h 53m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $12 (€10) if you book in advance.
There are 33 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:11, the last at 23:58. The fastest train covers the 121 miles (196 km) distance in 1h 51m.
Distance 121 miles (196 km) |
Average train duration 1h 53m |
Cheapest ticket price $12 (€10) |
Trains per day 33 |
Direct trains 33 |
Fastest train 1h 51m |
First train 12:11 AM |
Last train 11:58 PM |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Discover the best of Washington Union Station — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Washington Union Station trip today.
Major collection of American art from colonial works to contemporary pieces, housed in the historic Old Patent Office Building.
World-class art museum with European and American masterpieces, sculpture garden, and rotating exhibitions across two buildings.
Smithsonian museum beside Union Station with mail history, rare stamps, stagecoaches, and exhibits on communication and logistics.
The city's central ceremonial park lined with museums, memorials, and major civic landmarks; essential for first-time visitors.
Scenic waterside walking area famous for cherry blossoms and views of major memorials, especially photogenic in spring.
Historic neighborhood around the Capitol with handsome row houses, public institutions, and classic Washington streetscapes.
Washington’s signature smoked sausage, usually served on a bun with chili, mustard, and onions. It is one of the city’s most iconic casual foods.
A sweet-tangy red sauce closely associated with Washington carryout culture, often paired with fried chicken and fries. It is a distinctive local comfort-food staple.
Crab cakes made with regional blue crab are a classic in the Washington area, reflecting the city’s strong Mid-Atlantic seafood traditions.
Historic Washington institution known for oysters, crab cakes, and classic American fare. Lively, traditional atmosphere near major landmarks.
Long-running Capitol Hill restaurant popular for steaks, seafood, and old-school Washington dining. Classic political atmosphere and established reputation.
Upscale, established steakhouse near Capitol Hill with polished service, strong wine program, and refined American dining.
Prices are moderate for a major US city. Station dining costs more than casual spots nearby.
Tip 18-20% at full-service restaurants. Tip USD 1-2 per drink at bars, round up taxis, and tip hotel staff USD 2-5. Not expected at fast-food counters, but optional for coffee shops.
Official public transport app
Washington Union Station -> Metro Center, Washington
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Washington Union Station, Washington, DC, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA to Washington Union Station, Washington, DC trains use the 30th Street Station to Union Station station pair. Use this guide to compare 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA and Washington Union Station, Washington, DC train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
30th Street Station is 1 km from Philadelphia city centre. Public transport options include:
30th Street Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Bridgewater's Pub, The Porch at 30th Street Station
Free. ATMs are available in the train station.
Ticket office support is available at 30th Street Station. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at 30th Street Station. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at 30th Street Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at 30th Street Station: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at 30th Street Station: Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
Nearby hotels include The Inn at Penn, a Hilton Hotel, Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel, The Study at University City.
Union Station is 2 km from Washington city centre. Public transport options include:
Union Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, and Information Desk.
Food options include: Shake Shack, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Chopt Creative Salad Co., Chipotle Mexican Grill, Thunder Grill, Johnny Rockets, Jamba Juice, Ladurée Union Station, & many more
Free Wi-Fi in the station courtesy of Amtrak. ATMs are there are 2 ATM machines located on Level G.
The ticket office is open Mon - Fri: 04:30 - 22:00, Sat - Sun: 05:00 - 22:00. Information desks are located on the train concourse of Level G near the Amtrak Waiting Area.
Luggage storage is amtrak provides temporary luggage storage for $10 per bag for 24 hours for customers holding Amtrak tickets.
Available at Union Station: Parking, Taxis.
Available at Union Station: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Union Station: Elevators, escalators, wheelchair access. Accessible facilities including restrooms, parking, platforms, ticket office, waiting room.
Nearby hotels include Hyatt Recency Washington On Capitol Hill, Phoenix Park Hotel, Kimpton George Hotel.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need