The cheapest and fastest trains from Albany, NY to Washington, DC
Cheapest price
$102
Average price
$180
Fastest journey
5 h 58 m
Average duration
6 h 28 m
Trains per day
32
Distance
501 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Albany, NY to Washington, DC is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Albany, NY to Washington, DC will cost around $180 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $102.
It's difficult to get from Albany, NY to Washington, DC without transferring at least once.
68 Adirondack · 67 Northeast Regional · 151 Northeast Regional6:38 PM12h20Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY6:58 AMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$1021One-way2 transfers
68 Adirondack · 67 Northeast Regional · 151 Northeast Regional7:40 PM11h18Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY6:58 AMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$1031One-way2 transfers
64 Maple Leaf · 177 Northeast Regional · 6077 AMTRAK6:35 PM8h25Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY3:00 AMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$1031One-way2 transfers
68 Adirondack · 67 Northeast Regional6:38 PM12h16Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY6:54 AMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$1091One-way1 transfer
64 Maple Leaf · 177 Northeast Regional · 6077 AMTRAK5:39 PM9h21Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY3:00 AMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$1101One-way2 transfers
280 Empire Service+
2159 NextGen Acela10:05 AM5h58Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY4:03 PMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$2351One-way1 transfer
232 Empire Service+
2151 NextGen Acela5:55 AM6h04Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY11:59 AMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$2191One-way1 transfer
280 Empire Service+
2159 NextGen Acela9:21 AM6h42Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY4:03 PMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$2511One-way1 transfer
230 Empire Service · 141 Northeast Regional5:00 AM6h45Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY11:45 AMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$1851One-way1 transfer
244 Empire Service · 175 Northeast Regional4:30 PM6h53Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY11:23 PMWashington Union Station, Washington, DC$1451One-way1 transfer
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Albany, NY to Washington, DC
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Albany, NY to Washington, DC among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $59. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 10m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.5kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $59, and a flight costs an average of $159.
Distance: 311 miles (501 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$140 Average price | $89 Average price Cheapest | $342 Average price | $103 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 29m Average total duration 5h 59m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 22m Average total duration 7h 52m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 10m Average total duration Fastest 3h 10m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 6h 14m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Albany, NY to Washington, DC:
A bus is $51 (€41) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Albany, NY to Washington, DC costing on average $140 (€113).
A bus is $253 (€204) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Albany, NY to Washington, DC costing on average $342 (€276).
Other travel options to Washington, DC take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 59m.
Bus takes on average 7h 52m.
You'll arrive about 15m sooner (5h 59m by train vs 6h 14m by car). Tickets start at around $140 (€113) compared to roughly $103 (€84) 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.
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.
Live departures
Albany, NY to Washington, DC train times
The table below shows live departures for Albany, NY to Washington, DC trains for today, Sunday, May 17. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
244 Empire Service · 165 Northeast Regional | 4:30 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 7h10 | 11:40 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
| Monday, May 18 | |||||
230 Empire Service · 141 Northeast Regional | 5:00 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 6h45 | 11:45 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
232 Empire Service+ 2151 NextGen Acela | 5:55 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 6h04 | 11:59 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
234 Empire Service · 95 Northeast Regional | 6:50 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 7h15 | 2:05 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
236 Empire Service · 125 Northeast Regional | 8:15 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 6h56 | 3:11 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
280 Empire Service · 97 Silver Meteor | 9:21 AM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 9h03 | 6:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
280 Empire Service · 93 Northeast Regional | 9:21 AM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 8h04 | 5:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
280 Empire Service · 19 Crescent | 9:21 AM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 8h26 | 5:47 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
280 Empire Service+ 2159 NextGen Acela | 9:21 AM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 6h42 | 4:03 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
280 Empire Service · 97 Silver Meteor | 10:05 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 8h19 | 6:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
280 Empire Service · 93 Northeast Regional | 10:05 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 7h20 | 5:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
280 Empire Service · 19 Crescent | 10:05 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 7h42 | 5:47 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
280 Empire Service+ 2159 NextGen Acela | 10:05 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 5h58 | 4:03 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
240 Empire Service · 85 Northeast Regional | 11:15 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 7h23 | 6:38 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Albany, NY to Washington, DC by bus, train, or flight
Compare bus, train, 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.
May 18
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May 20
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 24
Why should you book Albany, NY to Washington, DC trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Amtrak?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Amtrak, but also compare tickets for the likes of Amtrak to find the best option for your trip from Albany, NY to Washington, DC.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Amtrak with all available travel options, which are bus, train and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Albany, NY to Washington, DC.
Journey information
Overview: Train from Albany, NY to Washington, DC
Trains from Albany, NY to Washington, DC run on average 24 times per day, taking around 5h 59m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $71 (€57) but you can travel from only $59 (€48) by bus.
The earliest train runs at 03:20, the last at 22:00. The fastest train covers the 311 miles (501 km) distance in 6h 53m.
Distance 311 miles (501 km) |
Average train duration 5h 59m |
Cheapest ticket price $71 (€57) |
Trains per day 24 |
Fastest train 6h 53m |
First train 3:20 AM |
Last train 10:00 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 21 days |
Train companies: Amtrak from Albany, NY to Washington, DC trainsAmtrak trains will get you between Albany, NY and Washington, DC from $59 (€48). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Trains from Albany, NY to Washington, DC
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Albany, NY to 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, DC, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Albany, NY to Washington, DC
- Mon - Fri: 04:30 - 22:00
- Sat - Sun: 05:00 - 22:00
- Free Wi-Fi in the station courtesy of Amtrak.
- Amtrak provides temporary luggage storage for $10 per bag for 24 hours for customers holding Amtrak tickets.
- 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
- Elevators, escalators, wheelchair access. Accessible facilities including restrooms, parking, platforms, ticket office, waiting room.
- Hyatt Recency Washington On Capitol Hill
- Phoenix Park Hotel
- Kimpton George Hotel
- Mon - Fri: 04:30 - 22:00
- Sat - Sun: 05:00 - 22:00
- Located on the train concourse of Level G near the Amtrak Waiting Area.
- Metro lines: Red
- Bus lines: D6, D8, 80, 96,
- Train lines: Acela, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Fredericksburg Line, MARC Brunswick, MARC Camden, MARC Penn, Manassas Line, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Service/Palmetto, Vermonter
More options for your journey from Albany, NY to Washington, DC
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