Trains from Charlotte, NC to Washington, DC

Trains from Charlotte to Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. is well connected by trains and people traveling by train from Charlotte to Washington D.C. arrive at Washington Union Station. It is the second busiest Amtrak train station and also acts as the railroad's headquarters. The distance between Charlotte and the US capital is 328 miles (527 kilometers). There are two trains from Charlotte to Washington D.C. daily that depart from Charlotte Station in the morning. Amtrak Carolinian offers the fastest train from Charlotte to Washington D.C., with the ride taking 8 hours and seven minutes. The best day to travel is on a Saturday because fewer people are traveling. Monday is the busiest day of the week.

When you travel by train from Charlotte, NC to Washington, D.C. you will be riding with Amtrak, the primary passenger train operator in the United States. There are two Amtrak lines that operate service between these cities - Crescent and Carolinian. Crescent runs all the way from New York City to New Orleans, while Carolinian runs between New York City and Charlotte. Both of these lines include stops in Washington, D.C. at Union Station. The first departure is via Crescent around 5:30 a.m. with arrival at Union Station around 1:45 p.m. The second departure is via Carolinian, leaving around 6:45 a.m. and arriving in Washington, D.C. around 4:30 p.m. The journey takes about 8h 15min.

Which train companies travel from Charlotte to Washington D.C.?

Amtrak offers trains from Charlotte to Washington D.C. The trains depart from Charlotte Station and arrive at Washington Union Station.

How long is the train ride Charlotte to Washington D.C?

Washington, D.C. is 328 miles (527 kilometers) from Charlotte. The fastest train from Charlotte to Washington D.C. takes 8 hours and 7 minutes on a direct route.

Booking your train ticket with Omio from Charlotte to Washington, D.C.

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Train companies from Charlotte to Washington, D.C.

As with most of the passenger train travel within the United States, the journey from Charlotte to Washington, D.C. via train is operated by Amtrak. This is the largest passenger train company in the country, with unique names for each of its routes. The two routes that include stops between Charlotte, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. are Crescent and Carolinian. The Crescent is about 1h 30min faster in the journey between these two cities. It departs from Charlotte Station around 5:30 a.m. and arrives at Union Station in America’s capital city around 1:45 p.m. for a total travel time of about 8h 15min. The Carolinian completes the same journey in about 9h 45min, departing about 6:45 a.m. and arriving about 4:30 p.m.

Popular international routes by train

While there are no direct international routes that originate in Charlotte, North Carolina, you can easily connect to international lines that provide service into Canada from New York City. For example, if you were hoping to visit Toronto, you would simply ride the Crescent or the Carolinian to New York City, where you would connect to the Maple Leaf at Penn Station and continue your journey to Canada. If you wished to visit Montreal, you would take a similar route via Crescent or Carolinian until you reached New York City, where you would switch to the Adirondack at Penn Station and continue your journey to Canada. The journey to New York City would take about 12h 45min, with the journey into Canada adding another 10h to Toronto or 7h to Montreal.

When arriving by train in Washington, D.C.

Upon your arrival in the capital city of the United States, you should immediately purchase a Metro pass if you plan to utilize public transit throughout your stay. This is a fast, clean, and newly renovated public transit system that operates throughout the district and includes connections to Virginia, including Arlington National Cemetery. The Metro cards are magnetic, so you only need to tap them on the surface of the station when you are arriving or departing. If you are looking for a train, each station has a route guide and scrolling arrival times for each train along with the popular destinations that they connect with.

Train Provider from Charlotte to Washington, D.C.

Passenger train travel between these two cities and throughout the United States is primarily operated by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, commonly known as Amtrak. You can ride with Amtrak to major American cities such as New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with a wide variety of connecting routes for smaller cities and towns along the way. The type of train you ride depends on where you find yourself, as many of Amtrak’s trains are custom-built to match the demands of routes they operate. There are a total of 240 diesel locomotives and 66 electric locomotives in service, with 20 high-speed Acela train sets and nearly 200 additional state-owned locomotives. This particular route uses a diesel engine, specifically the General Electric Genesis engine.

Charlotte Night. Source: Shutterstock

Main train stations from Charlotte to Washington, D.C.

The departure station on this route is Charlotte Station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Charlotte city centre, and serves as the terminal station for Amtrak’s Carolinian line. Inside the station, you can find a waiting room, payphones, ticketing counters, self-service kiosks, ATMs, restrooms, and vending machines. The boarding gates shut their doors about 5min before train departure. The arrival station is Union Station in Washington, D.C.

near the United States Capitol Building and the National Mall. It serves as a major stop for more than ten Amtrak lines, including notable routes such as the high-speed Acela Express or the Capitol Limited route. Within the station you will find a food court, waiting room, elevators, payphones, ticketing counters, self-service kiosks, ATMs, restrooms, and vending machines. This station also offers overnight luggage storage and checked baggage services.

Popular train journeys in the United States

Beyond the journey by train from Charlotte to Washington, D.C., Amtrak provides a variety of routes that cross from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean throughout the United States. One of the most popular routes is the California Zephyr, which provides transportation between Chicago, Illinois and San Francisco, California in about 52h for $140. Not only does this help you connect with two of the most prominent countries in America, but you will also be treated to the breathtaking beauty of the Colorado Rockies and the American West. Another popular route is the Capitol Corridor, running along the beautiful California coast from Auburn to San Jose in around 4h 15min for the cost of about $45.

With a stop in the beautiful and family-friendly town of Davis, home to University of California, Davis, this train is constantly filled with travelers who are looking for a quick visit to San Francisco or a ride to California’s capital for a Sacramento Kings game. If you are located in the American Midwest, the Wolverine is another popular route that connects Chicago, Illinois with Pontiac, Michigan in about 6h 20min for the cost of $45. This includes a stop in Ann Arbor, home to University of Michigan, so you can expect to see trains filled with football fans on fall weekends.

Charlotte Skyscapers. Source: Shutterstock

Popular train routes from Charlotte

There are three train routes that include stops in Charlotte - Crescent, Carolinian, and Piedmont. The Crescent is named after the Crescent City - New Orleans - which serves as the terminus of this route from New York City. When you ride on Crescent, you can expect stops in major American cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Atlanta. The full journey from New York City to New Orleans takes about 32h at the cost of $175.The Carolinian is another Amtrak line, with Charlotte Station serving as the terminal station on this line running north to Penn Station in New York City in about 12h 45min for $100. The third route that stops in Charlotte is Piedmont, a local service that provides connections between Raleigh and Charlotte in 3h 10min for about $30. This line includes stops in smaller cities such as Durham, Burlington, and Greensboro.

Good to Know

When you are traveling by train from Charlotte to Washington, D.C. on the Carolinian, be sure to bring snacks and drinks with you or purchase them from the train cafe, as this train does not have a dining car. If you choose to ride along the Crescent, you may decide to continue along the journey to New York City or down south to New Orleans, Louisiana. This is one of the few routes that crosses over Lake Pontchartrain on the longest rail bridge in the United States. Upon your arrival in Washington, D.C., you can continue to rely on public transportation by taking the Metro from place to place throughout the city. This includes transportation to popular destinations such as the U.S. Capitol Building, National Mall, and Arlington National Cemetery.

Charlotte to Washington, D.C. by train—travel tips

When you step off the train at Union Station in Washington, D.C., your biggest challenge will be deciding what to do first. At the National Mall, you can stand in the footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr. and American presidents on the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial. You can stroll along the reflection pool in front of the monument, and might be able to catch a ceremony from one of the branches of the military. Visit the Vietnam War Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Koren War Memorial that are all within walking distance of one another. You can learn more about President Franklin D. Roosevelt at his memorial and museum, or reflect at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Just across from the National Mall is the Capitol Building, where you can sit and observe a session of congress or take a guided tour of the building. In the distance is the White House, where the sitting president lives and works in the Oval Office. The Smithsonian Museum buildings are located throughout the National Mall, where you can learn about a variety of subjects with state-of-the-art exhibits. Another popular museum is the National Air & Space Museum, where you can learn about the history of flight in America and beyond. If you are looking for sports entertainment, head over to Nationals Park for a Washington Nationals baseball game. This city is also home to Washington Capitals hockey, Washington Wizards basketball, and The Washington Football Team.