- Must visit
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
One of the world’s most visited natural history museums, known for dinosaur fossils, the Hope Diamond, and broad family-friendly exhibits.
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Clifton, NJ to Washington, DC among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $26. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 27m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $26, and a flight costs an average of $74.
Distance: 203 miles (328 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$73 Average price | $38 Average price Cheapest | $199 Average price | $46 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 49m Average total duration 3h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 5m Average total duration 4h 35m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 27m Average total duration Fastest 1h 27m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 4h 5m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Clifton, NJ to Washington, DC:
A bus is $35 (€29) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Clifton, NJ to Washington, DC costing on average $73 (€60).
A bus is $161 (€132) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Clifton, NJ to Washington, DC costing on average $199 (€164).
Other travel options to Washington, DC take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 19m.
Bus takes on average 4h 35m.
You'll arrive about 46m sooner (3h 19m by train vs 4h 5m by car). Tickets start at around $73 (€60) compared to roughly $46 (€38) 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.
The table below shows live departures for Clifton, NJ to Washington, DC trains for today, Thursday, July 2. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
111 Northeast Regional | 4:50 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h36 | 8:26 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
111 Northeast Regional | 5:06 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h20 | 8:26 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
181 Northeast Regional | 5:45 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h21 | 9:06 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
181 Northeast Regional | 6:01 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h05 | 9:06 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
89 Palmetto | 6:02 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h42 | 9:44 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2103 NextGen Acela | 6:10 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 2h59 | 9:09 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
89 Palmetto | 6:19 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h25 | 9:44 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
113 Northeast Regional | 6:32 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h23 | 9:55 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
113 Northeast Regional | 6:48 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h07 | 9:55 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
79 Carolinian | 7:04 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 4h05 | 11:09 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
79 Carolinian | 7:24 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h45 | 11:09 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
183 Northeast Regional | 7:25 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h51 | 11:16 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2107 Acela | 7:35 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 2h55 | 10:30 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
183 Northeast Regional | 7:41 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h35 | 11:16 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2107 Acela | 7:50 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h40 | 10:30 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2109 NextGen Acela | 8:20 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h02 | 11:22 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
141 Northeast Regional | 8:23 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h22 | 11:45 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
141 Northeast Regional | 8:39 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h06 | 11:45 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
141 Northeast Regional | 8:44 AM Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ | 3h01 | 11:45 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2151 NextGen Acela | 9:00 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 2h59 | 11:59 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2151 NextGen Acela | 9:15 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h44 | 11:59 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
185 Northeast Regional | 9:25 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h32 | 12:57 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
185 Northeast Regional | 9:42 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h15 | 12:57 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
185 Northeast Regional | 9:46 AM Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ | 3h11 | 12:57 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2113 NextGen Acela | 10:00 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 2h58 | 12:58 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
95 Northeast Regional | 10:35 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h30 | 2:05 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
95 Northeast Regional | 10:53 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h12 | 2:05 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2155 NextGen Acela | 11:00 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h00 | 2:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2155 NextGen Acela | 11:15 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h45 | 2:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
125 Northeast Regional | 11:35 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h36 | 3:11 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
125 Northeast Regional | 11:52 AM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h19 | 3:11 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2115 NextGen Acela | 11:55 AM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h03 | 2:58 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
131 Northeast Regional | 12:10 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h35 | 3:45 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2115 NextGen Acela | 12:10 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h48 | 2:58 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
131 Northeast Regional | 12:26 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h19 | 3:45 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
171 Northeast Regional | 12:40 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h45 | 4:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
171 Northeast Regional | 12:57 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h28 | 4:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
171 Northeast Regional | 1:02 PM Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ | 3h23 | 4:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2159 NextGen Acela | 1:02 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 2h58 | 4:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2159 NextGen Acela | 1:17 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h43 | 4:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
19 Crescent | 2:00 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h47 | 5:47 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
93 Northeast Regional | 2:02 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h23 | 5:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2119 NextGen Acela | 2:15 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 2h57 | 5:12 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
93 Northeast Regional | 2:19 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h06 | 5:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
19 Crescent | 2:20 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h27 | 5:47 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2119 NextGen Acela | 2:30 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h42 | 5:12 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
97 Silver Meteor | 2:30 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h54 | 6:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
97 Silver Meteor | 2:53 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h31 | 6:24 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
85 Northeast Regional | 3:05 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h33 | 6:38 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
85 Northeast Regional | 3:22 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h16 | 6:38 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
85 Northeast Regional | 3:26 PM Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ | 3h12 | 6:38 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2123 Acela | 4:13 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 2h58 | 7:11 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
129 Northeast Regional | 4:24 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h38 | 8:02 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2123 Acela | 4:29 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h42 | 7:11 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
129 Northeast Regional | 4:41 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h21 | 8:02 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2127 NextGen Acela | 6:00 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h00 | 9:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
197 Northeast Regional | 6:08 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h22 | 9:30 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2127 NextGen Acela | 6:15 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h45 | 9:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
137 Northeast Regional | 6:25 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h33 | 9:58 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
197 Northeast Regional | 6:25 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h05 | 9:30 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
137 Northeast Regional | 6:42 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h16 | 9:58 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
55 Vermonter | 6:45 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h21 | 10:06 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
137 Northeast Regional | 6:47 PM Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ | 3h11 | 9:58 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
55 Vermonter | 7:03 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h03 | 10:06 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2171 Acela | 7:18 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h02 | 10:20 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2171 Acela | 7:35 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 2h45 | 10:20 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
175 Northeast Regional | 7:52 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h31 | 11:23 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
2131 NextGen Acela | 8:00 PM Penn Station, New York, NY | 3h00 | 11:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
175 Northeast Regional | 8:09 PM Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ | 3h14 | 11:23 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 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.
Trains from Clifton, NJ to Washington, DC run on average 71 times per day, taking around 3h 19m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $18 (€15) if you book in advance.
There are 69 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 03:00, the last at 23:42. The fastest train covers the 203 miles (328 km) distance in 3h 1m.
Distance 203 miles (328 km) |
Average train duration 3h 19m |
Cheapest ticket price $18 (€15) |
Trains per day 71 |
Direct trains 69 |
Fastest train 3h 1m |
First train 3:00 AM |
Last train 11:42 PM |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 1 day |
Discover the best of Washington — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Washington trip today.
One of the world’s most visited natural history museums, known for dinosaur fossils, the Hope Diamond, and broad family-friendly exhibits.
Flagship Smithsonian museum covering aviation and spaceflight, with iconic aircraft, spacecraft, and major interactive exhibits.
Premier art museum with strong collections from the Middle Ages to modern art, plus sculpture garden and rotating exhibitions.
The city’s grand ceremonial park lined with Smithsonian museums, memorials, and iconic government buildings.
Historic neighborhood of cobblestone streets, waterfront walks, rowhouses, and some of Washington’s most photogenic corners.
Scenic waterside loop famous for cherry blossoms and views of major memorials, especially popular for sunrise and spring visits.
Washington’s signature sausage, usually smoky and spicy, served on a bun with chili, mustard, and onions. It is one of the city’s most iconic street foods.
A sweet-tangy sauce closely associated with Washington carryout culture, often paired with fried chicken wings and fries. It is a local comfort-food staple.
Steamed or picked blue crab from the nearby Chesapeake region is deeply tied to local food traditions. It is especially popular in warmer months.
Celebrated upscale restaurant with creative small plates and a warm, energetic atmosphere. It is one of Washington’s best-known modern dining destinations.
A classic, long-running Washington institution known for oysters, crab cakes, and traditional American fare in an elegant historic atmosphere.
Bustling brasserie known for polished French classics, strong brunch, and a stylish dining room that is popular with both locals and visitors.
Prices are high for hotels and dining, especially downtown. Free museums help balance daily costs.
Tip 18-20% at restaurants. USD 1-2 per drink at bars, round up taxis, and tip hotel staff USD 2-5.
Official public transport app
Union Station, Washington, DC -> Metro Center, Washington, DC
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Clifton, NJ 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.

Most Clifton, NJ to Washington, DC trains use the Penn Station to Union Station station pair. Use this guide to compare Clifton, NJ and Washington, DC train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
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