The cheapest and fastest trains from Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC
Cheapest price
$64
Average price
$262
Fastest journey
2 h 26 m
Average duration
2 h 29 m
Trains per day
19
Distance
260 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Princeton, NJ 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 Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC will cost around $262 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $64.
Of the 19 trains that leave Princeton, NJ for Washington, DC on Sun, Mar 15, 18 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sun, Mar 15 the direct trains cover the 260 km distance in an average of 2 h 29 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 26 m .
On Sun, Mar 15 the slowest trains will take 2 h 30 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.
79 Carolinian
79 Carolinian
65 Northeast Regional
109 Northeast Regional
89 Palmetto
161 Northeast Regional
103 Northeast Regional
109 Northeast Regional
153 Northeast Regional
101 Northeast RegionalTravel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $25. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 24m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $25, and a flight costs an average of $64.
Distance: 161 miles (260 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$41 Average price | $35 Average price Cheapest | $155 Average price |
3h 11m Average total duration 2h 41m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 26m Average total duration 3h 56m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 24m Average total duration Fastest 1h 24m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions | 0.8 - 1.6kg CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC train times
The table below shows live departures for Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC trains for today, Saturday, March 14. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
147 Northeast Regional | 5:48 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h24 | 8:12 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
19 Crescent | 7:01 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h46 | 9:47 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
161 Northeast Regional | 7:03 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h26 | 9:29 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
97 Silver Meteor | 7:31 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h49 | 10:20 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
163 Northeast Regional | 9:05 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h27 | 11:32 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
159 Northeast Regional | 10:03 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h40 | 12:43 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
135 Northeast Regional | 11:03 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h34 | 1:37 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
57 Vermonter | 11:57 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h31 | 2:28 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Sunday, March 15 | |||||
107 Northeast Regional | 12:03 AM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h31 | 2:34 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
165 Northeast Regional | 12:46 AM New Brunswick Station, New Brunswick, NJ | 2h52 | 3:38 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
165 Northeast Regional | 1:00 AM Princeton Junction Station at West Windsor, West Windsor Township, NJ | 2h38 | 3:38 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
165 Northeast Regional | 1:08 AM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h30 | 3:38 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
65 Northeast Regional | 4:22 AM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 6h07 | 10:29 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
109 Northeast Regional | 10:31 AM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h30 | 1:01 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
89 Palmetto · 51 Cardinal | 10:56 AM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 3h18 | 2:14 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
89 Palmetto | 10:56 AM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h40 | 1:36 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
51 Cardinal | 11:42 AM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h32 | 2:14 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
79 Carolinian | 11:51 AM New Brunswick Station, New Brunswick, NJ | 3h11 | 3:02 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
79 Carolinian | 12:07 PM Princeton Junction Station at West Windsor, West Windsor Township, NJ | 2h55 | 3:02 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
79 Carolinian | 12:19 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h43 | 3:02 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
101 Northeast Regional | 12:42 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h30 | 3:12 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
153 Northeast Regional | 1:03 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h30 | 3:33 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
155 Northeast Regional | 1:46 PM New Brunswick Station, New Brunswick, NJ | 2h53 | 4:39 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
103 Northeast Regional | 1:47 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h29 | 4:16 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
155 Northeast Regional | 2:00 PM Princeton Junction Station at West Windsor, West Windsor Township, NJ | 2h39 | 4:39 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
143 Northeast Regional | 2:48 PM Trenton Transit Center, Trenton, NJ | 2h31 | 5:19 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 prices and tickets Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC by train, bus, or flight
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.
Mar 15
Mar 16
Mar 17
Mar 18
Mar 19
Mar 20
Mar 21
Mar 22
Mar 23
Mar 24
Mar 25
Mar 26
Mar 27
Mar 28
Journey information
Overview: Train from Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC
Trains from Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC run on average 29 times per day, taking around 2h 41m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $12 (€10) if you book in advance.
There are 26 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:20, the last at 23:23. The fastest train covers the 161 miles (260 km) distance in 2h 23m.
Distance 161 miles (260 km) |
Average train duration 2h 41m |
Cheapest ticket price $12 (€10) |
Trains per day 29 |
Direct trains 26 |
Fastest train 2h 23m |
First train 00:20 |
Last train 23:23 |
Cheapest month Dec |
Cheapest day Wed |
High season Jul - Sep |
Low season Jan - Mar |
Busiest day Thu |
Least busy day Wed |
Best day to book ahead 49 days |
Train companies: Amtrak, NJ Transit from Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC trainsAmtrak, NJ Transit trains will get you between Princeton, NJ and Washington, DC from $12 (€10). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
NJ Transit
FAQs: Trains from Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Princeton, 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.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Princeton, NJ 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
Most popular train connections from Princeton, NJ
More options for your journey from Princeton, NJ to Washington, DC
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
