The cheapest and fastest trains from Washington, DC to Albany, NY
Cheapest price
$191
Average price
$416
Fastest journey
6 h 15 m
Average duration
6 h 36 m
Trains per day
30
Distance
501 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Washington, DC to Albany, NY is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Washington, DC to Albany, NY will cost around $416 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $191.
It's difficult to get from Washington, DC to Albany, NY without transferring at least once.
66 Northeast Regional · 69 Adirondack10:00 PM14h06Washington Union Station, Washington, DC12:06 PMSchenectady Station, Schenectady, NY$1911One-way1 transfer
66 Northeast Regional · 69 Adirondack10:00 PM12h52Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:52 AMAlbany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY$2571One-way1 transfer
66 Northeast Regional · 63 Maple Leaf10:00 PM12h34Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:34 AMSchenectady Station, Schenectady, NY$2571One-way1 transfer
66 Northeast Regional · 63 Maple Leaf10:00 PM11h50Washington Union Station, Washington, DC9:50 AMAlbany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY$2571One-way1 transfer
2124 Acela+
245 Empire Service6:25 PM7h31Washington Union Station, Washington, DC1:56 AMAlbany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY$3071One-way1 transfer
2166 Acela+
237 Empire Service12:55 PM6h15Washington Union Station, Washington, DC7:10 PMAlbany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY$6011One-way1 transfer
2168 Acela+
239 Empire Service1:55 PM6h33Washington Union Station, Washington, DC8:28 PMAlbany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY$6011One-way1 transfer
2122 Acela+
243 Empire Service5:25 PM6h34Washington Union Station, Washington, DC11:59 PMAlbany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY$3321One-way1 transfer
172 Northeast Regional · 233 Empire Service7:10 AM6h41Washington Union Station, Washington, DC1:51 PMAlbany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY$3991One-way1 transfer
86 Northeast Regional · 283 Empire Service8:50 AM6h55Washington Union Station, Washington, DC3:45 PMAlbany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY$5541One-way1 transfer
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Washington, DC to Albany, NY
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Washington, DC to Albany, NY among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $42. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 31m. 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 $42, and a flight costs an average of $129.
Distance: 311 miles (501 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$136 Average price | $88 Average price Cheapest | $304 Average price |
6h 18m Average total duration 5h 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 13m Average total duration 7h 43m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 31m Average total duration Fastest 1h 31m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Washington, DC to Albany, NY train times
The table below shows live departures for Washington, DC to Albany, NY trains for today, Thursday, April 2. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
86 Northeast Regional · 283 Empire Service | 12:50 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h44 | 8:34 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
86 Northeast Regional · 283 Empire Service | 12:50 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 6h55 | 7:45 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
86 Northeast Regional · 291 Ethan Allen Express | 12:50 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h38 | 9:28 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
86 Northeast Regional · 291 Ethan Allen Express | 12:50 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h59 | 8:49 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
174 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 2:35 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h52 | 11:27 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
174 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 2:35 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h45 | 10:20 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
174 Northeast Regional · 235 Empire Service | 2:35 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h12 | 9:47 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
2166 Acela+ 237 Empire Service | 4:55 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 6h15 | 11:10 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
20 Crescent · 243 Empire Service | 6:35 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h24 | 3:59 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
178 Northeast Regional · 243 Empire Service | 8:02 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h57 | 3:59 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
2122 Acela+ 243 Empire Service | 9:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 6h34 | 3:59 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
2124 Acela+ 245 Empire Service | 10:25 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h31 | 5:56 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
| Friday, April 3 | |||||
172 Northeast Regional · 233 Empire Service | 11:10 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 6h41 | 5:51 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 283 Empire Service | 11:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h25 | 7:45 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 283 Empire Service | 11:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h14 | 8:34 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 291 Ethan Allen Express | 11:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h29 | 8:49 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 11:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 12h07 | 11:27 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 291 Ethan Allen Express | 11:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 10h08 | 9:28 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 11:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 11h00 | 10:20 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Washington, DC to Albany, NY 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.
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Apr 09
Why should you book Washington, DC to Albany, NY 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 Washington, DC to Albany, NY.
- 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 Washington, DC to Albany, NY.
Journey information
Overview: Train from Washington, DC to Albany, NY
Trains from Washington, DC to Albany, NY run on average 22 times per day, taking around 5h 48m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $70 (€57) but you can travel from only $42 (€34) 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 30m.
Distance 311 miles (501 km) |
Average train duration 5h 48m |
Cheapest ticket price $70 (€57) |
Trains per day 22 |
Fastest train 6h 30m |
First train 3:20 AM |
Last train 10:00 PM |
Train companies: Amtrak from Washington, DC to Albany, NY trainsAmtrak trains will get you between Washington, DC and Albany, NY from $42 (€34). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
Traveling by train from Washington, DC to Albany, NY
Traveling between Washington, DC and Albany, NY is a convenient journey made easy by Amtrak. With comfortable seating and scenic views along the way, you can relax as you traverse approximately 3 hours of travel time. The train service offers multiple daily departures, ensuring flexibility for your schedule while connecting these two cities rich in history and culture.
Train Connection: Washington, DC to Albany, NY
The train journey from Washington, DC to Albany, NY takes approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes. There are up to 10 connections available per day; however, this route does not offer direct trains. Passengers can expect a transfer during their travel time.
Washington, DC to Albany, NY
The first daily train journey from Washington, DC to Albany, NY departs at 9:00 AM. The last departure for this route is scheduled for 9:25 PM.
Train Tickets Price for Washington, DC to Albany, NY
The cheapest ticket price for the train connection from Washington, DC to Albany, NY is $15 (13.5€). This offers a budget-friendly option for travelers looking to explore these two cities while enjoying scenic views along the way.
Exploring Albany: A Journey Through History and Culture
Welcome to the New York State Capitol, a stunning architectural marvel completed in 1899 that showcases an eclectic mix of styles, including Romanesque and Renaissance influences. This historic building is significant not only as the seat of government for New York but also as a symbol of political power and civic pride, housing important artworks and sculptures that reflect our state's rich history. One unique feature you’ll notice is its grand staircase made from over 400 different types of stone—each telling its own story about craftsmanship and design.
Next on our tour is Empire State Plaza, an impressive complex designed by architect Wallace Harrison during the mid-20th century which serves as both a governmental hub and cultural center. The significance of this space lies in its role as a modernist statement amidst Albany's historical backdrop while providing public access to art installations like "The Egg," an iconic performing arts venue. What sets it apart are the breathtaking views from atop the plaza’s terraces where you can see panoramic vistas stretching across downtown Albany.
Finally, we arrive at the Albany Institute of History & Art—a treasure trove dedicated to preserving local heritage through art collections dating back centuries. Established in 1791, this museum holds immense significance for understanding regional culture with exhibits ranging from Hudson River School paintings to artifacts reflecting early American life. A truly unique aspect here is their focus on interactive experiences; visitors can engage with hands-on displays that bring history alive right before your eyes!
FAQs: Trains from Washington, DC to Albany, NY
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Washington, DC to Albany, NY 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 Albany, NY, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Washington, DC to Albany, NY
- 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 Washington, DC
More options for your journey from Washington, DC to Albany, NY
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