- Must visit
New York State Museum
A major cultural and educational institution in Albany, offering exhibits on New York's cultural heritage and natural history.
Cheapest price
$77
Average price
$219
Fastest journey
6 h 19 m
Average duration
6 h 50 m
Trains per day
35
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 $219 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $77.
It's difficult to get from Washington, DC to Albany, NY without transferring at least once.
66 Northeast Regional · 69 Adirondack
66 Northeast Regional · 69 Adirondack
66 Northeast Regional · 63 Maple Leaf
66 Northeast Regional · 63 Maple Leaf
6076 AMTRAK · 190 Northeast Regional · 281 Empire Service
2166 NextGen Acela+
237 Empire Service
172 Northeast Regional · 233 Empire Service
86 Northeast Regional · 283 Empire Service
184 Northeast Regional · 239 Empire Service
2122 Acela+
243 Empire ServiceOmio 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 36m. 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 $161.
Distance: 311 miles (501 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$149 Average price | $91 Average price Cheapest | $349 Average price |
6h 16m Average total duration 5h 46m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 26m Average total duration 7h 56m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 36m Average total duration Fastest 1h 36m 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Washington, DC to Albany, NY:
A bus is $58 (€47) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Washington, DC to Albany, NY costing on average $149 (€120).
A bus is $258 (€209) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Washington, DC to Albany, NY costing on average $349 (€282).
Other travel options to Albany, NY take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 46m.
Bus takes on average 7h 56m.
The table below shows live departures for Washington, DC to Albany, NY 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 Crescent · 243 Empire Service | 2:12 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h47 | 11:59 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
80 Carolinian · 63 Maple Leaf | 5:11 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 16h39 | 9:50 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
80 Carolinian · 63 Maple Leaf | 5:11 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 17h23 | 10:34 AM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
66 Northeast Regional · 69 Adirondack | 10:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 12h52 | 10:52 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
66 Northeast Regional · 63 Maple Leaf | 10:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 11h50 | 9:50 AM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
66 Northeast Regional · 69 Adirondack | 10:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 14h06 | 12:06 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
66 Northeast Regional · 63 Maple Leaf | 10:00 PM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 12h34 | 10:34 AM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
| Monday, May 18 | |||||
6076 AMTRAK · 190 Northeast Regional · 281 Empire Service | 3:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 10h19 | 1:39 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 2 transfers | |
6076 AMTRAK · 190 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 3:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 16h07 | 7:27 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 2 transfers | |
6076 AMTRAK · 190 Northeast Regional · 281 Empire Service | 3:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h30 | 12:50 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 2 transfers | |
6076 AMTRAK · 190 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 3:20 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 15h00 | 6:20 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 2 transfers | |
170 Northeast Regional · 281 Empire Service | 5:05 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h34 | 1:39 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
170 Northeast Regional · 281 Empire Service | 5:05 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h45 | 12:50 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
172 Northeast Regional · 233 Empire Service | 7:06 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 6h45 | 1:51 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 283 Empire Service | 7:10 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h35 | 3:45 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 291 Ethan Allen Express | 7:10 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h39 | 4:49 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 283 Empire Service | 7:10 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 9h24 | 4:34 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 7:10 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 12h17 | 7:27 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 7:10 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 11h10 | 6:20 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
98 Silver Meteor · 291 Ethan Allen Express | 7:10 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 10h18 | 5:28 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
86 Northeast Regional · 283 Empire Service | 8:50 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 6h55 | 3:45 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
86 Northeast Regional · 291 Ethan Allen Express | 8:50 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h59 | 4:49 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
86 Northeast Regional · 291 Ethan Allen Express | 8:50 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h38 | 5:28 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
86 Northeast Regional · 283 Empire Service | 8:50 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h44 | 4:34 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
174 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 10:35 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h45 | 6:20 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
174 Northeast Regional · 235 Empire Service | 10:35 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h12 | 5:47 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
174 Northeast Regional · 241 Empire Service | 10:35 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 10h40 | 9:15 PM Albany / Rensselaer Amtrak, Rensselaer, NY | 1 transfer | |
174 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 10:35 AM Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h52 | 7:27 PM Schenectady Station, Schenectady, NY | 1 transfer | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
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.
Trains from Washington, DC to Albany, NY run on average 22 times per day, taking around 5h 46m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $72 (€58) 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 7h 23m.
Distance 311 miles (501 km) |
Average train duration 5h 46m |
Cheapest ticket price $72 (€58) |
Trains per day 22 |
Fastest train 7h 23m |
First train 3:20 AM |
Last train 10:00 PM |
Cheapest Month Sep |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 14 days |
Discover the best of Albany — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Albany trip today.
A major cultural and educational institution in Albany, offering exhibits on New York's cultural heritage and natural history.
A museum dedicated to the preservation of local art, history, and culture, with an extensive collection focusing on the Hudson Valley.
An iconic performing arts center with distinctive architecture, offering a variety of artistic performances and exhibitions.
A serene urban park featuring beautiful landscapes, famous tulip gardens, and hosting many community events.
An eclectic street known for its artsy vibe, boutique shops, and cultural festivities, representing the youthful spirit of Albany.
A major area for public events with modernist architecture, fountains, and an outdoor ice skating rink in winter.
A spicy pasta dish with chicken, rigatoni, and hot or sweet peppers, popular in the central parts of New York state.
A classic American dessert made with a flaky crust and a sweet apple filling, reflecting the state's historic apple orchards.
Fried chicken wings coated in a spicy buffalo sauce, originating from New York and enjoyed as a bar snack.
Costs are moderate compared to larger cities like New York, but higher than rural areas.
15-20% in restaurants, round up taxis, not expected in fast food joints.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.

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