10 best Amtrak trips from Atlanta

Atlanta was once a major passenger train hub, but today, only trains on the Crescent route stop in the city. It’s a long-distance route that travels between New Orleans and New York City, so you can visit a variety of places or transfer to other Amtrak routes in New Orleans, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.

To see where you can go, view the best Amtrak trips from Atlanta below, including day trips, weekend getaways, and longer rail vacations. Only destinations with good train arrival and departure times were included so you don’t have to worry about middle-of-the-night travel. Transfer locations are also indicated if you want to explore more of the U.S. by train.

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Birmingham

A day trip option, Birmingham is 4.5 hours away from Atlanta on Amtrak. There is a walkable downtown area with many hotels and museums near the Birmingham Amtrak Station. You’ll arrive in time for lunch (note that Birmingham is on Central Time), with the option to spend a few hours in the city and return to Atlanta in the evening.

Things to Do: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, McWane Science Center, Rotary Trail

Where to Stay: John Hand Club Hotel is closest to the Birmingham Station (walking time is only 3 minutes). Also a short walk away is The Kelly Birmingham, Fairfield Inn & Suites Downtown, and the Elyton Hotel

Tuscaloosa

University of Alabama football field — *Photo by Mike C/Flickr.com*

If you’re a college football fan, then you already know that the University of Alabama is in Tuscaloosa and a top reason to visit the city. Travel time on the train is about six hours from Atlanta. You’ll arrive on the edge of town, so it’s easiest to use Lyft or Uber to get around. Due to the train schedule, you’ll need to stay at least one night in the college town before getting back on the Crescent.

Things to Do: Go to a football game, explore the riverwalk, visit one of several museums — there’s one focused solely on William “Bear” Bryant, former Crimson Tide coach.

Where to Stay: Downtown Tuscaloosa is very walkable and a great place to stay. Choose from vacation rentals for a local vibe or hotels such as Embassy Suites and Home2Suites.

Laurel

Laurel, Mississippi is charming weekend trip from Atlanta. The “Home Town” HGTV show is filmed here, and you can walk to downtown restaurants, shops, and events from the Amtrak station. Travel time is about nine hours, and you’ll arrive in time for dinner (keep in mind many restaurants are closed on Sundays).

Things to Do: Go on the Home Town tour, explore downtown, visit the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, see a show at Laurel Little Theatre

Where to Stay: Vacation rentals in downtown Laurel that are in walking distance of the train station

Charlottesville

For a college town getaway with a historic downtown mall, plan a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia. Travel time is about 11 hours from Atlanta and you’ll spend one night on the train. You’ll arrive in between the University of Virginia campus and downtown Charlottesville, which has many restaurants and shops to explore. Guided tours and rentals cars can help you explore area attractions.

Things to Do: Visit Monticello, go on a winery tour, explore the University of Virginia campus, rent a car to visit Shenandoah National Park (Enterprise has pick up service)

Where to Stay: Hampton Inn & Suites and The Doyle Hotel are both a 5-minute walk from the station. There are also a variety of vacation rentals in the area.

New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the most popular train trips from Atlanta. It’s a daytime, 13-hour rail journey with travel over Lake Pontchartrain. Arrival time is at night, but there’s enough time to experience the city’s famous nightlife after you arrive.

Things to Do: French Quarter, Bourbon Street, Garden District, National WWII Museum, food tours

Where to Stay: Hyatt Regency New Orleans is a top-rated hotel near the train station. Walking time is about 11 minutes. For more options, view the best French Quarter hotels, best Central Business district hotels and nearby vacation rentals.

To continue your rail adventure, New Orleans has connections to the Sunset Limited for travel out west and to the City of New Orleans train, which travels to cities including Jackson, Memphis, and Chicago.

Manassas

Civil War history buffs will enjoy a trip to Manassas, Virginia, about 13 hours away from Atlanta on Amtrak. The Manassas National Battlefield Park is a 20-minute drive away from the train station, and you can check with the two nearby Enterprise rental car offices to see if they can pick you up.

The train back to Atlanta departs early evening, so you can return the same day if desired. If you want to stay overnight in Manassas, the Olde Towne Inn is in walking distance from the Amtrak station, and there is a historic downtown area to explore. Consider leaving Atlanta on Friday so you can check out the local farmers market next to the station when you arrive on Saturday.

Things to Do: Visit Manassas National Battlefield Park and Freedom Museum, explore the historic downtown and train depot, check out the farmers market

Where to Stay: Manassas Junction Bed and Breakfast is closest to the station or book a downtown vacation rental

Alexandria

George Washington considered Alexandria, Virginia his home town, making a visit here a unique way to experience the roots of America’s first president. The charming Old Town (about a 20-minute walk from the Amtrak station) is full of colonial architecture, brick streets, and views of the Potomac River.

Things to Do: George Washington’s Alexandria tour, visit the Alexandria Black History Museum, walk the waterfront, take the water taxi to the National Harbor, The Wharf, or Georgetown, ride the Metro to Washington D.C to sightsee

Where to Stay: Embassy Suites and Hilton hotels are conveniently across the street from the Amtrak and Metro station. You can also stay near the Potomac River at Hotel Indigo Old Town or in a more central area, such as at Morristown House and Hotel Heron (which has a rooftop bar).

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is full of iconic landmarks, year-round events and restaurants. Consider a sightseeing tour to easily explore the many attractions, and plan your trip in March to view the cherry blossoms. Travel time from Atlanta is about 14 hours and you’ll arrive at Union Station where you can transfer to the WMATA red line or get a ride with Uber, Lyft or a taxi.

Things to Do: National Mall, museums, monuments, river cruises

Where to Stay: Book a hotel off the red line for an easy subway ride from Union Station, including in Penn Quarter and Dupont Circle. Dupont Circle is also a charming neighborhood for vacation rentals.

You can transfer to other Amtrak routes in Washington D.C. to continue traveling across the country. View best Amtrak day trips and best long-distance train trips from D.C. to view your options.

Philadelphia

For an essential American experience, travel 17 hours on Amtrak to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers established the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Other top things to do include eating a cheesesteak, exploring A hop-on-off sightseeing trolley, bikeshare rentals and a variety of tours are great ways to see the sights.

Things to Do: Visit Independence National Historic Park and Reading Terminal Market, explore the waterfront, go on a history tour, climb the steps at the art museum (in the Rocky movies)

Where to Stay: Old City is a great area near many attractions, or for a quieter neighborhood stay, book a vacation rental in Fairmount (near the art museum). View the best hotels in Philadelphia for more ideas.

To see more of Pennsylvania, transfer to the Pennsylvanian train at the 30th Street Station to reach cities including Harrisburg (which is near Hersheypark) and Lancaster (near Amish farms).

New York City

New York City is the end-of-the-line on the Crescent. You’ll arrive at Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan, which has connections to the MTA subway and is in walking distance of the Empire State Building and Times Square. Keep in mind that you’ll want to stay at least two nights in Manhattan or the surrounding area if you plan to go to a Broadway show — get tickets on your second day in the city. Travel time is about 18.5 hours to and from Atlanta.

Things to Do: Visit the Statue of Liberty, view the skyline from an observation deck, explore neighborhoods and museums, go to a Broadway show

Where to Stay: Stay in Midtown Manhattan for easy access to Penn Station and attractions. For easy access to green space, stay at a hotel near Central Park. Greenwich Village is also one of our favorite areas for a historic neighborhood experience. The Washington Square Hotel and Marlton Hotel are centrally located in the village.

You can change trains in New York City to reach destinations including Boston, Vermont, Niagara Falls, Canada and Chicago.

More Information

Amtrak routes from Atlanta

Atlanta has one Amtrak route: the Crescent. Trains traveling to New Orleans depart in the morning while trains heading to Washington D.C. and New York City depart at night.

Where to board Amtrak in Atlanta

Atlanta has a small Amtrak station on Peachtree Street, not far from Atlantic Station. Northbound trains heading toward New York City depart at night and southbound trains traveling toward New Orleans depart in the morning.

Location: 1688 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA (view map)
Neighborhood: Brookwood (between Midtown and Buckhead)
Transit Connections: MARTA bus 110 stops at the station
When to Arrive: 30–45 minutes before departure
How to Get There: Rideshare, bus, or other type of drop-off is recommended