Full of historic places, coastal towns, and forested mountains, the East Coast of the United States is a wonderful place to explore by train. You can easily travel between major cities or enjoy a scenic train ride to quieter areas with beaches, hiking trails, and scenic rivers.
Explore the best Amtrak trips on the East Coast below to start planning your next train adventure.
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East Coast Amtrak Trips Overview
| Trip | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Niagara Falls | Travel through the scenic Hudson River Valley to visit the majestic waterfalls |
| New River Gorge | Mountain and river scenery with the option to visit a national park |
| Vermont | Visit charming towns and view stunning fall foliage |
| Maine | Choose from multiple stops in Maine for beaches, lighthouses, shopping, and more |
| Canada | Visit Toronto or Montreal by train and enjoy views of the Hudson River along the way |
| Florida | Take an overnight train trip to Florida for warm weather, beaches, and theme parks |
| Blue Ridge Mountains | Ride the Northeast Regional to Roanoke, Virginia for mountain views and drives on the Blue Ridge Parkway |
| Appalachia | Hike on the Appalachian Trail and visit historic sites in Harpers Ferry |
| Pennsylvania Dutch Country | Eat local food and go on immersive Amish tours |
| New Orleans | Travel across the Southeast and South to enjoy food, music, festivals, and history in NOLA |
Niagara Falls
One of the most majestic sights in the United States, Niagara Falls can be reached via the Empire Service and Maple Leaf Amtrak routes (book tickets to Niagara Falls, NY). Trains depart New York City and other cities in New York state, including Poughkeepsie, Albany and Utica. On the way to the falls, you’ll travel through the beautiful Hudson River Valley and have views of the Hudson River (a fall trip is a great way to see the stunning foliage).
Due to the train schedule, it’s best to stay two nights in Niagara Falls area in order to have a full day to see the sights.
New River Gorge
The Cardinal Amtrak route is one of the most scenic on the East Coast. Trains travel through the New River Gorge in West Virginia three days per week, with the most scenic segment between Washington D.C. and the Midwest.
If you’re traveling from the East Coast, book your tickets to Charleston, WV to view the scenery. In Charleston, you can rent a car and drive about two hours to reach the New River Gorge National Park (hiking, rock climbing, campgrounds, whitewater rafting). Or simply stay in Charleston until it’s time to board an eastbound train for the return trip back through the gorge.
If you’re traveling from the Midwest, you’ll need to travel to Virginia in order to completely go through the gorge. An alternate option is to travel to the Thurmond Station and arrange in advance for pick-up from Hills to Hills Shuttle. They can take you to lodging of your choice in the national park. Thurmond is essentially a ghost town with no amenities, so you must coordinate transportation before your train trip.
Vermont
A ski getaway, fall foliage destination and charming summer vacation spot, Vermont is a year-round destination. Vermonter and Ethan Allen trains travel to the state from cities such as New York, Phildelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.
Brattleboro is one of the most walkable Vermont stops (on the Vermonter route). It’s a river town with hiking trails in walking distance of the Amtrak station. With a rental car (EnterpriseĀ can pick you up with a reservation), you can drive to Mount Snow for skiing and visit area attractions.
On the Ethan Allen route, the Rutland stop is near the Killington Resort, which is a popular ski and snow sport destination. Or ride this train to travel to or from Burlington. It’s a walkable, college town on Lake Champlain with a waterfront bike path and day cruises. Travel southbound from the city to view fall foliage and Vermont winter snow scenes.
Maine
Maine is a charming summer or fall Amtrak trip from Boston on the Downeaster route. In addition to views of scenic villages, marshes, streams and the coastline, you can get off the train to explore beaches, festivals and nature areas. Book tickets to Wells, Saco or Old Orchard Beach (pictured above) to spend time near the ocean. The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve are also unique places to visit in Wells, and kids will love Funtown Splashtown USA in Saco and the Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach.
Foodies should consider a Maine train trip in the fall to check out the Harvest on the Harbor festival in Portland. September is also a great time for a trip; you can visit Maine’s lighthouses for free during Maine Open Lighthouse Day.
Canada
Two East Coast Amtrak routes travel to Canada, so if you have a valid passport, you can take an international trip via train. Book tickets on the Maple Leaf to visit Toronto or on the Adirondack to reach Montreal (pictured above). Both trains depart from New York City, and you’ll have wonderful views of the Hudson River Valley before crossing the border.
Which city should you visit? Montreal has a European atmosphere and lots of history and parks to explore. Travel time from New York City is about 11.5 hours. Toronto is larger than Montreal and very cosmopolitan — lots of shopping, entertainment, multicultural neighborhoods — similar to Chicago and New York City. Travel time on Amtrak is about 13 hours from Manhattan. Plan to stay in Canada at least two nights if you want time to sightsee.
Florida
Escape the cold weather (or head to the beach any time of year) with an overnight train trip to Florida from major cities on the East Coast. The Silver Meteor, Floridian, and Auto Train travel to many Amtrak stations in Florida. You must transport a vehicle and pay the related fees to travel on the Auto Train, which departs near Washington D.C. and travels non-stop to Sanford, Florida.
There are beautiful water views in Maryland and Virginia, and you’ll go to sleep in the Carolinas and wake up in Florida, making the trip go by quickly, especially if your destination is in North or Central Florida. Popular stops include Orlando (for Universal Studios and Walt Disney World), Tampa, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Blue Ridge Mountains
Most people use the Northeast Regional to travel between big cities on the East Coast, but trains also travel into Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Select Roanoke as your destination, which is in a mountain valley near many hiking trails and a river greenway. As a bonus, you can also visit the Virginia Museum of Transportation, which has many railroad exhibits.
Due to the train schedule, you’ll need to stay in Roanoke at least one night. Plan to stay two or more if you want to take a drive on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, visit local attractions or enjoy the many outdoor activities. You’ll also need to start this trip north of the mountain range, such as in Charlottesville, Alexandria, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia or New York City.
Appalachia
The temporary Floridian route (Capitol Limited and Silver Star combined) can take you to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. A great weekend escape for outdoor lovers, couples, and history buffs, the historic town is surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and two rivers. The main attraction isĀ Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, but the scenery is also stunning, especially from The PointĀ andĀ Jefferson Rock. Plus, you can walk to the Appalachian Trail and C&O Towpath from the town.
To quickly get to the most scenic part of the trip, board the train in Washington D.C. You can also start the trip in Chicago and from cities in Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Late spring and fall are wonderful times to visit for fewer crowds.
Dutch Country
The Keystone Amtrak route travels through Dutch Country farmland from New York City, Philadelphia, Newark (including the airport station) and other cities on the East Coast multiple times each day. It’s a relaxing day or overnight trip that’s great for families, couples or solo travelers. Exit in Lancaster to learn about the Amish community, purchase local food at Central Market or have a fun-filled day at Dutch Wonderland.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital, is another destination to plan a trip around, especially in the summer. The charming city is on the Susquehanna River, and top attractions include the National Civil War Museum and State Museum of Pennsylvania. Hersheypark and Hershey’s Chocolate World are also about a 25-minute drive away. Uber and Lyft are transportation options if you don’t want to rent a car.
New Orleans
For a long-distance train adventure, New Orleans is at the end of the Crescent route, which departs from many cities on the East Coast. You’ll travel through small towns and cities in the Southeast before crossing over Lake Pontchartrain via the longest railroad bridge in the United States.
Be sure to check out the amazing food, music and festivals in New Orleans while you’re there. You can walk or ride streetcars around the city to explore the Garden District, French Quarter, Jackson Square and old cemeteries. Other top sights include the National World World II Museum, Audubon Zoo and the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Plan to stay in New Orleans at least two nights if you want to have a full day in the city. You can then take a train or flight back to the East Coast or continue your rail vacation by booking tickets on the Sunset Limited or City of New Orleans routes. Trains on these routes depart from New Orleans and travel through Texas, Arizona, California, Mississippi, Tennessee and Illinois. Top destinations include Chicago, Memphis, Houston, San Antonio, Palm Springs and Los Angeles.
More Information
- East Coast Amtrak Routes
- 10 most scenic Amtrak routes
- Best Amtrak trips from Boston
- 10 most scenic Amtrak routes
- 15 best Amtrak day trips from NYC
- 8 best Amtrak cross-country trips
- 20 best Amtrak trips from Baltimore
- 5 most scenic Amtrak routes on the East Coast
- Amtrak’s 15 long-distance routes and the places they go
US Train Travel Guide 