20 best Amtrak trips from Baltimore

With nine Amtrak routes to choose from in Baltimore, there are many options for day and long-distance train trips. You can travel along the coast or head to the Midwest or South for a rail adventure. To get started, here are the 20 best Amtrak trips from Baltimore that don’t require a train transfer.

Trips are listed from shortest to longest travel time using Baltimore Penn (BAL) as the departure station. For current schedules and ticket prices, visit Amtrak.com.

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Washington D.C.

About 45 minutes away from Baltimore on Amtrak, Washington D.C. is full of museums, events and great restaurants. The hop-on-hop-off trolley and WMATA Metro are easy ways to visit major attractions on a day or overnight trip. Consider visiting in March to see the cherry blossoms or in fall for cooler weather and fewer crowds. View all the best things to do in D.C. to learn more.

Wilmington

Wilmington, Delaware is a peaceful getaway that is less than an hour away from Baltimore via train. You’ll arrive next to the Wilmington Riverwalk. Take a stroll along the waterfront or use rideshare to reach the beautiful Nemours Estate (pictured above), the Delaware Art Museum and the Winterthur Museum and Garden. View all the best things to do and top places to stay in Wilmington.

Philadelphia

About an hour away from Baltimore on the Acela and slightly longer on the Northeast Regional, Philadelphia has the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and lots of cheesesteaks. Choose from many great sightseeing tours, or hangout on the waterfront and bike the Schuylkill River Trail if you want to explore the natural environment. View all the best things to do in Philadelphia to start planning.

Alexandria

George Washington considered Alexandria, Virginia his home town, and you can experience his colonial life in the well-preserved Old Town. The National Harbor, The Wharf and Georgetown are also accessible via water taxi. Travel time from Baltimore is about 1.5 hours, making this destination a great day trip. See all the best things to do and top places to stay in Alexandria if you want to stay overnight.

New York City

New York City is just over two hours away from Baltimore on the Acela and almost three hours away on the Northeast Regional. There are many museums and iconic attractions to visit in between eating at great restaurants. Consider planning your trip around a Broadway show or special event like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. View the best things to do and top hotels in New York City to learn more.

Richmond

Richmond is about four hours away from Baltimore with multiple trains to choose from each day. It is a great city for history, gardens and outdoor adventures. Highlights include whitewater rafting, the Maymont mansion, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (which is especially beautiful in the spring) and the White House of the Confederacy. View all the best things to do and top places to stay in Richmond.

Williamsburg

Visit Williamsburg, Virginia to explore the Colonial Williamsburg living museum for an immersive step back in time. If amusement parks are more your thing, request a Lyft or Uber car at the Amtrak station and travel 15 minutes for a day of fun at Busch Gardens. Travel time from Baltimore is about five hours — consider a fall trip for foliage and fun events. For more information, check out the best things to do and top places to stay in Williamsburg.

New London

For a historic getaway, travel 5.5 to 6 hours to New London, Connecticut. There are 13 historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places to explore or head to Ocean Beach Park for sandy beaches, amusement rides and more. Consider planning a summer trip around Sailfest and taking a ride on the Cross Sound Ferry to view lighthouses and coastal mansions. View the best things to do in New London to start planning your trip.

Mystic

Mystic, Connecticut is a charming seaport city that’s just over six hours away from Baltimore via train. The Mystic Seaport Museum and the last surviving wooden whaling ship are top attractions, and the recreated 18th Century village is a fun place to visit. Check out the festivals and events and the best things to do in Mystic to learn more.

Virginia Beach

For a great beach getaway, travel about six hours on the Northeast Regional to Norfolk, where you can rent a car or take Uber or Lyft to reach Virginia Beach (25-minute drive). Don’t miss the boardwalk and oceanfront festivals and concerts. View the list of top things to do and best places to stay in Virginia Beach to plan your trip.

Westerly

Westerly, Rhode Island has beautiful beaches and a quaint downtown that are great to visit in the summer. Be sure to explore the Watch Hill village, which has a lighthouse, historic carousel, ice cream shops, restaurants and retail stores. Travel time is around six hours on Amtrak. View the top places to stay and best things to do in Westerly to learn more.

Roanoke

Over six hours away from Baltimore by train, Roanoke is in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and a great summer or fall escape. With a rental car, you can go hiking at Mill Mountain Park and Carvins Cove Nature Preserve. The Roanoke Valley Greenway and the Virginia Museum of Transportation are also top attractions in town. View the top things to do in Roanoke to learn more.

Boston

If there is a time to ride the Acela train, it’s from Baltimore to Boston. Travel time on the Acela is one hour faster than the Northeast Regional, about 6.5 hours. Immerse yourself in craft beer, Italian food in the North End, and American history via The Freedom Trail. Be sure to check a museum and cruises on the harbor. View the top things to do and places to stay in Boston to get started.

New River Gorge National Park

New River Gorge Bridge — *Photo by Famartin/Wikimedia (New River Gorge in West Virginia)*

Travel through the scenic New River Gorge on the Cardinal Amtrak route then visit the national park of the same name via rental car in Charleston, West Virginia (Enterprise is in walking distance of the station). Enjoy hiking, camping, whitewater rafting and other activities. Consider a fall trip to see the foliage.

Travel time is almost 11 hours from Baltimore and you’ll need to stay a night Charleston before picking up your rental car since the train arrives in the evening. Four Points by Sheraton is closest to the station (about 10 minutes walking time). Note that the Cardinal does not operate daily, so you’ll need to stay at least two nights in the area.

Charlotte

The largest city in North Carolina, Charlotte is almost 11 hours away from Baltimore on Amtrak. There is a variety of things to do, from museums and NASCAR races to the Carowinds theme park, breweries and sporting events. You can also rent a car and drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Asheville in about two hours. View the top things to do and best hotels in Charlotte.

Charleston

Get your fill of Southern food and historical sightseeing with a trip to Charleston, South Carolina. The Palmetto Amtrak route offers the best arrival time after the 11-hour journey from Baltimore. It’s about a 20-minute Uber or Lyft ride to downtown Charleston. If you prefer to rent a car, plan to use a rideshare service to reach rental car options at the airport. View the list of the top things to do and best places to stay in Charleston to learn more.

Savannah

Romantic Savannah, Georgia is about 12.5 hours away from Baltimore via train. We recommend staying in the historic district, which is 10-minute Lyft, Uber or taxi ride away from the Amtrak station. You can easily walk to restaurants, parks, charming squares, cemeteries and River Street. Don’t miss the ghost tours and river cruises. See the list of the best things to do and best places to stay in Savannah to plan your trip.

Florida

Florida is an easy overnight train trip from Baltimore with many stations to choose from. Jacksonville is the first Florida stop, which is just over 15 hours away on the Silver Meteor (you’ll be sleeping for a large portion of that time). Orlando is about 19 hours away — get a Lyft or Uber to easily reach Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld.

Other popular destinations include Tampa, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. We recommend booking tickets to the Hollywood Station (just over 24 hours away) and getting a rental car, Lyft or Uber ride there to reach Miami to shorten travel time (Miami Station is not downtown and requires a similar car commute).

Chicago

For a vacation full of great food, live music, museums and lake time, travel 25.5. hours to Chicago on the Cardinal route. Check event calendars to plan your trip around one of the many festivals or concerts, or visit top attractions including the Art Institute of Chicago, 360 Chicago Observation Deck, Millennium Park, Chicago Riverwalk, Navy Pier and Wrigley Field.

New Orleans

The longest train trip you can take from Baltimore (without changing trains) is to New Orleans (almost 29 hours). The city has amazing food, music and festivals, plus there are historic cemeteries, the Garden District and French Quarter to explore. For a unique adventure, check out swamp airboat tours. See the best things to do and best hotels in New Orleans to start planning your trip.