Acela Express trains travel between Boston and Washington D.C. multiple times a day. Choose a first-class upgrade for complimentary meal service and free beverages along with hot towels. All passengers can stop by the on-board cafe and have access to free WiFi and electrical outlets at seats.

Things to Know

  • First class seating has single seat options, so you don’t have to sit next to anyone
  • Busy times/full trains tend to be Monday morning and in the afternoon on Thursday and Friday.
  • The Acela Express is faster than the Northeast Regional train, especially when traveling longer distances.

Schedule

You can view current schedules via Google Maps or when booking your tickets. If you know your start and end stations, you can also use the Amtrak website to create a custom timetable.

Schedule highlights:

  • Southbound trains depart about every hour starting around 5 a.m. in Boston
  • Trip time is 3.5 to 4 hours between Boston and New York City
  • Trip time between New York and DC is about 3 hours
  • The first northbound train departs Washington D.C. around 5 a.m.

Major Stops

  • Boston
  • New York City
  • Philadelphia
  • Baltimore
  • Washington D.C.

Stations

Note that different trains stop at different stations, though all stop at the five major cities above.

Attractions

  • Boston
  • Brown University
  • Rhode Island State House
  • Thames River
  • Ikea New Haven
  • Knights of Columbus Museum
  • Manhattan
  • Madison Square Garden
  • Empire State Building
  • Drexel University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Schuylkill River Trail
  • Delaware History Museum
  • Delaware Children’s Museum
  • The Delaware Contemporary Art Gallery
  • Wilmington Rowing Center
  • U.S. Capitol
  • Washington D.C. Museums

More Information