Trains on Amtrak’s Cardinal route travel between New York City and Chicago three times a week through the New River Gorge in West Virginia. It’s one of the most scenic train rides in the eastern United States with views of the Appalachian Mountains, New River, and the Shenandoah Valley. Along the way, passengers can explore historic towns and cities rich in culture, architecture, and outdoor adventure, making the Cardinal ideal for travelers seeking both beautiful scenery and unique stops.
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Table of Contents
Cardinal Route Overview
| What to Know | Facts & Highlights |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1,146 miles |
| Travel time | 27.5 hours (1 night) |
| Frequency | 3x per week |
| End stations | Chicago, New York City |
| Best time to ride | Summer and fall |
| Best travel direction | Eastbound from the Midwest |
| Scenery highlights | New River Gorge, Shenandoah Valley |
Popular Stops
Explore the popular stops along the Cardinal route below with nearby things to do and places to stay. For more information, see the 10 best stops along the Cardinal route to plan a trip around.
Chicago
What to Do: Navy Pier, Millennium Park, museums, architecture tours
Where to Stay: LIVN (2-minute walk from Union Station), Hilton Garden Inn Central Loop next to Willis Tower (5-minute walk) or Riverwalk hotels.
Indianapolis
What to Do: Mass Ave, Cultural Trail, Motor Speedway Museum, White River State Park, Newfields
Where to Stay: Crowne Plaza (in the station) or other hotels near station
Charleston , WV
What to Do: West Virginia State Museum, Clay Center, Capitol Market, Sunrise Carriage Trail
Where to Stay: Four Points Sheraton
Charlottesville
What to Do: Downtown Mall, Monticello, private wine tour
Where to Stay: Residence Inn Charlottesville Downtown or in Shenandoah Park (/w car rental)
Washington DC
What to Do: Museums, Monuments & Memorials, Georgetown, Lincoln Assassination Tour, The Wharf
Where to Stay: Penn Quarter, The Wharf, Potomac Hotel or Phoenix Park/Kimpton George near station
Philadelphia
What to Do: Independence Park, Museums, Schuylkill River Trail
Where to Stay: Rittenhouse Square, Old City
New York City
What to Do: Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Museums, Broadway Shows, Day Cruises
Where to Stay: Near New York Penn Station
Schedule Highlights
- Trains only operate three times per week. If you don’t see a trip option when booking your tickets, select different dates.
- Trains travel through Ohio overnight.
- Trains depart Chicago in the early evening.
- Eastbound trains reach the New River Gorge in the morning.
- Westbound trains travel through the gorge later in the day, so travel in the summer for the most scenery before sunset.
Tickets and Onboard Options
When booking tickets, you can select coach seats or private rooms on the Cardinal. Coach seats are the most affordable option, but you’ll need to sleep sitting up if you’re traveling overnight. On the plus side, you’ll have a comfortable reclining seat and power outlets for your devices.
In comparison, private rooms are more expensive, but include a bed along with free water, coffee and meals. Based on availability, you can choose from the following private room options:
- Roomettes
- Accessible bedrooms
- Standard bedrooms
Travel Tips
- Because the Cardinal only runs three times a week, you’ll need to select appropriate travel dates to view ticket options.
- Chicago is in Central Time Zone and the other cities on the route are in Eastern.
- Exit in Charleston, West Virginia to rent a car and drive to the New River Gorge National Park.
- For a car-free visit to the New River Gorge National Park, travel to Thurmond and book the Hills to Hill shuttle in advance to reach Ace Adventures Resort, which has guided national park activities.
- The Greenbrier Resort is a historic luxury retreat next to the White Sulphur Springs Station.
- Exit in Staunton, Virginia to reach the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum.
- To shorten the trip, travel between Chicago and either Alexandria, Washington D.C. or Baltimore. Alexandria is close to DCA airport and Baltimore is near BWI airport.
FAQ
Where does Amtrak’s Cardinal go?
The Cardinal travels between Chicago and New York City via Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The route is basically a large “U” shape.
Is the Cardinal scenic?
The Cardinal route has great scenery in West Virginia and Virginia, especially as you travel through the New River Gorge. You’ll have the best views when traveling east (more daylight) or during the summer on westbound trains.
Does the Cardinal have sleeper cars?
Yes, the Cardinal has Viewliner sleeper cars, typically fewer sleeper cars than other long-distance trains, so be sure to buy tickets in advance if you plan to book a roomette or bedroom.
Do Cardinal trains have observation cars?
There are no observation cars on the Cardinal route. You will need to view the scenery from your seat or in the café car.
Stations
Explore the full list of Cardinal Amtrak stations in route order. Click each station to view amenities and additional details on the Amtrak website.
- New York, NY – Penn Station (NYP)
- Newark, NJ – Penn Station (NWK)
- Trenton, NJ (TRE)
- Philadelphia, PA – 30th Street Station (PHL)
- Wilmington, DE (WIL)
- Baltimore, MD – Penn Station (BAL)
- Washington, DC – Union Station (WAS)
- Alexandria, VA (ALX)
- Manassas, VA (MSS)
- Culpeper, VA (CLP)
- Charlottesville, VA (CVS)
- Staunton, VA (STA)
- Clifton Forge, VA (CLF)
- White Sulphur Springs, WV (WSS)
- Alderson, WV (ALD)
- Hinton, WV (HIN)
- Prince, WV (PRC)
- Thurmond, WV (THN)
- Montgomery, WV (MNG)
- Charleston, WV (CHW)
- Huntington, WV (HUN)
- Ashland, KY (AKY)
- South Portsmouth, KY (SPM)
- Maysville, KY (MAY)
- Cincinnati, OH – Union Terminal (CIN)
- Connersville, IN (COI)
- Indianapolis, IN (IND)
- Crawfordsville, IN (CRF)
- Lafayette, IN (LAF)
- Rensselaer, IN (REN)
- Dyer, IN (DYE)
- Chicago, IL – Union Station (CHI)
More Information
- Cardinal vs Capitol Limited
- Cardinal vs Lake Shore Limited
- Amtrak travel: 5 things to know
- 10 best train routes to ride in fall
Photo by PxHere, Public Domain
