Lake Shore Limited Route Guide

The Lake Shore Limited is a long-distance Amtrak train that connects Chicago with the East Coast, offering service to both New York City and Boston. Along the way, the route travels near Lake Erie and follows parts of the historic Erie Canal. East of Albany, the train is split into two segments, with the journey between Albany and New York City the most scenic part of the trip. For the best scenery, consider traveling in October, when fall foliage in the Hudson River Valley is at its peak.

Read on for Lake Shore Limited travel tips, FAQs, and important things to know.

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Lake Shore Limited Overview

What to Know	Facts & Highlights
Distance	~1,000 miles
Travel time	19.5-22 hours (one night on the train)
Frequency	One train daily in each direction
Amenities	WiFi, cafe car, private lounge for sleeper car passengers
Best time to ride	October for foliage in Hudson River Valley and Massachusetts
Best travel direction	Eastbound from Chicago
Scenery highlights	Hudson River Valley, Berkshire Hills

History

“Lake Shore” was the nickname of the Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula railroad, which traveled between Cleveland and Erie, Pennsylvania starting in 1852. This railroad was merged with several others and became part of the New York Central Railroad. New York Central officially used the Lake Shore Limited name for its first luxury train route that traveled between Chicago and New York City starting in 1897 (source). Service ended in 1956 and Amtrak later revived this route and the Lake Shore Limited name in 1975.

Popular Stops

Explore the popular stops along the Lake Shore Limited route below. Click the links for travel guides.

Schedule Highlights

Trains are in Ohio overnight.
Trains depart Chicago in the evening.
Trains depart Boston and New York City in the afternoon.
Travel time between Chicago and Boston is about 22.5 hours.
Travel time between Chicago and New York City is about 20 hours.

Things to Know

Free WiFi
Travel to the Buffalo-Depew Station to reach Niagara Falls.
Travel to the South Bend Station to reach the University of Notre Dame.
New York City and Boston trains split and merge at the Albany-Rensselaer Station.
Free meals for sleeper car passengers, and you can buy food in the café car.
For views of the historic Erie Canal, travel eastbound between May and August and wake up early.
Sandusky is the stop for Cedar Point amusement park.

FAQ

Is the Lake Shore Limited scenic?

The Lake Shore Limited has two scenic segments: Western Massachusetts and the Hudson River Valley between New York City and Albany.

Where does the Lake Shore Limited split?

Eastbound Lake Shore Limited trains split in Albany, New York. One segment goes to New York City and the other to Boston.

Does the Lake Shore Limited have an observation car?

No. The Lake Shore Limit does not have an observation car, but there is a private lounge for sleeper car passengers. View the list of routes with observation cars (called sightseer lounges).

Does Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited have a dining car?

The Lake Shore Limited has a dining car, but it is used as a private lounge for sleeper car passengers. Sleeper car passengers can eat meals here, but there isn’t table service.

What kind of train is the Lake Shore Limited?

The Lake Shore Limited is a long-distance Viewliner train with single-level coach and sleeper cars.

How often does the Lake Shore Limited run?

The Lake Shore Limited operates daily, one train in each direction.

Stations

Explore the full list of Lake Shore Limited train stations in route order. Click the station names to view amenities and additional details on the Amtrak website.