How to Get to Washington from NYC

Washington DC is the capital of the United States and therefore is a city that will complete your trip to New York perfectly. There you will find mythical and world famous buildings such as the White House, the Pentagon and the Capitol, which are definitely worth a visit.

If you are in New York, it is a perfect getaway. Although it is almost 400 kilometers away, it is perfectly possible to visit it since you can get there by train, bus and plane.

But the option that I recommend the most is to join one of the organized tours to Washington from New York, which can be one, two or even four days. This way you will have the means of transportation assured without having to worry about scheduling public transportation.

Spending one or several days in Washington DC is an ideal travel option if you are in New York. With an organized tour you will have everything taken care of and all you have to worry about is enjoying yourself. The tour can be a round trip in one day, or you can choose a longer tour, which will also take you to other sites such as Philadelphia. And, of course, you will be able to visit places of interest such as: the White House, the Capitol, Arlington Cemetery, the Air and Space Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam and Korean Veterans Memorial, among others.

How is the transportation on the organized tours?

Transportation between New York and Washington on organized tours is usually by private bus or minibus, depending on the number of travelers. The departure point is usually a central location in Manhattan, although many tour operators offer different pick-up points throughout the city so that getting there is not a problem. Regarding the schedule, they usually leave early in the morning to make the most of the day.

Prices of the organized excursions

For a little more than 70 € in Hellotickets you have covered the cost of the tour, which includes not only private transportation to and from New York but also the guided tour of the city with an expert guide. This is undoubtedly the most efficient option if you want to get to know Washington in a short time and with a professional guide. In addition, during the tour you will cover some distances on the same bus, which will save you from having to organize different trips on Washington's public transportation.

You can get to know the capital of the United States by traveling from New York by bus. It is the cheapest way to get to Washington, as the ticket costs between 18 € and 50 €*, depending on the company, if the route is direct and the departure and return time. Of course, the earlier you buy your tickets the better, as this will also reduce the price.

*Fares are estimates and vary according to the schedule and type of ticket.

Bus companies that operate this route

The most popular companies that operate the route New York - Washington are:

• Greyhound: between 33 € and 62 €.
• Flixbus: between 14 € and 22 €.
• Megabus: between 22 € and 35 €.

Starting point: the bus station

All lines depart from around Penn Station or the Hudson Yards neighborhood and have plenty of schedules 24 hours a day. So you will have no problem getting there and back, even in the wee hours of the morning.

As expected, buses in the United States have many amenities, both in their seats as well as WiFi connection and food on board, among others.

Arriving in Washington, DC

When you arrive in Washington, DC, buses will drop you off within a 15/20 minute walk to the Capitol. Megabus and Greyhound arrive at Union Station, while Flixbus stops at a busy downtown corner at 550 New York Avenue, very close to the station itself. So as soon as you arrive, it will be very easy to start your sightseeing tour.

Traveling by train from New York to Washington DC, will allow you to save some time compared to the bus, between half an hour and an hour. Of course, the cost of the ticket is more expensive and ranges from 35 ¤ to 173 ¤, depending on the schedule and the class of car you choose.

Starting point

It is very simple to organize the trip as they depart from Penn Station in New York and arrive at Union Station in Washington DC.

Train fares

You can check timetables and prices on the official website of Amtrak, the train company that runs this route, although as I said before, the minimum is 35 ¤ per ticket and journey.

The airplane is always (or usually is) the best option when it comes to saving time. In case you choose to fly from NYC to Washington DC, you will be able to do it in one hour.

You must take into account, however, the transfers to and from the airports, which in such big cities can be counterproductive and less profitable than taking a bus or a train.

Flight prices

In terms of price, an average round-trip price can be around 130 €. As with any airline ticket, the earlier you buy the ticket the better. I recommend checking the price on search engines like Skyscanner or on the website of American Airlines, which is the company that has the most frequent flights for this route.

This is not the fastest option, nor perhaps the cheapest, but it may be the most convenient if you are traveling with family (especially children) or a group of friends. Because you will be able to make the trip at your own pace.