US Train Routes, Travel Times & Long-Distance Trains

Distances and travel times below are approximate and shown for planning purposes only. Actual schedules, stops, classes and fares vary by train, day of the week and season, and are set by the operating carrier. A specialist will confirm current details before you book.

Corridor & regional routes Long-distance & overnight Choosing a route

Corridor & regional routes

Short and medium-distance trains with frequent daily departures — ideal for business trips, weekend getaways and commuting between major cities.

Northeast 7 routes

From	To	Distance	Typical travel time	Classes offered
New York, NY	Boston, MA	≈ 230 mi	≈ 3h 45m – 4h 15m	Coach, Business, First*
New York, NY	Washington, DC	≈ 225 mi	≈ 2h 55m – 3h 30m	Coach, Business, First*
New York, NY	Philadelphia, PA	≈ 90 mi	≈ 1h 10m – 1h 30m	Coach, Business, First*
Philadelphia, PA	Washington, DC	≈ 135 mi	≈ 1h 45m – 2h 10m	Coach, Business, First*
Boston, MA	Portland, ME	≈ 115 mi	≈ 2h 30m	Coach, Business
New York, NY	Albany, NY	≈ 140 mi	≈ 2h 30m	Coach, Business
Washington, DC	Richmond, VA	≈ 110 mi	≈ 2h 15m	Coach, Business

West Coast 4 routes

From	To	Distance	Typical travel time	Classes offered
Los Angeles, CA	San Diego, CA	≈ 128 mi	≈ 2h 45m – 3h	Coach, Business
Los Angeles, CA	Santa Barbara, CA	≈ 100 mi	≈ 2h 30m – 3h	Coach, Business
Sacramento, CA	San Francisco Bay Area, CA	≈ 90 mi	≈ 2h	Coach
Seattle, WA	Portland, OR	≈ 186 mi	≈ 3h 30m	Coach, Business

Midwest 3 routes

From	To	Distance	Typical travel time	Classes offered
Chicago, IL	Milwaukee, WI	≈ 86 mi	≈ 1h 30m	Coach, Business
Chicago, IL	St. Louis, MO	≈ 284 mi	≈ 5h 30m	Coach, Business
Chicago, IL	Detroit, MI	≈ 280 mi	≈ 5h 30m – 6h	Coach, Business

South & Southeast 3 routes

From	To	Distance	Typical travel time	Classes offered
Miami, FL	Orlando, FL	≈ 235 mi	≈ 3h 30m – 5h 30m	Varies by carrier
Raleigh, NC	Charlotte, NC	≈ 175 mi	≈ 3h 10m	Coach
Orlando, FL	Tampa, FL	≈ 85 mi	≈ 2h	Coach

*First Class is generally offered only on select high-speed Northeast trains.

Long-distance & overnight

Cross-country train journeys

Multi-day trips through some of the most spectacular scenery in North America. Private sleeper rooms are available on most long-distance trains.

From	To	Distance	Approx. duration	Scenery highlights
Chicago	San Francisco Bay Area	≈ 2,400 mi	≈ 51–53 hrs	Rocky Mountains, Colorado River canyons, Sierra Nevada
Chicago	Seattle / Portland	≈ 2,200 mi	≈ 45–47 hrs	Great Plains, Glacier National Park area, Cascades
Chicago	Los Angeles	≈ 2,250 mi	≈ 42–44 hrs	Kansas plains, New Mexico deserts, Arizona high country
Seattle	Los Angeles	≈ 1,380 mi	≈ 34–36 hrs	Cascade Range, Mount Shasta, Pacific coastline
New York	Miami	≈ 1,390 mi	≈ 27–31 hrs	Carolina lowcountry, Georgia & Florida landscapes
New York	New Orleans	≈ 1,370 mi	≈ 30 hrs	Blue Ridge foothills, Atlanta, Deep South
Chicago	New Orleans	≈ 925 mi	≈ 19–20 hrs	Mississippi Delta, Memphis
New York	Chicago	≈ 960 mi	≈ 19–20 hrs	Hudson River valley, Great Lakes shoreline
Washington, DC	Chicago	≈ 780 mi	≈ 17–18 hrs	Potomac River, Allegheny Mountains
Los Angeles	New Orleans	≈ 1,995 mi	≈ 46–48 hrs	Southwestern deserts, Texas Hill Country

Choosing a route

How to pick the right train for your trip

The best option depends on how much time you have, your budget and the kind of experience you want. Here's what our specialists consider when helping travelers:

Departure times & frequency — corridor routes may have many trains a day; long-distance routes often run once daily.
Fare type — lower fares are usually less flexible; flexible fares cost more but allow easier changes.
Overnight comfort — for trips over 12 hours, many travelers prefer a private roomette or bedroom.
Connections — some trips require changing trains, often in Chicago, New York or Washington, DC.
Booking early — fares typically rise as trains fill up, especially around holidays.

US Train Routes & Long-Distance Rail Journeys