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Amtrak Cardinal train tickets - Search & book deals

Official Amtrak Cardinal partner

Wanderu is an official partner of Amtrak Cardinal

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel in North America and Europe. We partner with more than 300 bus & train companies around the world to help you search, compare, and find the best travel deals all in one place.

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About Amtrak Cardinal

The Amtrak Cardinal is a long-distance passenger rail service from New York to Chicago, connecting a total of 32 cities. Other major stops on the Cardinal's 462 city-to-city routes include Washington, DC, Charlottesville, and Indianapolis.The Cardinal is part of the Amtrak network, the largest passenger rail service in the United States. Amtrak has been running the Cardinal since 1977.

The Cardinal is one of Amtrak's most scenic train routes, and it's no wonder why. The train passes through the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, and along the New River Gorge National Park, known for its white water rafting. This route becomes even more stunning in late October and early November, when leaf peepers flock onto the Cardinal to view the one-of-a-kind blazing fall foliage along the tracks.

You can pick from an average of 86 trips per day on the Amtrak Cardinal, and depending on your route, train ticket prices range between $7.97 and $281.46. You'll be comfortable traveling on the Cardinal thanks to the reclining seats with extra legroom, free WiFi, power outlets at each seat, and snacks available to purchase from Amtrak’s Café Service.

Amtrak has been an official Wanderu partner since 2015, so rest assured that you will find the cheapest and most convenient Amtrak Cardinal tickets right here, at no additional cost. You can even earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points when you purchase your ticket on Wanderu, so have your unique rewards number handy, and get ready to book your next adventure!

Contact Amtrak Cardinal

Phone number: US: 1 (800) 872-7245

Online support: Amtrak Cardinal website

Amtrak Cardinal Amenities

Air conditioningAir conditioning
RestroomRestroom
Extra legroomExtra legroom
Loyalty rewardsLoyalty rewards
Power outletPower outlet
SnacksSnacks
WiFiWiFi

Quickview

Amtrak Cardinal train coverage

Daily Trips86
stations32
cities32
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak Cardinal

Here’s what Wanderu users who have booked trips with Amtrak Cardinal had to say about their travel experience.

Traveling During COVID-19

“They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
based on 37 reviews

Onboard Experience

“The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
based on 52 reviews
“I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
based on 64 reviews
“Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
based on 69 reviews
“The train got there on time.”
based on 60 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 73 reviews
“The train was almost suspiciously clean”
based on 69 reviews

Amtrak Cardinal reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Cardinal

(Based on 88 reviews)

4.2
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.5

Timeliness

4.2

Staff

4.4

Value

3.9

Condition

4.4

Amtrak Cardinal passenger reviews

5.0

Amir

November 5, 2022- Business

Chicago to Lafayette

Pros: Seats are marvelous. Cons: The speed. Amtrak needs faster cars. Tips: use train as much as you can.

Pros: Seats are marvelous. Cons: The speed. Amtrak needs faster cars. Tips: use train as much as you can.

1.0

Nanda Kumar

October 21, 2022- Visiting family

Charlottesville to Manassas

Online tracking from app was useless

Online tracking from app was useless

5.0

Erick

May 6, 2022- Vacation

Charlottesville to Washington

Pros: The staff interacted well with my children and we were able to board earlier to ensure the seats were all close to each other. Cons: We rode Coach class into DC and Upgraded to Business Class for the ride home. There was no clear difference other than the amount ...

Pros: The staff interacted well with my children and we were able to board earlier to ensure the seats were all close to each other. Cons: We rode Coach class into DC and Upgraded to Business Class for the ride home. There was no clear difference other than the amount of money I spent.. and a free soda. Tips: If you can .. sit in the cafe area.. you can sit with your family and play games.

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5.0

Maria Ester

February 25, 2022- Visiting family

Manassas to Charlottesville

Pros: I felt safe… Cons: Manage the arrival time. Tips: None.

Pros: I felt safe… Cons: Manage the arrival time. Tips: None.

5.0

Elizabeth

February 5, 2022- Visiting friends

Indianapolis to Chicago

Pros: Liked the friendly staff and spacious seating. Cons: Indianapolis train station could be cleaner. Tips: Wifi is onboard but you won’t be able to watch videos. Staff is very friendly. Seat was spacious. The Indianapolis trains station is dirty and a little scary s...

Pros: Liked the friendly staff and spacious seating. Cons: Indianapolis train station could be cleaner. Tips: Wifi is onboard but you won’t be able to watch videos. Staff is very friendly. Seat was spacious. The Indianapolis trains station is dirty and a little scary so be aware.

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Amtrak Cardinal Routes & Network

Amtrak Cardinal’s train network features 462 train routes that connect 32 cities serving 32 stations. On average, Amtrak Cardinal performs about 86 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Cardinal offers the highest number of daily train service include Charlottesville and Alexandria.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Cardinal

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Washington325:15 am3:30 am
Chicago156:41 am4:52 am
Charlottesville165:15 am12:54 am
Indianapolis66:41 am4:52 am
New York115:15 am3:30 am
Lafayette96:41 am11:55 pm
Alexandria155:15 am3:30 am
Philadelphia225:15 am2:56 am
Charleston15:15 am3:30 am

Most popular Amtrak Cardinal routes

The train from Charlottesville to Alexandria is Amtrak Cardinal’s most popular route. Trips from Charlottesville to New York and New York to Washington are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak Cardinal routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Charlottesville to Alexandria12h 43m$53
Charlottesville to New York16h 39m$154
New York to Washington13h 28m$183
Chicago to Lafayette13h 1m$36
Charlottesville to Washington13h 0m$57
Chicago to Indianapolis14h 54m$39
Baltimore to Washington10h 39m$36
Philadelphia to Washington11h 58m$113
Crawfordsville to Chicago14h 2m$37

Amtrak Cardinal Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Cardinal tickets can be cancelled for a full refund within the first 24 hours after purchase. If more than 24 hours have passed, the cancellation policy and change fee structure for Amtrak bookings depend on the type of fare you purchased:

Saver Fare tickets: A 25% fee applies for any changes. If you cancel the trip, you will receive an eVoucher worth 75% of the original ticket price.

Value Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable up to 15 or more days before departure. If cancelled less than 14 days before departure, a 25% cancellation fee applies.

Flexible, Business and Premium Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable if cancelled or changed before departure.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable after the train has departed, so be sure to make your updates as soon as possible if your travel plans change.

If your Amtrak Cardinal ticket is eligible for change or cancellation, you can do that by calling Amtrak’s customer service phone number at 1 (800) 872-7245. To cancel or change your booking online, simply go to www.amtrak.com and click on the “Modify Trip” tab in the upper right corner.

Wanderu also offers an affordable trip protection option by Allianz Global Assistance that you can purchase when booking your tickets. In addition to 24-hour assistance during your trip and coverage for lost or damaged baggage, trip protection can help you get your money back in case you need to cancel or change your trip. You can file a claim to have any Amtrak change or cancellation fees reimbursed if you cannot travel due to covered reasons such as illness, extreme weather, or required work shifts.

Amtrak Cardinal Train Guide & FAQs

Do Amtrak Cardinal trains have WiFi?

Yes, Amtrak Cardinal offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with Amtrak Cardinal will have WiFi as advertised, some trains might not come equipped with WiFi and onboard WiFi can lose its connection in rural areas. We recommend you bring a book or download a movie just to play it safe. Amtrak Cardinal WiFi is generally best used for surfing the web, checking emails and chatting with friends; you shouldn’t count on the WiFi to binge watch your favorite show.

Are there power outlets or USB plugs on the train?

Yes, there are power outlets onboard Amtrak Cardinal trains. You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbor might want to charge up their devices as well. With the onboard power outlets, you can charge both a computer and USB devices with a USB power adapter that typically comes with most phones and tablets.

Since Amtrak Cardinal might sometimes use replacement train vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. We recommend to bring a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

What is Amtrak Cardinal's schedule?

On a typical day, Amtrak Cardinal has 86 scheduled train trips in total. However, the exact departure and arrival times vary depending on the day and route. The best way to find the exact schedule for your trip is to use the search tool on this page.

Can you pick up will call tickets at the station?

No, Amtrak Cardinal does not offer will call tickets. You should purchase your tickets online and make sure you have everything you need to board before you arrive at the station.

Do you need an ID to get on the train?

Yes, Amtrak Cardinal requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the train. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, such as a college ID, won’t work.

What are Amtrak Cardinal’s COVID-19 policies?

Visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide to view the most up-to-date information about Amtrak Cardinal’s cleaning protocols and adjusted ticket change policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are there bathrooms on Amtrak Cardinal trains?

Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak Cardinal trains. The bathrooms are pretty basic and include a toilet, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Most bathrooms don’t have running water. As you will be using a bathroom on a moving vehicle, please use caution and hold on to a rail at all times.

Are meals or beverages available?

Amtrak Cardinal provides snacks to satisfy your hunger during your travels. Be sure to pack a credit card and some cash in case you get hungry.

Do you have to print your Amtrak Cardinal ticket?

Amtrak Cardinal does not require a printed ticket to board the train. Instead, an eTicket is sent to you by email when you make your reservation. You can use your smartphone to show this eTicket to the ticketing agent as you board.

Does Amtrak Cardinal offer any premium features like extra legroom or movies?

Amtrak Cardinal goes the extra distance to deliver premium features to its customers.

Do you find yourself squished in a regular seat or just love having extra room to sprawl out? Well you’re in luck as Amtrak Cardinal offers extra legroom seating. Since there is no standard of what extra legroom is, the extra space you get may vary between train lines, but getting extra is always good.

Cheap Amtrak Cardinal tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 86 Amtrak Cardinal trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak Cardinal tickets start at just $7.97. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak Cardinal tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak Cardinal tickets. Wanderu offers the lowest available fares every day and charges no extra booking fees. Plus, you can compare Amtrak Cardinal prices with trips offered by other train companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal on your tickets!

Pro travelers know that booking your ticket well in advance is key to finding the lowest price. Ticket prices normally go up the closer you get to the travel date, so don’t miss out on a good deal when you see one. If you can be flexible with your travel date, you can also get cheap tickets by traveling on weekdays instead of weekends.

When you’re ready to book, type your departure city and destination city in the search bar above, select your travel date, and let Wanderu work its magic to show you all of the best bus and train ticket prices available for your trip. Pick the ticket that’s best for your budget, schedule, and preferences, and complete the booking right on Wanderu to secure your great deal.

More transportation options

Top Amtrak Cardinal Routes

Top Amtrak Cardinal Destinations

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