Search trips from Union Station in DC

About Union Station

Union Station is the primary transportation hub in Washington, DC, notable for its impressive architecture and plentiful shopping opportunities.

The station’s white-washed facade and glimmering main hall add some grandeur to travelling through DC. Union Station is one of the capital’s oldest buildings, and it actually precedes many of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.

Of course, Union Station DC is more than just another beautiful building. Union Station is Washington DC’s main train station, serving over 5 million passengers per year on Amtrak lines, MARC and VRE (Virginia Railway Express) commuter rails, and the city Metro lines. This is also where you’ll find the main Greyhound bus station in Washington DC, making it a one-stop-shop for travel out of DC.

In this complete guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about travelling through Union Station in Washington, DC.

50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002

(202) 289-1908

Hours

5:00 AM to 12:00 AM

The station is only accessible to ticketed passengers between 12:00 AM and 5:00 AM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amenities

• Parking

  Parking is available right next to DC’s Union Station at the Union Station Parking Garage (USPG), located at 30 Massachusetts Ave. The garage is open 24 hours a day. Rates vary but start at $11 per hour or $25 for the full day.

• Wi-Fi

  Free WiFi is available at Union Station. Service is provided across the entire station and the connection is reliable in most areas.

• Baggage Storage

  Amtrak offers temporary baggage storage at Gate A in Union Station. Ticketed Amtrak passengers will pay $10 per item, while unticketed customers will pay $20 per item. Items can be stored for a maximum of 24 hours.

• Restaurants

  There are dozens of quick food options inside DC’s Union Station, including McDonald’s, Chipotle, Potbelly Sandwich, Shake Shack, Blue Bottle Coffee, and more. There are also plenty of sit-down restaurants and bars near Union Station.

• Waiting Area

  There are a few Amtrak waiting rooms located at the station’s northern end. There is also a premium lounge, ClubAcela, open to select Amtrak passengers: First Class or sleeping car passengers or those who purchase a single-day lounge pass.

• Accessibility

  Union Station provides wheelchair-friendly waiting rooms, ticket offices, and washrooms. There are also elevators on each level and handicapped parking spots available outside the station.

• Washrooms

  Public washrooms are available at DC’s Union Station. There are three men’s and three women’s washrooms on level G, including outside the Amtrak waiting rooms at Gates A and G. However, these washrooms do not have a great reputation, so pack your hand sanitizer.

• Convenience Stores

  There is a large Walgreens on Level B of Union Station. You can stock up on snacks and drinks before a long train or bus ride, or grab any other essentials you may need. There are also tons of retail stores around the station, from makeup stores to clothing, jewellers, and gift shops.

Inside Union Station

Near Union Station

• Distance to United States Capitol Building1 kilometre
• Distance to Washington Monument2.7 kilometres
• Distance to the White House2.6 kilometres
• Distance to Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum1.5 kilometres
• Distance to Ronald Reagan Airport (DCA)6.1 kilometres
• Distance to Dulles International Airport (IAD)39.4 kilometres

Bus & Train Carriers at Union Station

• Amtrak

  Union Station is one of the busiest Amtrak stations in the western hemisphere, second only to New York’s Penn Station.

  There is an information desk directly in front of the train gates, along with a few small waiting areas and washrooms. Seating is tight at these waiting areas, so you may want to hang out at the Amtrak lounge (ClubAcela) while you wait for your train. Note that access to the lounge is not included in most standard fares, but you can use points or pay to access ClubAcela.

  Luggage drop-off is not available at the DC train station, but there are uniformed Red Caps available to assist in baggage handling. Red Caps will help you get your luggage to the gate and load it onto the train—free of charge! Of course, tips are much appreciated.

• Acela

  Amtrak’s Acela line is a high-speed train that operates between Boston and Washington, DC.

  There are 14 stops along this route with a total travel time of about seven hours. The line operates every day, with more frequent service between Monday and Friday.

  There is no designated platform for the Acela line, so be sure to check the information screens at the station. Gate info is generally posted at least 15 minutes prior to departure.

• Amtrak Northeast Regional

  The Amtrak Northeast Regional line connects Union Station to states along the East Coast, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

  Trains on this line travel through Union Station 10 times a day every day of the week between 8:00 AM and 11:00 PM.

• Amtrak Silver Service

  Amtrak’s Silver Service (including the Silver Star and the Silver Meteor) travels from NYC all the way down to Miami, stopping at major cities in the mid-Atlantic region, the South, and the Sunshine State.

  The entire journey spans over 1,300 miles and takes about 28 hours from start to finish. Two trains on the Silver Service (one Silver Star train and one Silver Meteor train) travel through DC’s train station each day.

  Silver Service trains do not have a specific train platform, so your ticket will not have an assigned gate. Check the information screens at the station for platform information.

• Amtrak Crescent

  The Amtrak Crescent is the train you’ll take if you’re headed to New Orleans from DC. This line passes through 12 states (plus DC) with 36 stops at major destinations between NYC and NOLA.

  One Crescent train in each direction (northbound and southbound) travels through DC per day.

• Amtrak Vermonter

  DC’s Union Station is the southern terminus of Amtrak’s Vermonter line. The service runs from DC to St. Albans, Vermont once per day.

  You might also catch the Vermonter if you’re heading to one of the cities between DC and Vermont, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Hartford.

• Amtrak Cardinal

  Featuring stunning views of the Southeast for much of the journey, the Amtrak Cardinal line connects NYC and Chicago by way of DC’s Union Station.

  This train only runs three days a week, with stops at Union Station on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

  There is no designated platform for the Cardinal line, but gate info is posted on information screens shortly before departure.

• Amtrak Carolinian

  Spanning from New York City all the way down to North Carolina, the Amtrak Carolinian stops at 24 major destinations along the way, including Washington DC.

  Because of the long travel time (around 13 hours for the whole trip), a single train runs each way daily. Departures are typically in the morning so you can reach your final destination by the evening of the same day.

  Like the other train lines at Union Station, the Carolinian is assigned a platform shortly before it arrives at the station. Check the information screens at the station for your boarding gate.

• Amtrak Palmetto

  The Amtrak Palmetto line runs nearly the entire length of the East Coast. You can hop on the Palmetto service in DC to access more than a dozen cities between the capital and Savannah, Georgia.

  Service is available once daily on the Palmetto line (typically in the morning), though you could also take a Silver Service train for a later departure time going in the same direction.

• Greyhound

  The Greyhound bus station in Washington DC is conveniently located in the Union Station Parking Garage (or USPG). The bus terminals are accessible via the mezzanine level of the main station. Greyhound buses usually depart from gates 1 through 7.

  There is no ticket counter at the station, so make sure to purchase your tickets in advance on Wanderu. You can pick up will-call tickets at the station, for fares booked online.

• BestBus

  BestBus also departs from the Union Station Bus Terminal, accessible from the mezzanine level of the main station.

  This carrier typically departs from gate 30, but check signage and information screens for up-to-date info about where to board.

• Peter Pan Bus Lines

  Peter Pan buses depart from gates 27 and 28 in DC’s Union Station Bus Terminal. Passengers can access the bus deck from the mezzanine level of the main station.

  There is a Peter Pan counter near the gates, however its hours are limited on Thursday to Sunday.

  Seating areas and other amenities are sparse in the bus terminal, so head back to the main station if you arrive early.

• FlixBus US

  Just like all the main bus carriers travelling in and out of Washington DC, FlixBus’ main stop is the Union Station Bus Terminal. When you arrive at the station, you can access the bus deck from the mezzanine level of the main station.

  FlixBus generally departs from gates 5 through 8, and staff are available to direct passengers.

  There are also waiting areas in the main train station, along with washrooms, tons of restaurants and shops if you arrive at the terminal early and need a way to kill some time.

Top routes from Union Station