Cheap train tickets from Durham to Richmond

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Trip Summary

There are usually 2 daily train trips available from Durham to Richmond. Travelling by train from Durham to Richmond usually takes 7 hours and 10 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Carolinian train can make the trip in 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Distance: 134 mi (216 km)
Fastest train: 4h 30m
Lowest price: US$40.00
Trains per day: 2
Most frequent service: Amtrak Carolinian
Train lines: 2

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Durham to Richmond Train Timetable

Is it better to travel by coach or train from Durham to Richmond?

There are usually 7 daily coach trips from Durham to Richmond.

	Train	Coach
Avg. Price	Avg. PriceUS$53.00Cheaper	Avg. PriceUS$90.42
Daily Trips	Daily Trips2	Daily Trips7
Duration	Duration7h 10m	Duration3h 29mFaster

Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for trains from Durham to Richmond (Based on 3 ratings and reviews)

4.7

4.0

Mary Lynn

26 July 2022 - Visiting family

Amtrak Carolinian

Pros: Staff very friendly. Price very reasonalble. Good, ecological way to travel. Cons: The trains are always late.

There are several train options that can take you from Durham to Richmond:

See more details

What is the price of a train ticket from Durham to Richmond?

In the last month, train tickets from Durham to Richmond cost about US$43 when booked at the cheapest time. Compared to most train fares, this is an excellent price. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 20 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around US$29.83 more if you wait to book until the last minute.

Average train ticket prices from Durham to Richmond by travel date

Over the next 30 days, a one-way train trip from Durham to Richmond will cost between US$40 and US$67. Book in advance to secure the best price in the next few weeks.

Average train ticket prices from Durham to Richmond by month

Ticket prices for the train from Durham to Richmond often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in February when the average ticket price is only US$45. If you're thinking of travelling from Durham to Richmond during December, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of US$87 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in December, is to book your trip well in advance.

Prices as travel date approaches

By booking your train trip from Durham to Richmond on Wanderu at least 20 days ahead of time, you can save about US$29.83 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!

Which train should you take from Durham to Richmond?

2 train services operate from Durham to Richmond. However, each train line only offers one daily trip.

Train	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak	1	10h 5m	US$55.48
Amtrak Carolinian	1	4h 30m	US$50.73

Amtrak is the largest passenger railway service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned toilet, free WiFi and power sockets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there is 1 Amtrak train from Durham to Richmond every day, as well as 1 trip at the weekends, with prices starting from US$49.
The Amtrak Carolinian is a passenger train service which connects New York City and Washington, DC to some of the most charming destinations in North Carolina. The Carolinian runs an average of 1 trip per day between Durham and Richmond, all of which include seats with extra legroom, free WiFi, power sockets, and snacks available in the Café car. The average Amtrak Carolinian ticket price for this route is US$50.73, and the trip usually lasts around 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Frequently asked questions about travelling by train from Durham to Richmond

Trains leave the station in Durham twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. One of these is a direct train, which will typically get you to Richmond faster. While it might still have stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains during your trip. You can also take a train for your return trip from Richmond to Durham. If you're not set on travelling by train, you could always take the coach from Durham to Richmond for US$28.

Trains per day

Direct trains

The distance between Durham and Richmond is approximately 134 miles. The average train journey between these two cities takes 7 hours and 10 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 4 hours and 30 minutes. Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a patchy signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and films to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Distance (mi)

134

Distance (km)

216

The earliest train departs Durham at 9:27 while the last train of the day leaves at 9:42. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full timetable for your specific travel dates.

First train

9:27am

Last train

9:42am

Trains from Durham to Richmond are the most crowded on Sunday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider travelling on Wednesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

Busiest

Sunday

Least crowded

Wednesday

City Information

Durham

Durham is a little treasure cove for all fans of history and the United States’ heritage. The first and foremost thing you should try out is go on a hike on one of the city’s iconic trails. For a more traditional hiking experience, try the Eno River Trail. If you wish to enjoy a more unique experience, the American Tobacco Trail will be a better choice, as it follows the old CSX railway. For those who want to explore the city’s rich history, check out the Stagville Plantation, which is now a museum dedicated to the city’s antebellum history, offering a unique historical perspective.

Durham’s food scene is vibrant and exciting. Fans of seafood will definitely be amazed at how fresh and delicious the seafood at Mateo Bar de Tapas is. If you wish to try out Italian eats with a twist, check out Devil’s Pizzeria & Restaurant.

The main coach station is the Transportation Center located at 515 W Pettigrew St in Downtown Durham. From there, you can take a coach to New York, Richmond, Washington D.C., and dozens of other destinations across the country. The main Amtrak train station in Durham is located around the corner from the bus stop at 601 W Main St. Durham is served by Amtrak’s Carolinian and Piedmont lines. The city’s air services are handled by the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, 12 miles southeast of the city.

Richmond

As one of the most historically significant cities in the U.S., Richmond is a top-tier destination for not just fans of history but also culturally-inclined travellers. The premier tourist attraction of the city is the Virginia State Capitol, which features a unique architecture partially designed by Thomas Jefferson himself. For those who want to enjoy a cultural experience, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is worth checking out, as it houses five exquisitely beautiful Fabergé eggs, along with works by Degas, Cézanne, and Renoir. If you wish to retreat from the concrete jungle, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a great alternative.

Richmond’s diverse community has had a huge influence on its food scene. Croaker's Spot is a famous restaurant that serves some of the best seafood around. Richmond is also the home to a burgeoning craft beer scene, and there are as many as 30 brands in the city. Some of the local favourites include Hardywood, The Veil Brewing Co., and The Answer Brewpub.

Richmond is a major hub for coach travel, and visitors can catch coaches that go to cities like Washington, D.C., New York and Raleigh on a daily basis. The city boasts two Amtrak train stations that provide regular service to Washington, D.C., New York City and beyond. The principal one is the Main Street Station, which is located right in the heart of downtown Richmond. The main airport is the Richmond International Airport, 7 miles southeast of the city.

Station Information

Where is the train station in Durham?

Main departure station: 601 W Main St

In Durham, Amtrak’s train station is at 601 W Main St, in a historic brick warehouse originally constructed in 1897. The Carolinian line from Charlotte to New York and the Piedmont line from Charlotte to Raleigh both stop at this station in Durham. Inside the station, passengers are greeted by high ceilings (this was once a warehouse, after all!) and can find toilets, long benches for seating, and Amtrak staff. The same building also hosts an Italian restaurant and pool hall around the corner, and several more restaurants are within a one-block walk. You can even check out the Museum of Durham History on Main St, too. The Durham Amtrak station is located in the city centre, close to Duke University and Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

All train stations in Durham:

601 W Main St

Where is the train station in Richmond?

Main arrival station: 7519 Staples Mill Rd

Located around 5 miles north of Richmond’s city centre, the Amtrak Station on Staples Mill Road is Amtrak’s busiest transport hub in the Southeast Region. The station was built in 1975 to replace the downtown Main Street Station. It now serves as an important stop for routes travelling up and down the American East. Passengers can venture north onboard the Northeast Regional service—Amtrak’s busiest route—to Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston. Richmond’s Amtrak Station also offers several southward connections to holiday destinations along the East Coast in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In addition, the GRTC local bus service is available from the station for transport into downtown Richmond.

Train stations in Richmond:

7519 Staples Mill Rd
Main Street Station

Need a return trip from Richmond to Durham?

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