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Cheap train tickets from New York to Boston

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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Helpful info about taking the train from New York to Boston

  • Tickets on Amtrak trains from NYC to Boston cost $116 on average. This average accounts for cheaper tickets for Northeast Regional trains and higher-priced tickets for Acela trains. Amtrak Acela tickets are usually more expensive because the Acela is a high-speed train with only Business Class and First Class fares offered.

    • The train from NYC to Boston takes 4 hours and 6 minutes on average. Northeast Regional trains may take a little longer than this average, while faster Acela trains usually reach Boston in 3 hours and 35 minutes. Acela trains travel as fast as 150mph on the route from New York to Boston.

    • Amtrak Northeast Regional trains make 20 stops between New York and Boston, including New Haven, New London, and Providence. Meanwhile, the Acela’s New York to Boston train schedule includes just 5 stops between NYC’s Penn Station and Boston’s South Station.

    • No need to pack light, you’re allowed to bring plenty of luggage on the Amtrak train from NYC to Boston. Amtrak allows each passenger to bring two personal items, two carry-on bags, and two checked bags for free. When you leave from Penn Station’s Moynihan Train Hall in New York, you can check a bag at the Amtrak customer service desk near the platforms.

    • Trains from New York arrive at two stations in Boston: Back Bay Station and South Station. The best train station to arrive at in Boston depends on where you’re heading after your train trip. If you’re going to Fenway Park for a baseball game or Newbury Street for shopping, choose a train ticket arriving at Back Bay Station, which is closer to these spots. South Station is the better station to choose if you need to connect to Logan Airport via public transit, or if you’re staying in downtown Boston, the Seaport, or the Financial District.

    • All Amtrak trains from New York to Boston offer free WiFi, power outlets, and restrooms in every car. If you upgrade to Business Class, you’ll enjoy a wide, comfy seat with extra legroom and a free non-alcoholic beverage. First Class seats on Acela trains are even more luxurious, with lumbar support and adjustable headrests. First Class passengers can access the First Class lounge in Moynihan Train Hall and receive a complimentary meal and beverage service onboard the train.

    • The New York to Boston train schedule includes 7 Amtrak Acela departures and 9 Amtrak Northeast Regional departures per day. Trains leave New York every few hours between 2:00am and 7:00pm, and trains on this route are usually the most crowded on Thursdays.

NYC - Boston Amtrak Timetable

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Is it better to travel by bus or train from New York to Boston?

There are usually 68 daily bus trips from New York to Boston.

Coach
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
£25.79
Avg. Price
£71.87
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
68
Daily Trips
41
Duration
Duration
4h 58m
Duration
4h 4m

Trip Summary

There are usually 18 daily train trips available from New York to Boston. Traveling by train from New York to Boston usually takes 4 hours and 6 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 3 hours and 35 minutes.

Distance190 mi (306 km)
Fastest train3h 35m
Lowest price£17.86
Trains per day40
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Northeast Regional
Train lines3

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Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for trains from New York to Boston

(Based on 328 ratings and reviews)

4.8

5.0

Isabela

2 January 2025- Vacation

Amtrak Acela

Pros: Easy. Cons: The business class should have more space for big suitcases. Tips: be there on time!

5.0

ann

26 November 2024- Solo travel

Amtrak Northeast Regional

Pros: ease of booking,ease of travel and easy on the purse. Cons: more quite cars. Tips: leave the car at home and carch a train.

4.0

Sue Cassidy

12 November 2024- Visiting friends

Amtrak Northeast Regional

Pros: Northeast Regional to Boston was on time and fine. Return trip, Acela was 30 minutes late to Back Bay station, and ultimately an hour late arriving in Penn Station at 11:00 PM, instead of 9:59 PM! Cons: Train 177 - Acela to Philadelphia to Boston was 30 minutes late from South Station. App said it was on time. No announcement regarding delay to passengers outside on cold platform waiting.

5.0

Kyle

12 October 2024- Visiting family

Amtrak Northeast Regional

Pros: On time and accurate of what it says. Cons: We didn’t know the track prior to the time. My mother was worried as it’s our first time traveling alone without her. Tips: Be attentive.

5.0

Roksana

1 October 2024- Solo travel

Amtrak Northeast Regional

Pros: All good. Cons: Nothing to improve. Tips: It is great.

New York to Boston Route Map

New York Boston
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What is a cheap ticket price for trains from New York to Boston?

In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from New York to Boston was £64.80. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 28 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around £76.01 more if you wait to book until the last minute.

Average train ticket prices from New York to Boston by travel date

£195£130£65JanFeb

Over the next 30 days, a one-way train trip from New York to Boston will cost between £41 and £186. Book in advance to secure the best price in the next few weeks.

Average train ticket prices from New York to Boston by month

£142£114£85£57£28FMAMJJASONDJ

You can find the lowest prices on this route during January. This time of year offers the best deals on train tickets from New York to Boston, with the average price at just £76.

Train tickets on this route are most expensive in November, when the average price goes up to £136. You can still score cheap deals below this average price, though, especially if you plan ahead and book your ticket in advance.

Prices as travel date approaches

£183£146£110£73£373020100

If you're looking to save on your train trip from New York to Boston, book online with Wanderu at least 28 days in advance. That way, you’ll save £76.01 compared to booking your ticket last minute.

Which trains can you take from NY to Boston?

Amtrak service from New York City to Boston consists of the Northeast Regional train and the Acela train. The Northeast Regional is more affordable but slower, while the Acela is pricier but faster. Between the two, the Northeast Regional is the more popular option for most travelers, with 10 scheduled trips per day.
TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak23h 43m£125.96
Amtrak Acela63h 48m£121.84
Amtrak Northeast Regional104h 22m£71.49

  • Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad 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 restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 2 Amtrak trains from New York to Boston every day, as well as 5 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from £64.

  • The Acela is Amtrak’s flagship high-speed rail service. Connecting 15 cities along the Northeast Corridor of the United States, the Acela is Amtrak’s fastest running passenger train, developing a speed of up to 82.2 mph. Acela trains are equipped with free high-speed internet, power outlets and extra comfortable seats. In addition, all Acela passengers have access to the line’s signature Corridor Café where they can unwind and enjoy a freshly prepared meal with a glass of wine. There are 6 Acela trips from New York to Boston every day, including the weekend. As it is Amtrak’s most premium service, the average Acela train ticket may cost more than other train lines.

  • The Northeast Regional is Amtrak’s passenger rail service that runs between Boston, MA and Virginia Beach, VA, connecting over 50 cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. While the line’s downtown-to-downtown train service makes traveling between the biggest cities in the Northeast convenient and hassle-free, the train’s amenities make the journey comfortable and relaxing as well. Amtrak passengers can enjoy large seats with extra legroom and power outlets, as well as free WiFi and clean bathrooms. With 10 daily train trips from New York to Boston, the Northeast Regional is the busiest and most popular among all Amtrak routes.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from New York to Boston

The primary advantage of Acela is that it is faster than Amtrak's Northeast Regional train. In most cases, choosing the Acela will mean that you save 40 minutes to an hour on your one-way trip from NY to Boston. However, Acela tickets cost roughly $50 more than Northeast Regional tickets for any given travel date.

Whether the Acela is worth it will mostly depend on how much of a hurry you are in. There are some other benefits to the Acela, such as faster WiFi, larger tables, and a special cafe car.

Depending on whether you take the Amtrak Northeast Regional or the high-speed Acela train, the trip takes around 3.5 to 4.5 hours. With several additional stops in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the Northeast Regional can take up to an hour longer than the Acela to complete the 190-mile journey from New York to Boston.

Trains from New York to Boston are the most crowded on Saturday. 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 traveling on Sunday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

The earliest train departs New York at 05:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 19:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.

There are 18 scheduled trains on most days. 40 of these are direct connections to Boston. While direct trains may still make stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains at any point. If you're looking to get to your destination faster, a direct train is the convenient and time-efficient choice.

You can also take a train for your return trip from Boston to New York.

City Information

New York

NYC-0NYC-1NYC-2

New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world for a reason – it offers numerous opportunities for a great time to visitors of all ages and interests. For the culturally inclined travelers, the city boasts a unique collection of world-famous museums, as well as the chance to see the best plays and musicals that Broadway has to offer, or check out the latest production at the Metropolitan Opera. If sightseeing is your cardio, NYC is the place to be – just by walking around town, you can visit such iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Times Square. Or hop on a ferry to Ellis Island to meet the Statue of Liberty up-close and personal.

NYC’s five boroughs feature more than 1,700 parks, including the gorgeous Central Park, making it one of the best cities for outdoor activities in the country. As for the nightlife, there’s no argument that New York City is the biggest party hub in the U.S.

With three major bus and train stations in Manhattan alone – Port Authority, Grand Central & Penn Station – and three nearby airports, NYC is one of the predominant travel hubs in the world. If you are ever looking to get out of town, NYC is centrally connected throughout the state and region, you can easily hop on a train to Albany to go explore upstate New York.

Boston

Boston is one of the oldest cities in the country, but it is kept young and fresh with the help of over 150,000 students who flock to the city’s prestigious universities every year. Beantown’s many sights and activities celebrate American history, prolific sports teams, and New England seafood. So let's spill the tea (into the harbor, if you will):

Boston's Freedom Trail is the best way to see the city on foot and visit some of the most iconic landmarks of the American Revolution: from Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution to the Old North Church and Faneuil Hall. The Freedom Trail officially begins in Boston Common, the oldest public park in the U.S. and a beautiful spot for walking, picnicking, or ice skating in the winter. Foodies will love tasting the Italian cuisine in the North End and the modern eateries of South End, while sports fans can tour Fenway Park, and art lovers can explore the expansive Museum of Fine Arts.

From Boston, travelers can easily get to the beachy summer destination of Cape Cod, or surrounding states like New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island. With four main train stations and several bus stops in the city, as well as Boston Logan Airport (which, by the way, has some excellent airport food), Boston is a central hub for travel throughout New England and beyond.

Station Information

Where is the train station in New York?

New York, NY - Penn Station - NYCPEN-0

Main departure station: NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station

Pennsylvania Station, or just Penn Station, is the main train station in New York City. All Amtrak trains to and from NYC use Penn Station as their only train stop in Manhattan. Penn Station offers easy connections to various other types of transportation, including commuter rail (the Long Island Rail Road and the NJ Transit both operate out of Penn Station), airport transit, and six lines of the NYC Subway, making it the busiest train station in the Western Hemisphere. Located in the heart of Manhattan, right by the world-famous Madison Square Garden, Penn Station is close to various points of interest such as Times Square and the Empire State Building, as well as many restaurants and retail stores.

All train stations in New York:

  • NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station

Where is the train station in Boston?

Boston, MA - South Station - BOSSST-0

Image credit: Tony Hisgett

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: South Station

South Station is the largest and busiest train station in Boston, and a major transportation hub for the greater New England area. South Station's 13 tracks are used by Amtrak, Acela, the MBTA commuter rail, and the MBTA subway system (a.k.a. the "T") with connections to the Boston Logan International Airport. You can also access intercity bus service in the adjacent South Station Bus Terminal. South Station's historic train terminal opened in 1899 right in downtown Boston, and is close to many points of interest like the Boston Common, the Freedom Trail, and the hip Seaport district. At the terminal, you'll find free WiFi, luggage storage, a 24-hour information booth, and 14 dining options, including that New England favorite, Dunkin'.

Train stations in Boston:

  • South Station

  • Back Bay Station - 145 Dartmouth St

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