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Amtrak Cardinal train tickets—Search & book deals

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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 380 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 63 trips per day on the Amtrak Cardinal, and depending on your route, train ticket prices range between SEK 137.53 and SEK 10,354.21. 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:
1 (800) 872-7245
Online support:
Amtrak Cardinal website

Amtrak Cardinal Amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Toilet
  • Extra legroom
  • Loyalty rewards
  • Power outlets
  • Snacks
  • Wifi

Quickview

Amtrak Cardinal train coverage

Daily Trips
63
stations
32
cities
32
countries
1
  • United States

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.”
    85%

Onboard Experience

  • “The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
    75%
  • “I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
    90%
  • “Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
    95%
  • “The train got there on time.”
    85%
  • “Seats were really comfy and spacious”
    94%
  • “The train was almost suspiciously clean”
    93%

Amtrak Cardinal reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Cardinal Based on 91 reviews

4.7

Ratings (Out of 5)

Comfort
Timeliness
Staff
Value

Amtrak Cardinal passenger reviews

  • KAIANovember 14, 2025Culpeper – Alexandria

    Pros not having to drive!! Cons 1. having a fan overhead. train was closed up, hot, and stuffy 2. offer morning trains into thew city on weekends. The first train from Culpeper was midday. Tips easy

  • SondriaMay 18, 2025Trenton – Huntington

    Pros Everything!

  • signoraMarch 21, 2025Charleston – Alexandria

    Pros The staff were very accondating. Cons More options on the menu. Tips Try Amtrak and you will like it.

  • StevenDecember 29, 2024Ashland – Indianapolis

    Pros Getting to my destination Cons Get there quicker Tips Be careful

  • CrystalNovember 1, 2024Charleston – Huntington

    Pros Very convenient and cheap. Perfect!

Amtrak Cardinal Routes & Network

Amtrak Cardinal’s train network features 380 train routes that connect 32 cities serving 32 stations. On average, Amtrak Cardinal performs about 63 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Cardinal offers the highest number of daily train service include Washington, DC and Chicago.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Cardinal
CityDaily TripsEarliest trainLatest train
Washington, DC712:15 AM9:56 PM
Chicago62:21 AM10:31 PM
Charlottesville812:15 AM10:30 PM
Indianapolis32:21 AM10:30 PM
New York512:15 AM10:30 PM
Lafayette16:25 AM6:46 PM
Alexandria412:15 AM9:56 PM
Philadelphia512:15 AM6:54 PM
Charleston312:15 AM8:30 PM

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 Baggage Policy

Carry-On Baggage

  • One (1) personal item – max. weight: 25 lbs (12 kg), max. dimensions: 14 x 11 x 7 in (35 x 28 x 18 cm)

  • Two (2) carry-on items – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 28 x 22 x 14 in (71 x 56 x 35 cm)

Additional Carry-On Rules:

  • Strollers and car seats do not count toward the carry-on limit.

  • Overweight bags must be repacked so they are under 50 lbs. Boxes may be purchased at staffed stations to aid in repacking.

  • A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each carry-on and personal item above the quantity and size limits. A maximum of two excess bags are permitted per passenger.

Checked Baggage

  • Two (2) items for free – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 75 in / 191 cm (length + width + height)

  • Up to two (2) additional items: $20 fee per item

  • Oversized baggage (76-100 inches total): $20 fee per item

Not all Amtrak Cardinal routes offer checked baggage service. Check ahead before traveling.

Additional Checked Baggage Rules:

  • Your luggage should be checked at least 45 minutes before the train departs.

  • ID tags are required for all luggage.

  • All luggage must be in containers that are suitable for transport (storage tubs and plastic bags are not allowed).

Special Items

  • Bicycles up to 50 lbs (23 kg) may be checked for $20.

  • Folding bikes (max 34 x 15.5 x 48 inches / 86 x 39 x 122 cm) can be carried on board for free.

  • Skis & snowboards count as checked baggage if under 50 lbs (23 kg) and 75 linear inches (191 cm).

  • Wheelchairs, walkers, and CPAP machines can be brought onboard for free.

For more information, check out Amtrak's Baggage Policy page.

Amtrak Cardinal Train Guide & FAQs

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.

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 bringing a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

On a typical day, Amtrak Cardinal has 63 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Yes, Amtrak Cardinal allows minors 13-16 years of age to travel unaccompanied, with restrictions. Children aged 12 and under must travel with another person who is at least 18 years old.

Tickets for unaccompanied minors cannot be booked online and must be booked by calling Amtrak at +1 (800) 872-7245.

Cheap Amtrak Cardinal tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 63 trips per day on Amtrak Cardinal, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter, and Amtrak Cardinal tickets start at just SEK 137.53. 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 with the lowest available fares every day. 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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