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Charlotte to Washington DC train

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Charlotte - Washington DC Train Schedule

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Trip Summary

You can pick from 2 daily train trips between Charlotte and Washington DC. The average train journey from Charlotte to Washington DC takes 9 hours and 1 minute, but some Amtrak Crescent train trips are as short as 8 hours and 16 minutes.

Distance330 mi (530 km)
Fastest train8h 16m
Lowest price$68.00
Trains per day2
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Carolinian
Train lines2

Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for trains from Charlotte to Washington

(Based on 7 ratings and reviews)

4.6

5.0

Stacy

July 29, 2023- Visiting family

Amtrak Crescent

Pros: Spacious seating, staff was very present, the Cafe, and no delays. Cons: The bathrooms need some attention. Sanitized wipes available.

4.0

Ulme

April 27, 2023- Solo travel

Amtrak Carolinian

Pros: Amtrak is great. The view, the price. Cons: The cleanliness of the toilets. I would be willing to pay an attendant extra for reasonably clean toilets. Tips: Don’t drink, cuts down on toilet usage.

5.0

Adriana

January 25, 2023- Visiting family

Amtrak Carolinian

Friendly staff, comfortable seat, good food selections!

4.0

Venita

December 30, 2021- Solo travel

Amtrak Carolinian

Pros: Leg room wasn't bad. Cons: Getting on and off the train is a real chore. Too much space from ground to step and if you have a carry on it is really difficult. No one helps at all. I also feel with a pandemic going on the train was overly crowded.

What is the price of a train ticket from Charlotte to Washington DC?

In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from Charlotte to Washington was $96.58. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 29 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $58.72 more if you wait to book until the last minute.

Average prices by travel date

$135$90$45SepSep

For the next 30 days, the cost of a one-way train trip from Charlotte to Washington DC will range from $90 to $121. If you're planning to travel by train to Washington in the upcoming week, the cheapest train ticket from Charlotte you can find in the next 7 days is $91. Be sure to book your trip in advance as train ticket prices typically increase as your travel date approaches.

Monthly average prices

$150$120$90$60$30ONDJFMAMJJAS
You can find the lowest prices on this route during February. This time of year offers the best deals on train tickets from Charlotte to Washington DC, with the average price at just $83. Train tickets on this route are most expensive in November, when the average price goes up to $132. 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

$175$140$105$70$353020100

By booking your train trip from Charlotte to Washington on Wanderu at least 29 days ahead of time, you can save about $58.72 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!

Which train should you take from Charlotte to Washington DC?

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

TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Carolinian19h 46m$93.02
Amtrak Crescent18h 17m$130.61

  • 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 trips per day between Charlotte and Washington, all of which include seats with extra legroom, free WiFi, power outlets, and snacks available in the Café car. The average Amtrak Carolinian ticket price for this route is , and the trip usually lasts around 9 hours and 46 minutes.

  • The Crescent is Amtrak’s passenger train service that runs from New York to New Orleans by way of Atlanta. As an overnight service, the Crescent offers a variety of amenities and accommodation options. There’s also a café car where you can enjoy freshly prepared meals and a variety of soft and alcoholic beverages. Like all Amtrak trains, the Crescent offers free WiFi, power outlets and extra legroom. Train trips from Charlotte to Washington take about 8 hours and 17 minutes and the cost of a one-way train ticket on the Crescent starts from $102.

Frequently Asked Questions

The distance between Charlotte and Washington DC is approximately 330 miles, or 530 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 9 hours and 1 minute, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 8 hours and 16 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 spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Thursday tends to be the busiest day of the week with travelers taking trains from Charlotte to Washington DC. Ticket price also tend to be more expensive on Thursday than other days. If you are hoping to have more room on the train and even save some change check out travel options on Sunday instead, as less people travel then and deals are more likely to be found.

The earliest train departs Charlotte at 5:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 6:00am. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.

Trains leave the station in Charlotte twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. Luckily, both trains will get you to Washington DC with direct service. While there might still be stops along the way, you will not need to get off or switch trains.

You can also take a train for your return trip from Washington DC to Charlotte.

City Information

Charlotte

A mecca for fans of speed in general and for NASCAR in particular, Charlotte is a burgeoning urban center that still retains its southern charm. Even if you are not a hardcore fan of NASCAR, it is still worth taking the time to check it out. Housing more than just plaques dedicated to legendary drivers, the museum also features high-tech exhibits, as well as racing simulators to keep you enthralled. If cars are not your thing, the bustling Uptown area, which houses the city’s top museums such as Discovery Place or Mint Museum Uptown, will offer a day’s worth of interesting facts to enjoy. When you wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of Uptown, Freedom Park, located about three miles north of the city center, provides a natural refuge where you can recover.

Charlotte’s food scene is brimming with life, as modernized Southern staples take the city by storm. Perhaps the best place to enjoy the tastiest Southern dishes in town is at Price’s Chicken Coop. If you are looking to enjoy some fine barbecues, Midwood Smokehouse or Noble Smoke might have what you need.

Charlotte’s busiest bus station is at W 4th St in the heart of the city, offering bus trips by several carriers like Greyhound and Jefferson Lines to other cities such as Richmond or New York. The city is served by three Amtrak lines: the Crescent, the Carolinian, and the Piedmont. Travelers can catch these trains at the station on Tryon St in Lockwood. The main airport of the city is the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which is the sixth-busiest airport in the country. It is located 6 miles from the city center.

Washington DC

Washington, DC is the capital of the United States, and as such, it offers many points of interest of governmental and historical value. DC is home to several iconic landmarks, including the White House where the U.S. president resides, the Capitol building that houses the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the National Mall, where you can stop by the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the World War II Memorial. One of the reasons Washington, DC is among the best destinations to visit with your family is because it is home to so many world-famous museums, including the Smithsonians – 16 museums scattered across the District, most of which are open every day of the week, and even better, every single one is free.

D.C. is not just about politics and museums, though. The city’s active nightlife fittingly ranks it among the biggest party hubs in the country. Head to the vibrant Dupont Circle neighborhood to check out some of the finest restaurants that the nation’s capital has to offer, or join a food tour of Georgetown to get a taste of the area’s culture along with its cuisine.

Nested between Virginia and Maryland, Washington, D.C. is a key transportation hub with three nearby airports and several bus and train stations.

Station Information

Where is the train station in Charlotte?

1914 N Tryon St - CLTAMT-0

Image credit: Adam Moss

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: 1914 N Tryon St

The busiest train station in North Carolina is located at 1914 N Tryon St, slightly northeast of downtown Charlotte. This station is the origin point for the Amtrak Carolinian to New York City and the Amtrak Piedmont to Raleigh. The Amtrak Crescent also stops in Charlotte on its route from New York City to New Orleans. The station has free parking and vending machines onsite, and is close to several stations for the local LYNX light rail.

All train stations in Charlotte:

  • 1914 N Tryon St

Where is the train station in Washington DC?

Washington, DC - Union Station - DCAUST-0

Main arrival station: Union Station

Opened more than 100 years ago in 1907, Union Station is the largest transportation hub in Washington, D.C. with almost 5 million travelers passing through it every year. As the official headquarters of Amtrak, Union Station is the main train station in the U.S. capital. It is also a major hub for intercity bus travel, serving as the main bus station in D.C. for a number of carriers, including Greyhound, BoltBus, Peter Pan Bus Lines and OurBus. Union Station offers easy transit connections to places all over D.C. with dedicated stops for the city’s metro, bus and streetcar services, as well as commuter rail for travelers to and from the surrounding areas. Additionally, with a full blown shopping mall on the premises, Union Station is also among the most popular shopping destinations in the nation's capital.

All train stations in Washington DC:

  • Union Station

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