5.0
Pros: It was relaxing. Cons: I can’t think of anything.
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
7 trains operate daily from Portsmouth to Washington DC. The train trip from Portsmouth to Washington DC is usually about 11 hours and 32 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 10 hours and 8 minutes.
Distance | 436 mi (701 km) |
Fastest train | 10h 8m |
Lowest price | $68.00 |
Most frequent service | Amtrak |
Train lines | 1 |
Average score for trains from Portsmouth to Washington
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: It was relaxing. Cons: I can’t think of anything.
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Portsmouth to Washington. However, there are 7 trains per day to choose from.
Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Amtrak | 7 | 11h 33m | $188.37 |
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 7 Amtrak trains from Portsmouth to Washington every day, as well as 5 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $68.
The distance between Portsmouth and Washington DC is approximately 436 miles, or 701 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 11 hours and 32 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 10 hours and 8 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.
Trains departing from Portsmouth to Washington DC tend to have the most passengers on Wednesday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Wednesday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Sunday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Portsmouth at 5:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 7:00pm. 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 7 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Washington DC to Portsmouth.
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Pixabay
Once a bustling seaport and now a popular summer holiday destination, Portsmouth, New Hampshire is well worth visiting. Just an hour and a half north of Boston, Portsmouth offers an exciting mix of unique history and contemporary experience.
Discover Portsmouth's history at the Strawbery Banke Museum and enjoy 10 acres worth of outdoor exhibits, consisting of tours of historic houses and buildings on their original foundations. Costumed actors will regale you with stories about each location.
For those interested in naval history, Portsmouth offers tours of the USS Albacore, a retired U.S. Navy submarine, as well as a gift shop for all your souvenir needs. Portsmouth is also home to hundreds of restaurants and cafes where you can taste local delicacies or world cuisine to refuel after a day of exploring.
Portsmouth is easily accessible by air, rail, road, and bus. Portsmouth International Airport offers several direct flights from various airports, while Boston's Logan Airport is only an hour south of the town. Amtrak's Downeaster travels to Portsmouth, with a gorgeous route during leaf-peeping season. C&J Bus Lines provide regular stops from Logan Airport and other cities.
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.
The Portsmouth Transportation Center, aka the Portsmouth C&J Bus Station, is on the western side of the city. The station has ample indoor seating, plus screens to display information on upcoming trips. If you head in either direction on I95, you'll find plenty of convenience stores, restaurants, and cafes if you're looking for some food. Walk just across the street to Pannaway Playground to stretch your legs on one of the many walking trails and green spaces.
Portsmouth Transp Ctr - 185 Grafton Rd
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.
Union Station
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.