5.0
Pros: Easy. Train & bus were on time & travel time was as published. Tips: If you are traveling on a holiday & need public transportation upon arrival, make sure they are running on a normal schedule.
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On most days, there is one scheduled train that travels from Downingtown to State College. The train trip from Downingtown to State College is usually about 3 hours and 50 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 3 hours and 44 minutes.
Distance | 126 mi (203 km) |
Fastest train | 3h 44m |
Lowest price | $65.00 |
Most frequent service | Amtrak |
Train lines | 1 |
Average score for trains from Downingtown to State College
(Based on 2 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: Easy. Train & bus were on time & travel time was as published. Tips: If you are traveling on a holiday & need public transportation upon arrival, make sure they are running on a normal schedule.
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Downingtown to State College. Furthermore, there is only one train per day, so you will have to plan your travel around this limited availability. On the other hand, you won't have to spend a ton of time comparing a bunch of possible options.
Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Amtrak | 1 | 3h 50m | $65.26 |
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 1 Amtrak trains from Downingtown to State College every day, as well as 1 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $65.
The distance between Downingtown and State College is approximately 126 miles, or 203 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 3 hours and 50 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 3 hours and 44 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 Downingtown to State College tend to have the most passengers on Thursday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Thursday. 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.
Most days, there is only one train which leaves Downingtown at 9:00am and arrives in State College around 3 hours later.
Typically there is only one scheduled train per day. However, it is not a direct train. This means that you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train at some point during your journey. You will need to remember to bring your carry-on luggage with you when you transfer trains. Depending on the carrier's policy, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from State College to Downingtown.
State College is a college town, hence the name. It is home to Penn State University, one of the largest universities in the United States. As expected, most of the businesses in the area are there to serve the academic clientele, particularly the professors and students living in the area (if you’re one of them, you might want to check out our recommended destinations for college students).
One of the most popular events in State College is the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which draws over a hundred thousand visitors each year. Aside from Penn State University, the city's major attractions are The Arboretum and the Beaver Stadium.
If you're into culture, history, and the arts, you should check out the Palmer Museum of Art, Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, and Centre County Historical Society.
While at State College, be sure to try out the waffles at The Original Waffle Shop. Other good places to dine are the Berkey Creamery, Allen Street Grill, and Federal Taphouse. Finally, for some good drinks, stop by Otto's Pub and Brewery.
Getting around State College is a breeze. The local airport, University Park Airport, is a mere 5 miles away from campus. In addition, Greyhound, Fullington Trailways, and Amtrak Thruway run regularly scheduled bus services from State College to Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, New York City, and beyond.
There is one train station in Downingtown.
West Lancaster Ave and Stuart Ave
The State College Bus Terminal, commonly referred to as the Greyhound station, is on the southern part of the Penn State University campus. The stop has a bit of covering for waiting passengers, but otherwise, you'll want to find most food and amenities elsewhere on campus. Although there is an adorable photo stand-in for anyone wanting a cute family photo while waiting for your bus to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or anywhere else in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Bus Terminal - 152 N Atherton St
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.