happytotravel

I am considering a trip this summer with my daughter age 11, hoping to fly into NYC, train to DC, train to Williamsburg, fly out of Richmond(I think), rent car in Williamsburg. Stay for 3 days each city. I am wondering do these transportation options make sense? Is the train the easiest way to get to these destinations? Thank you for any advice.

nytraveler

For NYC to DC Amtrak is fine - approximately same time and cost as flyng - but much more comfortable. Getting to Williamsburg is not that great -ony a couple of trains a day. Rather than rent a car there, rent one in DC and drive down.

skipop

Agreed. Rent a car in DC and Drive. Williamsburg is an easy 2.5 - 3 hour drive from DC (non-rush hour). In Williamsburg, go for lunch at The Cheese Shop. Try a roast beef sandwich with "extra house" dressing. Most excellent. Also try Pierce's Pit Cooked Barbecue for a cheep good meal.

obxgirl

I'm going to disagree with the first two responders with qualifications. If you're headed to Wmbg from DC on a Friday/Sat/Sun, seriously consider taking the train. Traffic on both of the interstate highways you'll travel on are potential nightmares during the summer months. 3 hours would be a cakewalk. 4-5+ hours would not be unusual.

(For that matter I can't recall anytime in the last 5 years a DC/Wmbg trip took 2.5 hours....those days are long gone)

There is a 7:30 am train from Union Station getting into Wmbg at 11:00 am. You can rent a car at the station. You'll still have plenty of time to tour the day you arrive.

I don't know where you're flying from, but check fares from ORF (Norfolk) and PHF (Newport News). Flights tend (though it's changing) to be a little less expensive than ones into RIC (Richmond).

happytotravel

Thanks everyone.

sinehat

Good information from Obxgirl, especially concerning the traffic around DC. While in Williamsburg, why not also check out Jamestown. The 400th anniversity of the founding (1607)is this year.

Gekko

One can travel from NYC to D.C. to Williamsburg on Amtrak. It's scheduled for ~7 hours but it takes 8.

The Amtrak station in W'burg is conveniently located, about a half mile or less from Merchant's Square and the historic area.

www.amtrak.com

Gekko

P.S. Driving from D.C. to Williamsburg can be a royal pain in the neck -- horrible traffic. The train is a much better option, in my opinion.

nytraveler

I think traffic is all in the eye of the beholder. Granted - leaving DC at rush hour is not a great idea - but to me still more conveninet that having trains only at 7am, 11am and 5(?)pm - as opposed to NYC to DC where there is a constant stream of trains.

Anonymous

Several years ago, we took Amtrak to Williamsburg and had a very unsatisfactory experience with the car-rental agency at the train station. There was no car available for us upon our arrival, and the one they finally produced had several nonfunctioning features.

It would be faster, cheaper, and more flexible for you to rent a car in DC. As long as you're not heading out of DC along with all the weekday afternoon rush-hour traffic, it won't be a problem.

Gekko

Williamsburg built a new train station and there is no on-site car rental agencies. Enterprise will meet you at the station, however, or you can have the car delivered to your hotel.

Depending on a visitor's plans, however, a rental car may not be necessary. Colonial Williamsburg is serviced by shuttle buses that also go to Jamestown & Yorktown. Spend at least one full day in the historic area, a 2nd day in Jamestown/Yorktown, and a car is not needed. I'd suggest that if a 3rd day is spent "off campus" at Busch Gardens, it would be less expensive to take a taxi or a hotel shuttle than rent a car.

obxgirl

>>Williamsburg built a new train station and there is no on-site car rental agencies.<<

There IS an on-site car rental company at the Wmbg train station, a small local business:

B&W Auto Rental (formerly Colonial)
1-800-899-2271
1-757-220-9941

In addition to Enterprise, there is now a branch of Hertz in Wmbg. They won't deliver a car to the train station but they will pick you up and take you to there office a very short distance away.

obxgirl

Local phone # for Hertz is: 757-220-3497

>>It would be faster, cheaper, and more flexible for you to rent a car in DC. <<

Gotta disagree with the cheaper aspect unless the OP is returning the car to DC. Otherwise hefty surcharges are added for a different drop off site.

I have no agenda for pushing train travel, only mentioned it as an alternative when summer highway traffic can be a bear.

>>but to me still more conveninet that having trains only at 7am, 11am and 5(?)pm - as opposed to NYC to DC where there is a constant stream of trains.<<

This doesn't make any sense. While I wouldn't mind a couple of more daily trains to Wmbg, the notion of a contant stream of trains from NY/DC to a very small town in SE Va is ridiculous.

NewbE

I think that a car is definitely needed in the Yorktown/Williamsburg area. While it's true that shuttles exist, the general area is suburban, which means long distances between hotels, sights and restaurants and shops. Having a car will give the OP so much more flexibility, it would, IMO, be worth the expense.

Gekko

I visit Colonial Williamsburg every year and just returned yesterday. I disagree that a rental car is needed if one stays at one of the CW hotels, e.g. the Williamsburg Inn or newly renovated & expanded Williamsburg Lodge. Both are a 2 minute walk from Duke of Gloucester Street and are serviced by frequent shuttle buses.

(And both will meet you at the train station & drop you off there for free!)

nytraveler

If you're staying just IN Williamsburg you don;t need a car. But - with a child - and wanting to perhaps do several other things (plantations, Busch Gardens) as well as have a greater choice of places to eat/explore - I think a car would make the trip much more enjoyable.

Gekko

Agreed, but the original poster said "3 days" in Williamsburg. In my opinion, the itinerary would be at least one day in the historic area, maybe 1.5-2 days (including a few hours in Merchant's Square), and a day in Jamestown & Yorktown (shuttle). If Busch Gardens were subsituted or added, it would be cheaper to take a shuttle or cab than rent a car.

happytotravel

I am really learning a lot, and am now totally confused about when and where to get a car. This is giving me a lot to think about. I don't know that it matters, but are there better days of the week to be in Williamsburg? Maybe that will help me decide on car or train.

lincasanova

i am also going to williamsburg this august. we will be in the area for one week approx.

i would assume that there are more people at the historic sights on the weekends.. is this so?

Dukey

Happytotravel,

I think the traffic situation Washington to Willamsburg while busy at times is not necessarily enough reason not to drive that route.

A LOT will depend on the time of day whether it is the weekend or a weekday.

Don't know where you are originating but you might consider flying from DC to Norfolk and renting a car there and flying out of Norfolk back home.

Richmond might be a lot more expensive to fly out of than any of the others due to lack of airline competition.