The responses to my last question about traffic over Memorial Day weekend convinced me that we should take the train from DC to get to White Plains.

Our friends' apartment is walking distance to the Metro North station in White Plains. Rather than having to change trains, though (and get from Penn Station to Grand Central), it seems to me the thing to do would be to stay on Amtrak to New Rochelle, and take a cab from there to White Plains.

Agree? Or have a different suggestion?

you might want to check what that taxi will cost you. It might be quite a lot.

I used to travel from Philadelphia to Westchester, and I always changed train stations in NY(I was a cheap student back then, though). Its actually a pretty easy walk if you don't have a ton of luggage.

If you have luggage and don;t want to walk I'm not sure the taxi in Westchester would be much more than a taxi from Penn Station to Grand Central - although the distance is definitely quite a bit further.

If the cab's too expensive, look up the Metro-North schedule and change trains in New Rochelle to White Plains. They're on the same Metro-north line.

It will be much cheaper to take a taxi in Manhattan from Penn Station to Grand Central. I'd do that.

How do the schedules look? I think many Amtrak trains are DC-NYC only, and fewer are DC-Boston. You may have more schedule choices if you use Metro North, but I'd probably go for the convenience of the through train if times were OK.

Thanks for all of the responses. Amtrak schedules are pretty good through to New Rochelle.

skatedancer, it looks to me like New Rochelle is on the New Haven Line and White Plains is on the Harlem Line, so to train from NR to WP would involve backtracking and transferring to a third train.

I agree with Doug. Taxis outside the city always seem very expensive to me. It will be much easier and less expensive to take a taxi from Penn to Grand Central and then take the train directly to White Plains.

New Rochelle and White Plains are NOT on the same line.

I think it depends on which seems worse--paying for a taxi from New Rochelle to White Plains or making the connection in NYC.

Can't your frined drive over and get you in New Rochelle?

New Rochelle and White Plains are definitely on different lines. you cannot train between them.

Dancing Bear, you should call one of the Westchester taxi services and find out what it will cost. Should not be hard to get an estimate. My best guess is on the order of $20, and the Manhattan taxi is closer to $5. But the best thing to do is call.

Of course, if your friend can pick you up in New Rochelle, that is the easiest!

I'm pretty sure there are buses, but I'm also certain that is the least convenient way to go. But in case you feel like it, here is the westchester county bus website
http://www.westchestergov.com/transportation/

Looks like you could do New Rochelle to White Plains with just one bus change.

(I'm really not seriously suggesting this, just pointing out the alternative).

Thanks again. Our friends are letting us use their apartment while they are out of town, so the pick-up is not an option.

I'll price the taxi.

But now that I think about it, I'm thinking I should just leave a bit earlier than I had planned and take advantage of the transition between train stations to have dinner in the city.

To save a few cents, you may also
buy both sets of tickets on-line & they will be mailed to you since you
have enough time (usually takes 3-5 days in my experience).
Now, do you need dinner suggestions or do you have a fave?

I'm always happy to get a recommendation! It will be my wife and I taking advantage of being kidless for the weekend (love the grandparents!).

Something in midtown (keeping us in the very general vicinity of Grand Central) would be great.

what about the Oyster Bar, IN Grand Central Station? I've not eaten there, but I keep meaning too. And its obviously the most convenient.

Good idea, thanks.