Trip to New York from Washington DC
 

Hi! I want to know is it possible to have a one day trip from Washington DC to New York. I will be much gratefull, if someone tells me how to do that, so that do not waste much money. Are there any buses from Washington to New York?How much will it cost approximately Thanks in Advance

Yes, there are many many buses. The cheapest and best option would be Megabus or Boltbus, and they cost less than $25 each way if you buy the ticket in advance. Just realize that the trip takes over 4 hours, so this is an incredibly long, exhausting day, though certainly possible. The train is more convenient, faster, but much much more expensive, but you get a slight break on Acela tickets if you buy nonrefundable tickets far in advance. But there's no comparison in terms of cost. If it were me, I'd take the bus but I would spring for a really cheap hotel room (such as one of the smallest pods with shared bath at the Pod Hotel). Then you can come up, have a day and one partial day in NYC and then go back to Washington. With hotel prices the way they are, it's possible to snag a room for well under $100 with tax.

I want to second Doug's recommendation to stay the night in New York. I've done the DC-NY-DC thing by train in one day for a meeting, and it is exhausting. Last time, I did stay one night in the Pod Hotel, and it was great.

I wouldn;t recommend it. You'll be on the road in the area of 9 hours roundtrip - plus time getting to the bus pick up/waiting for it.

Really you need to do an overnight to have time to see much of anything.

I've done the RT for meetings a couple of times by train(since it's just as fast as flying and much more comfy). But I onlyhad to be in DC 2 or 3 hours. For more time than that a one day just doesn't pay.

Thanks for your advise. In fact I cannot stay in New York, so I have decided to travel by train. PLease advise how long it will take, and how to find a train station?????
Thanks

I do a daytrip from the DC area to NYC every year for a day session at the US Open -- its definitely do-able. The train (regular Amtrak and not Acela) takes about 2.5 hours, and you don't have to get to the train station hours before, like you do the airport.

Go on Amtrak's website to get a station list (www.amtrak.com). I usually leave from the BWI station because it's more convenient for me, but you can get an express train from Union Station in DC.

"I cannot stay in New York, so I have decided to travel by train."

This makes no sense. The trip takes about the same amount of time by train and by bus, but the bus is much cheaper and runs more often.

Note that Callaloo's train time of 2.5 hours is based on travel from Baltimore; times from Union Station in DC take over 3 hours, except for the Acela Express, which costs literally 10 times as much as the bus.

Many, many people take day trips from Washington to Baltimore. You can leave early, say around 6 or 7 am, and be in New York at about 10 or 11. Later you can leave to return around 7 or 8 pm, and be back in DC by around 11:00. It's a long day, but if you don't have the alternative of staying overnight it is definitely worth the trip.

If you want to take the train and you are in DC, you will leave from Union Station. You can take the Metro--red line--right to the station. The train goes to New York Penn Station.

I agree people do day trips to NYC all the time. A very long day, but certainaly doable. Easily done by the train - 3.5 hours door to door. The problem with the bus, although much cheaper, is that u can easily run into traffic tie ups. Last time a friend took the bus, it took over 5 hours due to traffic.

An idea of what you'd be in for...I selected April 13th as the day of travel (it'd be more expensive without advance purchase).

Faster Acela train: Catching the 7:00am Acela express out of Washington Union Station (depending on where you're staying you'd be getting up in the neighbourhood of 5, maybe 5:30 to catch this or so) would put you in New York City around 10am. If you caught the 8:15pm out of NYC, this would get you back into DC at 11:07pm. Total cost: $310.

Slower trains: Catch the 7:25am Northeast Regional, arrive in NYC at 10:45am. Leave NYC on the Northeast Regional at 8:00pm, arrive in DC at 11:30pm. Total cost: $175.

My two cents: for whatever it is you want to do in NYC, you'll have seven, maybe eight hours max of NYC, with getting up rather early and getting to bed rather late. People DO it but it's too rushed for me; then again, perhaps I see things this way because I know NYC so well from many visits. For you, I'd only consider this if I thought this could be the only chance in my life I'd ever see NYC...Otherwise, plan a trip instead to NYC at some point when you have more time and stay a few nights, so you can really get a sense of a place that takes time to discover its charms. (I'd recommend enjoying instead for your day one of the many interesting places closer in to DC, or even in DC itself: Historic Annapolis, Old Town Alexandria, train to Baltimore, to name a few...)

The bus would be maybe 10 hours of travel at best traffic-dependent with maybe 4 hours in NYC, and not starting at where you'd want to visit. That would not be worth it, in my opinion, under any circumstances, although some may disagree.

Best wishes and have fun whatever you decide! Daniel

My daughter took the Bolt bus from DC to NYC this past weekend; she arrived in NYC on schedule and back in DC ahead of schedule. And the bus arrived/departed from 33rd St and 7th Ave, just a couple of blocks from the train station, so I'm not sure why you'd say, "not starting at where you'd want to visit." Round-trip fare, about $40.

I agree with all of the above posters.

To travel to NYC from DC and back in one day will leave you poorer and exhausted.

If all you want to do is say that you have been to NYC, just lie about it... It's a lot cheaper and less exhausting that way. (Of course, you could just rent "Taxi Driver" to see what you are missing.)

:)

"Not starting at where you'd want to visit"...let's say one wanted to go to the Guggenheim, Little Italy or the Statue of Liberty.. 33rd St. and 7th Ave. these are not. All I'm saying is (for both the bus and the train) once there, it will likely take some time to get to what it is one wishes to see.

Oh, since the "not starting..." comment was part of the comments about buses, I thought you were including it as one of the disadvantages of bus relative to train, whereas they both put the OP in midtown. Since her DC posts indicate she wants to go shopping, perhaps being near the Macy's mothership will be just right.

You guys have forgotten one thing. <b>Fly</b>.

I see fares for as low as US$149 all-in on some days USAirways DCA-LGA, including same day trip. 6am flight departure. Return as late as 9pm.

The outbound gets you to LGA at 6:55p. You'll have 12 hours in NYC. Cheaper than taking Acela Express and no sitting on the bus for 8+ hours.

You have to add-in the costs (in time and $) for ground transport, including a taxi to the airport in DC since the Metro doesn't start running until 5 AM, and LGA into Manhattan. And of course the hassle factor with flying is much greater than bus or train, including the risk of missing the homeward flight.

Yes, but if one can get the $149 fare, then even adding all the taxi fares, it's still cheaper than Acela Express. And one likely will need a taxi to get from hotel to Union Station in DC anyways. Yes, hassle factor is definitely higher, but one gets more time on the ground in NYC, if that's the goal.

Thanks everyone for replies.YOu were very helpful really.
In fact I do not plan this visit because I want to say to someone that I've seen NY, I have a short meeting there, and I will be free after 3pm. I have decided to travel by bus, if I leave DC at 7, and return back after 6pm, I will have 2 or more hours to spend in NY.
Please advise are the taxis safe in NY, and how much will it cost approximately to travel from Empire State Bldg to the statue of Liberty???
Also what is Little Italy??
Thanks in advance