Inbale

My in laws (in their 60s), my husband and his brother will be returning from DC to NYC, and are thinking of going back driving a rental car or by train.
Their trip would probably take up to 3 days (in mid-September).

If by car (which will be rented in DC and returned in NYC) – do you have any suggestions for scenic drives, small towns to stop for the night, other interesting stops along the way?

If by train - I went on the AMTRAK website and saw that they offer a USA Rail pass, which costs $389 (per adult, no discounts for senior citizens) to travel between stops for 15 days. That would make this trip a lot more expensive.
Is anyone familiar with less expensive options for board/unboard a train? If so - what stations along the way would be worth visiting?

Thank you
Inbal

tchoiniere

Just buy a train ticket from DC to Ny, should be around $50 (guessing at price) or so. No reason for the rail pass. Or if you want repeated stops, a rental car makes sense.

If you drive, I would stop in Baltimore and Philly for the tourist sites but they are not small towns though.

Inbale

I forgot to mention that they would like to do a little bit of traveling along the way, and not just travel directly to NYC.

Thnx

elberko

I agree with the train suggestion. Driving is just not pleasant in the northeast corridor,rarely scenic, unless you want to take a lot more time and go really out of the way?

~Liz

nytraveler

Trin is a better choice for getting dirctly from DC to NYC - although for so many people it wold be expensive (fares are about $100 each one way). But, if they want to make multiple stops - possibly outside of the couple of major cities the train stops in then a car is really the only way to go. They might want to consider visiting Amish country or Gettyburgh as well as philly.

yestravel

Absolutely no small towns worth visiting on the drive DC to NYC unless u take substantial detours. Iftrain tixs r bought in advance and u r not not taking the train during peak days/hours, u can get fares for $49 DC to NYC.

emalloy

For an interesting look at American History, head northwest out of DC or rt 7 to rt 9 and then to 340 to Harper's Ferry. Go to National Park visitor's center then take their bus down into town. From there, continue northeast on 340 to route 15 to Gettysburg National Battlefield. Go to the visitor's center and then drive/hike through the battlefields. From here head east to Amish country and then on to NY.

Plan on a night in the Frederick, MD area between Harper's Ferry and Gettysburgh, then a night between Gettysburgh and Amish country or in Amish country.

Inbale

Thanks so much for the advice.
My family does plan on making detours, and making this short road trip a more interesting one.

sf7307

>>

We were in Harper's Ferry recently -- it's very interesting, and very quaint --- but I wouldn't bother paying the National Park fee and stopping at the visitor's center, or using their bus into town. Just drive into town and park. There's plenty of information available without what you'd get from the visitor's center.