How to Get to Washington from NYC

Washington DC is the capital of the United States and therefore a city that will complete your trip to New York perfectly. There you will find mythical and world-famous buildings such as the White House, the Pentagon and the Capitol, which are definitely worth a visit.

If you're in New York, it's a perfect getaway. Although it's almost 400 kilometres away, it's perfectly possible to visit by train, bus and plane.

But the option I recommend the most is to join one of the organised tours to Washington from New York, which can be one, two or even four days. This way you'll be assured of transportation without having to worry about scheduling public transport.

Spending one or several days in Washington DC is an ideal travel option if you are in New York. With an organised tour you'll have everything taken care of and all you'll have to worry about is enjoying yourself. The tour can be a round trip in one day, or you can choose a longer tour, which will also take you to other sites such as Philadelphia. And, of course, you'll be able to visit places of interest such as: the White House, the Capitol, Arlington Cemetery, the Air and Space Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam and Korean Veterans Memorial, among others.

What transport is like on the organised tours

Transport between New York and Washington on organised tours is usually by private bus or minibus, depending on the number of travellers. The departure point is usually a central location in Manhattan, although many tour operators offer various pick-up points around the city so that getting there is not a problem. As for the time of day, they usually leave early in the morning to make the most of the day.

Prices of organised tours

For a little over 70 € in Hellotickets you have the cost of the tour covered, which includes not only private transport to and from New York but also a guided tour of the city with an expert guide. This is, without a doubt, the most efficient option if you want to get to know Washington in a short time and with a professional guide. Plus, you'll cover some distances on the same bus during the tour, so you won't have to organise different journeys on Washington's public transport.

You can see the capital of the United States by bus from New York. It's the cheapest way to get to Washington, with tickets costing between €18 and €50*, depending on the company, the direct route and the departure and return times. Of course, the earlier you buy your tickets the better, as this will also reduce the price.

*Fares are estimates and vary according to timetable and type of ticket.

Bus companies operating this route

The most popular bus companies operating the New York - Washington route are:

• Greyhound: between 33 € and 62 €.
• Flixbus: between 14 € and 22 €.
• Megabus: between €22 and €35.

Starting point: the bus station

All lines depart from around Penn Station or the Hudson Yards neighbourhood and run 24 hours a day. So you'll have no trouble getting there and back, even in the wee hours of the morning.

As you'd expect, buses in the US have plenty of amenities, including seating, WiFi, on-board food and more.

Arrival in Washington, DC

When you arrive in Washington, DC, buses will drop you off within a 15/20 minute walk of the Capitol. Megabus and Greyhound arrive at Union Station, while Flixbus stops on a busy downtown corner at 550 New York Avenue, very close to the station itself. So as soon as you arrive, it's easy to start your sightseeing tour.

Travelling by train from New York to Washington DC will save you some time compared to the bus, between half an hour and an hour. However, the cost of the ticket is more expensive and ranges from 35 € to 173 €, depending on the timetable and the class of carriage you choose.

Starting point

It's easy to organise your journey, departing from Penn Station in New York and arriving at Union Station in Washington DC.

Train fares

You can check timetables and prices on the official website of Amtrak, the train company that runs this route, although as I said, the minimum is £35 per ticket each way.

The plane is always (or usually is) the best option when it comes to saving time. If you choose to fly from NYC to Washington DC, you can do so in about an hour.

However, be aware that transfers to and from airports can be counterproductive and less cost-effective than taking a bus or train in such large cities.

Flight prices

In terms of price, an average return flight can cost around €130. As with all airline tickets, the earlier you buy the ticket the better. I recommend checking the price on search engines such as Skyscanner or on the American Airlines website, which has the most frequent flights on this route.

This is not the fastest option, nor perhaps the cheapest, but it can be the most convenient if you are travelling with family (especially children) or a group of friends. Because you can make the trip at your own pace.