Last reviewed: · Prices in US Dollars ($ USD) are approximate and for orientation only.
Route at a glance
Ride Amtrak's electrified spine from Boston's Freedom Trail through Manhattan's Art Deco skyline and Philadelphia's Independence Hall to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Estimated per-person budget ($2,150 – $3,650) covers mid-range hotels, intercity transport, timed attraction or national park passes ($80 America the Beautiful Pass), and daily dining including state sales tax and tip.
Day-by-day plan
Boston Arrival, Beacon Hill & Boston Public Garden
Ride the free MBTA Silver Line SL1 from Logan Airport to South Station, stroll gaslit Beacon Hill and Acorn Street, and dine on clam chowder and lobster rolls in Back Bay.
The 2.5-Mile Freedom Trail, North End & Harvard Yard
Follow the red-brick Freedom Trail from Boston Common to Paul Revere's House and Old North Church, grab a cannoli in the North End, and take the Red Line to Harvard Square.
Amtrak to New York Penn Station (3h45 Acela): Midtown & Top of the Rock
Board a morning Amtrak train along the Connecticut shoreline into Moynihan Train Hall. Walk Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Terminal, and watch sunset from Top of the Rock.
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Wall Street & Brooklyn Bridge
Take the morning ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island, explore the 9/11 Memorial and Wall Street, and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO for coal-oven pizza.
Central Park, The Met Museum & Broadway Musical
Spend the morning inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park's Bethesda Terrace before a Broadway curtain in the Theater District.
High Line, Chelsea Market, Greenwich Village & SoHo
Walk the elevated High Line park from Hudson Yards to the West Village brownstones, Washington Square Park, and Lower East Side delis.
Amtrak to Philadelphia (1h20): Independence Hall, Liberty Bell & Reading Terminal
Take a morning Amtrak train to Philadelphia 30th Street Station. Tour Independence Hall (UNESCO), see the Liberty Bell, and eat roast pork and cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market.
Amtrak to Washington, D.C. (1h50): Capitol Hill & Monument Night Walk
Arrive at D.C. Union Station, tour the U.S. Capitol and gilded Library of Congress, and walk the illuminated Lincoln, WWII, and Washington Monuments after dusk.
Smithsonian National Air & Space, Natural History & National Gallery of Art
Explore the world's finest free museum complex along the National Mall, then dine at The Wharf or Penn Quarter.
Arlington National Cemetery, Georgetown Canal & Departure (DCA/IAD)
Cross the Potomac to Arlington or stroll Georgetown's 18th-century Federal rowhouses before riding the Metro straight to Reagan National (DCA) or Dulles (IAD).
Transport, driving & pass notes
Designed for car-free high-speed amtrak acela & northeast regional route travel. Compare train, flight, and road-trip costs in USD ($) using our Amtrak & Rail Pass Calculator, $80 National Parks Pass Calculator, and US Trip Budget Calculator.
What to book ahead
- Apply for your $21 ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before departure (or verify visa validity).
- Book Amtrak Acela / Northeast Regional tickets or rental cars 4–8 weeks ahead for the lowest USD ($) rates.
- Reserve timed-entry slots for high-demand sights (Statue of Liberty Crown/Pedestal, Alcatraz, Capitol/White House tours, or Recreation.gov park entries) 30–90 days out.
Ways to adapt this route
- Add 1–2 buffer days if traveling during summer peak or Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday weeks.
- Use our interactive Itinerary Builder to customize stops and print your day-by-day plan.