Trains Philadelphia, PA to Washington, DC: Times, Prices and Tickets

The route from Philadelphia, PA to Washington, DC

The Philadelphia to Washington route is a popular Amtrak journey traversing 123 miles. Taking less than 2 hours, the route is serviced by both Acela and Northeast Regional trains. The former is the quickest method with fewer stops and faster speeds. Both train trips, however, are identical in terms of track, following the same Northeast Corridor line. The service terminates at Washington Union Station and is among the most convenient means of traveling within the North East.

This particular east-west journey departs from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, the city’s major rail hub. The station is located just west of Downtown Philadelphia across the John F Kennedy Boulevard Bridge. There are quick connections either way via Philadelphia’s rapid transit lines and bus network. 30th Street Station is a busy hub and the city's major rail station, offering national, regional, and commuter links. Be sure to arrive 30 minutes before your train departs. The route to Washington generally takes in the following stops:

• Philadelphia 30th Street Station
• Wilmington Station
• Baltimore Penn Station
• BWI Marshall Airport Station
• Washington Union Station

Following the Delaware River

Your train departs from Philadelphia with scenic views as you skirt Penn Park and the historic 19th-century Woodlands cemetery. You then pass quickly southwest into Philadelphia's suburbs, through Kingsessing and Elmwood Park. To your left, you'll see the scenic John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, home to beavers, otters, and minks. Your train then follows the Delaware River before crossing into Delaware state.

Your train parallels the Delaware Rivers as you head into Wilmington, the state's largest city. The city was famed for its Swedish settlers, and you can spot the delightful Old Swedes Church crossing Brandywine Creek. Look out for Wilmington's pretty Riverfront district as you skirt out of the city. From here, you’ll head straight through the Delaware countryside into Maryland. The scenery as you pass Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay is particularly tranquil.

From Baltimore to Washington

Following Maryland’s coastal scenery and leafy parkland, you soon pull into Baltimore station. Despite boasting world-class museums and scenic docks, you won't see much of the city. Your train passes through the Baltimore and Poromac Tunnel, which cuts through the central city area. Upon departing Baltimore, your train heads south past BWI Marshall Airport, one of several airports serving Washington. You pass picture-postcard suburbs and towns en route to Washington.

You reach Washington via the Anacostia River with immediate scenes of United States National Arboretum. This spacious park contains the impressive Capitol Columns, which were used in the original US Capitol building. You’ll find grand views of the city’s monuments as you pull into Washington Union Station. The station itself is placed right in the heart of the action, opening out onto Columbus Circle. It’s just a short walk both Downtown or towards Washington’s monumental Mall. You can also catch metro, rapid rail, and bus links.

Explore Washington, DC and its iconic monuments

It's hard not to be blown away by the grandeur of Washington. Home to the country's most prized public and political monuments, it also boasts unmissable museums. It's an artsy and esteemed city bursting with history, from its action-packed Mall to its leafy parks and gardens.

Capital of museums and heritage

There are over 70 museums in Washington’s 60 or so square miles. 19 of these are part of the impressive Smithsonian Institute. These include world-class national institutions on natural history, African American history, and American air & space history. What's more, these iconic museums are all free to enter, and they boast some of the finest art collections in the country. The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, and National Portrait Gallery all hold enviable acquisitions.

The Smithsonian Institute may well be the world’s largest research complex, but there are yet more museums in town. The National Gallery of Art, for instance, is among the country's top art spaces. You'll find masterworks from Money and Manet alongside stand-outs from Pollock and Bellows. Women in the arts are well represented too. The National Museum of Women in the Arts boasts celebrated classics from Kahlo and Cassatt. Washington is quite simply a maze of museums and galleries. You'll even find leafy residences like Hillwood Estate, home to an impressive decorative arts museum.

Politics, monuments and nation-building icons

It’s hard to ignore incredible sights like the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Both sit across from one another, glistening against reflective pools and drawing in gasps of awe. You can even climb to the top of the Washington Monument's obelisk for prized views across the Mall. Others besides Lincoln and Washington are memorialized here too. The Vietnam War, WW2, Martin Luther King, F.D. Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and John Paul Jones are all remembered, among others. All are surrounded by scenic, leafy trails for grand days out.

Leaving the monuments for politics, the White House commands north of the Mall. You can tour this presidential house with good pre-planning. Even if you can't catch a tour, the visitors center remains a great alternative. To the east, Capitol Hill contains a cluster of impressive, working political buildings. The Capitol Building, Supreme Court, and Library of Congress are all busy with politicos and sightseers. If you want to trace the history of American politics in detail, head to the National Archives. There, you can view original copies of the Declaration of Independence alongside the Bill of Rights and US Constitution.