New York and Washington DC Itinerary: 5 Days by Train
Two of America's most visited cities in one short trip, no car needed. Here is how to split the days, which tickets to buy only from official sellers, and what the trip costs.
Five days is enough to see New York City and Washington, DC: spend three days in New York, then take the train about three hours to Washington for two days on the National Mall and Capitol Hill. You do not need a car. Book Statue of Liberty ferry tickets only from Statue City Cruises, the official operator, and reserve Washington Monument tickets up to 30 days ahead.
The plan is built around walking, the subway in New York and the Metro in Washington. Most of Washington’s big museums are free, which offsets New York’s high hotel prices.
How do you get between New York and Washington?
The train is the best option: Amtrak runs from Penn Station in Manhattan to Union Station in Washington, a short walk from the Capitol. Intercity buses are cheaper but slower.
| Option | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Northeast Regional | about 3 h 15 min–3 h 45 min | Best value; fares rise as trains fill, so book early |
| Amtrak Acela | about 2 h 45 min–3 h | Faster and roomier, usually more expensive |
| Intercity bus | about 4–5 hours | Cheapest; traffic can add time |
| Car | about 225 miles, 4–5 hours | Tolls and city parking make it the worst choice |
| Flight | about 1 h 15 min in the air | Airport transfers and security make it no faster than the train |
The simplest plan is an evening train on Day 3, so you arrive in Washington ready for an early start on Day 4.
What should you do each day?
Day 1: Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty
Take an early Statue City Cruises ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island and Ellis Island; allow at least half a day. In the afternoon, visit the 9/11 Memorial plaza, which is free, and the 9/11 Museum if you have booked it. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge toward DUMBO around sunset. Base: Manhattan.
Day 2: Central Park and Midtown
Spend the morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue, then walk south through Central Park past Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge. Continue to Rockefeller Center and Times Square. For a Broadway show, book ahead or try the TKTS booth for same-day discounted seats. Base: Manhattan.
Day 3: The High Line and Greenwich Village, then the train
Walk the High Line elevated park from Hudson Yards to the Meatpacking District, eat at Chelsea Market, and explore Greenwich Village and SoHo. Take an evening train from Penn Station to Washington. Base: Washington, DC.
Day 4: The National Mall
Go up the Washington Monument with a timed ticket, then choose two Smithsonian museums, such as the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History. At dusk, walk west past the World War II Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The memorials are open around the clock and are lit at night. Base: Washington, DC.
Day 5: Capitol Hill
Take a free tour of the U.S. Capitol, booked through the Capitol Visitor Center, then cross to the Library of Congress’s Jefferson Building. See the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution at the National Archives on your way back toward the Mall. Union Station is close by for a train or the Metro to the airports.
How do you get Statue of Liberty tickets safely?
Buy from Statue City Cruises, the only ferry operator allowed to land on Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The National Park Service charges no entrance fee for the islands’ museums; the price you pay is the ferry ticket. As of November 2026, the NPS fee page lists ferry tickets at about $26 for adults, $23 for seniors and $17 for children, with pedestal and crown access sold as limited add-ons.
- Crown: the most limited ticket; book months ahead for spring and summer. The climb from the pedestal is a narrow spiral staircase with no elevator.
- Pedestal: easier to get, and gives you the inside view of the statue’s structure.
- Scams: the park warns about aggressive, unauthorized ticket sellers near the Battery. Buy in advance through the link on the Statue of Liberty fees page.
Expect airport-style security screening before boarding. America the Beautiful passes do not apply, because the ferry is a transportation fee, not an entrance fee.
Which Washington museums are free, and what needs a timed ticket?
The Smithsonian museums on the National Mall, the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives and the Library of Congress charge no admission. A few use free timed-entry passes at busy times, so check each museum’s site the week before.
| Sight | Cost | How to get in |
|---|---|---|
| Smithsonian museums on the Mall | Free | Walk in; some may require free timed passes at peak times |
| Washington Monument | Free, plus a $1 reservation fee per ticket online | Recreation.gov, released 30 days ahead at 10 a.m. Eastern; free same-day tickets at the Washington Monument Lodge from 8:45 a.m. |
| U.S. Capitol tour | Free | Book through the Capitol Visitor Center |
| National Archives | Free | Walk in; lines are shorter early |
| Lincoln and other memorials | Free | Open 24 hours |
Washington Monument tickets often sell out minutes after release in spring, summer and fall, according to the monument’s ticket page. Create your Recreation.gov account beforehand; our guide to getting Recreation.gov reservations has more tips.
When is the best time to visit New York and Washington?
April to June and September to early November are the best times, with mild weather in both cities. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold but cheaper outside the December holidays.
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Late March–early April | Cherry blossoms in Washington; very busy around peak bloom |
| May–June | Warm, long days; school groups in Washington |
| July–August | Hot and humid; summer crowds; some hotel deals in Washington |
| September–October | Comfortable weather; busy but less so than summer |
| December | Holiday lights in New York; peak hotel prices before Christmas |
| January–February | Coldest and cheapest; risk of snow delays |
If you aim for the blossoms, our Washington cherry blossom guide explains how the National Park Service predicts peak bloom.
How much does a 5-day New York and Washington trip cost?
For two people sharing a room for four nights (two in each city), plan on roughly $1,500–$2,100 on a budget, $2,900–$3,800 mid-range and $5,500 or more for comfort, excluding flights. New York hotels are the biggest cost. These are planning estimates as of November 2026.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York hotel per night | $150–$250 | $300–$450 | $500 or more |
| Washington hotel per night | $130–$220 | $250–$380 | $450 or more |
| Train for two, one way | $60–$150 (bus or early Northeast Regional) | $150–$300 | $300–$600 (Acela) |
| Food per person per day | $50–$70 | $90–$130 | $180 or more |
| Sights, transit and shows for two | $150–$250 | $400–$600 | $800 or more |
| Rough total for two | $1,500–$2,100 | $2,900–$3,800 | $5,500 or more |
Hotel taxes in both cities add noticeably to posted room rates, so compare final prices.
What if you have less or more time?
- 4 days: cut New York to two days, skipping the High Line and the Village, or do Washington as a long day trip.
- 7 days: add Philadelphia, which is on the same rail line between the two cities, and a day for Brooklyn or Arlington National Cemetery. For a longer route, see our 14-day East Coast itinerary.
Bottom line
Three days in New York and two in Washington, linked by an evening train, is the most efficient way to see both cities in five days. Buy Statue of Liberty tickets only from Statue City Cruises, reserve Washington Monument tickets 30 days ahead, and use Washington’s free museums to balance New York’s prices.
FAQ
Is the train or bus better from New York to Washington?
The train is faster and more reliable, at about three to three and three-quarter hours. Buses cost less but can take five hours or more in traffic.
Are the Smithsonian museums really free?
Yes. The Smithsonian museums on the National Mall charge no admission, although some may ask you to reserve a free timed pass at busy times.
How far ahead should you book Statue of Liberty crown tickets?
Book crown tickets as early as possible, often several months ahead for spring and summer, through Statue City Cruises. Pedestal tickets are easier to get.
Do you need a car for this trip?
No. Both cities are easier on foot and by public transit, and parking is expensive.
