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Train Tickets from Boston to New York

Amtrak runs one of America's best rail corridors between Boston and New York: no airport security, Wi-Fi and power at every seat, and arrival in midtown Manhattan. Here's exactly what it costs, how long it takes, and how to pay the least for it.

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By Sophie4 min readPublished
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South Station in Boston
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin · CC BY 2.0

In Brief

How do you take the train from Boston to New York?

Amtrak runs 10-14 daily trains from Boston South Station and Back Bay to Moynihan Train Hall at New York Penn Station. The Northeast Regional takes about 4 to 4.5 hours with fares typically $29-95; the faster Acela takes about 3.5 hours and typically costs $110-290. Book 2-3 weeks ahead for the lowest fares.

Key takeaways

  • Cheapest reliable fare: Northeast Regional booked 2-4 weeks out - often $29-49 one-way.
  • Fastest option: Acela, roughly 30-45 minutes quicker, with wider business-class seats.
  • Both arrive at Penn Station/Moynihan Train Hall - in midtown Manhattan, no airport transfer needed.
  • Trains fill up on Friday and Sunday evenings and around holidays - those days, book early.
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Every way to get from Boston to New York

Two Amtrak services run this corridor, and it's worth knowing which one you're buying. For context, here's how they stack up against the bus and flying:

  • Amtrak Northeast Regional

    Our pick

    Amtrak

    Duration
    3 h 55 min – 4 h 30 min
    Typical price
    $29–95
    Frequency
    ~9–10 departures/day

    The value pick. All-reserved coach seating, free Wi-Fi, power at every seat, café car and a quiet car. Advance fares regularly drop to $29-39 midweek.

  • Amtrak Acela

    Amtrak

    Duration
    3 h 30 min – 3 h 50 min
    Typical price
    $110–290
    Frequency
    Roughly hourly on weekdays

    America's only high-speed service. Business and First class only, wider seats, and it holds up best when the corridor is busy. Worth it on expenses; rarely worth 3x the Regional fare on your own dime.

  • Intercity bus

    FlixBus/Greyhound, Peter Pan, Megabus, OurBus

    Duration
    4 h 15 min – 5 h+
    Typical price
    $10–45
    Frequency
    Departures every 30–60 min at peak

    Cheaper but hostage to I-95 traffic - Friday afternoons regularly add an hour. See our full Boston to New York bus guide for operators and terminals.

  • Flying (BOS → LGA/JFK/EWR)

    Delta, JetBlue, American, United

    Duration
    ~1 h 20 min in the air; 3.5–4 h door-to-door
    Typical price
    $60–250
    Frequency
    Shuttle flights roughly hourly

    Once you add getting to Logan, security and the transfer from a New York airport into Manhattan, flying rarely beats the train on total time - and never on hassle.

How to book, step by step

  1. Pick your Boston station

    South Station (downtown, most connections), Back Bay (Copley/Fenway side) or Route 128 (park-and-ride south of the city). All trains call at South Station and Back Bay.

  2. Book 2-3 weeks ahead

    Amtrak prices rise as seats sell. The $29-49 Northeast Regional buckets go first on Friday, Sunday and holiday trains. Tuesday to Thursday departures stay cheap longest.

  3. Choose Regional vs Acela

    Save the Acela premium unless the schedule fits perfectly or someone else is paying - the Regional is only ~30-45 minutes slower over the full run.

  4. Board and ride

    No security lines - arrive 15-20 minutes early. Seats are reserved but unassigned in coach; boarding at South Station starts ~10 minutes before departure. You arrive at Moynihan Train Hall, on the 8th Avenue side of Penn Station.

Insider tips

  • Sit on the left side heading to New York - the Northeast Corridor hugs the Connecticut shoreline and Long Island Sound for long stretches.
  • The quiet car (usually adjacent to business class) is enforced and genuinely quiet - the best free upgrade on the train.
  • Amtrak allows two carry-ons plus two personal items free, with no weigh-in culture - a real advantage over the airlines for heavy packers.
  • Thanksgiving week, Christmas week and summer Fridays sell out days in advance - book those the moment plans firm up.
  • A same-day round trip works: the earliest departures land you in Manhattan by ~10:00 with an 8-9 hour day before the last trains back.

Boston to New York: FAQ

The questions travelers ask most about this route.

The Amtrak Northeast Regional takes about 4 to 4.5 hours; the high-speed Acela takes about 3.5 hours. Both run from Boston South Station and Back Bay to Moynihan Train Hall at New York Penn Station, with no security lines at either end.

Northeast Regional fares typically run $29-95 one-way depending on how far ahead you book and the day of travel - midweek advance fares are regularly $29-49. Acela typically costs $110-290. Prices rise as each fare bucket sells out, so booking 2-3 weeks ahead matters more than any promo code.

For most travelers, no. The Acela saves roughly 30-45 minutes and offers wider business-class seating, but usually costs two to three times the Regional fare. Both have Wi-Fi, power outlets and a café car. It's worth it when the schedule fits or an employer is paying.

In Boston: South Station (downtown) and Back Bay, plus Route 128 for suburban park-and-ride. In New York: Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, at 31st St and 8th Avenue in midtown Manhattan - a subway ride or short cab from most of the city.

Yes - regularly on Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings, and around Thanksgiving, Christmas and summer holiday weekends. On those days the cheap fare buckets disappear first and entire trains can sell out. Midweek trains almost never sell out.

Yes: two carry-on bags (up to ~50 lb each) plus two personal items ride free, stored on overhead racks or luggage towers at the car ends. There's no bag check on most Northeast Corridor trains, but also no enforcement theater - it's far more relaxed than flying.

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