Transportation

Train Travel

Downtown-to-downtown travel with no security lines and real luggage allowance. Excellent under 400 miles, slow beyond it.

Updated August 2026 by The Modern Rutter Editorial

At a glance

What train travel actually costs you

Providers

Editorial picks for this mode, based on published pricing and terms.

Best Train Travel Option

8.5/ 5

On corridors under about 400 miles, Amtrak lands you downtown with no security theater, no parking, and a seat you can actually work from.

Best for: Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific corridor trips where the station is near where you are going
Watch out: Long-haul routes outside the busy corridors are slow and vulnerable to freight delays.

Corridor fares typically $29 to $120 one way; Acela and sleeper cars cost far more.

Compare

Comparison

For a 300 mile corridor trip between two downtowns, here is how the two options actually compare.

Comparison

Two brands with overlapping operations and meaningfully different pricing. Here is when each one wins.