Amtrak operates the Crescent, a daily long-distance passenger train between New York City and New Orleans (“Crescent City”). The 1,377-mile (2,216-kilometer) route connects the Northeast and Gulf Coast via the Appalachian Piedmont, with major stops in Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Birmingham, Alabama.
The majority of the Crescent’s route is on the Norfolk Southern Railway. It is the successor to the Southern Crescent, which was first introduced in 1970 by Norfolk Southern’s predecessor, the Southern Railway.
Route and Schedule
Unwind and watch the country roll by as you travel the Crescent route. This scenic journey stretches from New Orleans in the heart of the South all the way up to the bustling metropolis of New York City on the East Coast. Along the way, the Crescent makes stops in several major cities, including:
- New York City, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Washington D.C.
- Charlotte, NC
- Atlanta, GA
- Birmingham, AL
Finding the latest schedule and planning your trip is a breeze!
Schedule Highlights
- Every day, one train travels in each direction.
- Trains leave from New Orleans in the morning.
- Trains leave from New York City in the afternoon.
- Trains to New Orleans depart Atlanta in the morning.
- Trains to Washington, D.C., and New York City depart Atlanta late at night.
- Northbound trains arrive in the Carolinas in the middle of the night.
- Charlotte’s arrival and departure times are not ideal (middle of the night and very early morning).
Head over to the official Amtrak website for the most up-to-date train schedules and fare information.
can also download the user-friendly Amtrak mobile app to manage your trip on the go – purchase tickets, check schedules, and receive real-time updates.
Travel Times
- The travel time between Atlanta and New Orleans is 13 hours.
- The trip between Atlanta and Birmingham takes about 4.5 hours.
- The travel time between Washington, D.C. and New Orleans is 27.5 hours.
- The travel time between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta is approximately 14 hours.
Booking and Ticketing
Ticketing Options
Embarking on a journey with the Amtrak Crescent Train offers you the flexibility to book your tickets through various convenient channels:
- Online: Secure your seat with ease by visiting the Amtrak website or using the Amtrak mobile app.
- Phone: Speak directly with a customer service representative by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL for personalized assistance.
- Station: Purchase your tickets in person at any staffed Amtrak station for a more traditional booking experience.
Classes of Service
The Amtrak Crescent Train provides a range of classes to cater to different preferences and needs:
- Coach Class: The economical choice, featuring comfortable reclining seats, ample legroom, and access to the café car.
- Roomettes: Ideal for solo travelers or couples, offering private sleeping compartments with two fold-down beds, climate control, and a dedicated attendant.
- Bedrooms: Spacious and private, these rooms include a sofa and armchair during the day, converting to beds at night, with an en-suite sink, toilet, and shower.
- Bedroom Suites: Perfect for larger groups or families, combining two-bedroom units with a connecting door, providing double the space and amenities.
Fares and Discounts
Traveling with Amtrak Crescent Train is not only convenient but also affordable, thanks to a variety of fares and discounts:
- Standard Fares: Competitively priced tickets based on travel class, distance, and availability.
- Senior Discounts: Passengers aged 65+ enjoy reduced fares on most Amtrak trains.
- AAA Discounts: Members of the American Automobile Association can avail themselves of discounts on rail fares.
- Military Discounts: Active-duty US military personnel, their spouses, and dependents can benefit from discounted fares.
- Additional Savings: Keep an eye out for seasonal promotions, 2-for-1 deals, and other special offers that Amtrak frequently runs.
For the most current fare information and to take advantage of any discounts, visit the Amtrak Deals page.
Experience Onboard
Traveling on the Amtrak Crescent train isn’t just about getting to your destination. It’s about enjoying the journey. What you can expect in terms of amenities, pet policy, and accessible travel options:
Amenities Offered On Board
WiFi:
Amtrak provides basic WiFi service in select stations and trains across the country to ensure passengers stay connected. There are two types of WiFi: Amtrak WiFi, which is free and supports general web browsing activities, and Amtrak WiFi, which is limited due to bandwidth limitations, and does not support high-bandwidth actions like streaming music, and video, or downloading large files.
Dining Car:
Flexible meal service is an exclusive and complimentary product for private room clients aboard the Capitol Limited, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, and Texas Eagle.
- A menu of hot, ready-to-serve options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- A large range of wine, beer, and spirits (the first is on us during dinner), as well as unlimited soft drinks throughout the voyage
- Exclusive aboard lounge for dining and socializing.
- Your attendant provides complimentary room service.
- Flexible dining hours without the need for reservations.
Checked Baggage Service:
You can check your luggage for free. We provide checked baggage service at several stations, as well as on numerous trains and Thruway Services. This service is only available to ticketed passengers whose origin and destination stations accept checked baggage. Not all trains or stations are equipped to handle checked baggage. When planning your trip, make sure to check the availability of checked baggage at your station(s).
2 Bags – 50 lbs. — 75 Linear Inches*
2 Additional Bags — $20 Each
Oversize Baggage (76 – 100 Linear Inches) — $20 Each
- Your luggage must be checked before your planned train departure. Check-in times differ by station, please refer to the station detail page for the stations served by your train for particular timings.
- Make sure each of your luggage has a tag with your name and address on the exterior.
- If checked baggage is not available on the train/bus in your schedule, it may be accepted on another train/bus headed for the same destination (except guns). Advance check-in is advised.
- To avoid delays, en-route transfers between stations must include at least two hours of specified stopover time.
Pet Policy
Bring your little dog or cat for a modest cost.
Dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (combined weight of pet and carrier) are permitted on most routes for travels of up to seven hours (certain limitations apply*). Their check-in process is straightforward, making traveling with your four-legged companion easy and fun.
Only dogs and cats can travel as pets. Pet travel in Canada is not offered on the Adirondack, Maple Leaf, or Amtrak Cascades; it is also not available on the Auto Train, San Joaquins, or Thruway Connecting Services.
Accommodations
Coach Class Seat
Coach Class is the regular seating on Amtrak Crescent. It has comfortable seats with lots of legroom and no middle seat. You can eat or read at your seat and there are bathrooms in every car. If you’re a member of Amtrak Guest Rewards, you earn points for traveling in Coach Class.
Viewliner Roomette
For consumers seeking both privacy and savings in First Class, Roomettes offers:
- Two comfortable seats by day, changed into upper and lower beds by night.
- Recently renovated bedding, pillows, towels, and linens
- Access to a restroom and shower in your vehicle.
- A dedicated first-class attendant
- Complimentary Lounge access
- Priority Boarding
- Complimentary food.
Viewliner Bedroom
For passengers seeking plenty of luxury and room in First Class, Bedrooms include:
- 2 times the space of a roomette
- Upgraded bedding, pillows, towels, and linens change the sofa and chair into upper and lower beds at night.
- In-room sink, toilet, and shower
- A dedicated first-class attendant
- Complimentary Lounge access
- Priority Boarding
- Complimentary meals.
Once you’ve booked, your room number will be automatically assigned. Your ticket will include your exact car and room number. Upon arrival, your First Class attendant will direct you to your room.
Viewliner Bedroom Suite
For customers seeking the ultimate First Class experience, Bedroom Suites combine two adjoining bedrooms and include:
- 2 times the space of a bedroom.
- The room features upgraded bedding, pillows, towels, and linens, as well as two sofas and chairs during the day that convert to upper and lower beds at night.
- Two in-room sinks, restrooms, and showers.
- A dedicated first-class attendant
- Complimentary Lounge access
- Priority Boarding
- Complimentary meals.
Viewliner Accessible Bedroom
Accessible Bedrooms are located on the train’s entry-level and provide ample space for wheelchairs. Each room contains:
- Seating during the day transformed into upper and lower beds at night.
- On single-level Viewliner trains: an in-room restroom with sink, toilet, and shower.
- On bi-level Superliner trains: in-room restroom with sink and toilet, access to a private shower in your car.
- Recently upgraded bedding, pillows, towels, and linens
- A dedicated first-class attendant
- Complimentary Lounge access
- Priority Boarding
- Complimentary meals, including room service.
Trainside Checked Bicycle
Part of the appeal of a train journey is the opportunity to explore the stops along the way, and what better way to do so than by bike? If you want to ride our rails with your bike, we provide a variety of services to transport it onboard. Each train has unique equipment and loading procedures that determine what services will be provided.
What’s Allowed?
Carry-On/Trainside: Bicycles and folding scooters up to 50 lbs. Standard bicycle sizes apply. Maximum tire width: 2″
Checked: Bicycles up to 50 lbs. and 70″ x 41″ x 8.5″ and non-folding scooters
Amtrak’s commitment to a comfortable and accessible travel experience ensures that all passengers can enjoy the scenic beauty and convenience of the Crescent Train. Whether you’re browsing the web, dining in style, or traveling with a companion, Amtrak has you covered.
Major Stops and Stations
Popular Stops
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- Wilmington
- Baltimore
- Washington D.C.
- Alexandria
- Charlottesville
- Atlanta
- Birmingham
- Hattiesburg
- Laurel
- New Orleans
Stations
- New York, NY – Moynihan Train Hall (NYP)
- Newark, NJ – Penn Station (NWK)
- Trenton, NJ (TRE)
- Philadelphia, PA – William H. Gray III 30th St. Station (PHL)
- Wilmington, DE (WIL)
- Baltimore, MD – Penn Station (BAL)
- Washington, DC – Union Station (WAS)
- Alexandria, VA (ALX)
- Manassas, VA (MSS)
- Culpeper, VA (CLP)
- Charlottesville, VA (CVS)
- Lynchburg, VA (LYH)
- Danville, VA (DAN)
- Greensboro, NC (GRO)
- High Point, NC (HPT)
- Salisbury, NC (SAL)
- Charlotte, NC (CLT)
- Gastonia, NC (GAS)
- Spartanburg, SC (SPB)
- Greenville, SC (GRV)
- Clemson, SC (CSN)
- Toccoa, GA (TCA)
- Gainesville, GA (GNS)
- Atlanta, GA (ATL)
- Anniston, AL (ATN)
- Birmingham, AL (BHM)
- Tuscaloosa, AL (TCL)
- Meridian, MS – Union Station (MEI)
- Laurel, MS (LAU)
- Hattiesburg, MS (HBG)
- Picayune, MS (PIC)
Tips for Riding the Crescent
- The total trip time is 30 hours, assuming no delays.
- Transfer to the Sunset Limited and City of New Orleans trains in New Orleans.
- Transfer to the Cardinal in Alexandria or Washington, DC, to travel through the New River Gorge.
- Passengers who book sleeping accommodations can enjoy WiFi, a lounge, a café car, viewliner sleeper cars, and flexible dining options on trains.
Amtrak Crescent Train Cost
The cost of an Amtrak ticket varies depending on the kind of ticket, the distance traveled, the time of year, and how early you book. Coach seats are the most economical option, followed by roomettes and bedrooms. Note that if you plan to visit for Mardi Gras or the New Orleans Jazz Festival, ticket costs for roomettes and bedrooms are often substantially higher than usual, and you should buy your tickets well in advance to save money.
Here are the expected Crescent ticket costs for the full route (based on 2024 prices):
- Coach Seat: $140-$210, reflecting a modest increase to account for inflation and operational costs.
- Roomette: $470-$830, offering a private, cozy space for up to two travelers.
- Bedroom: Starting from $1,050, providing a larger private area with a bed and, in some cases, an en-suite bathroom.
Amtrak Crescent Train Guide & FAQs
Do Amtrak Crescent trains have WiFi?
Yes, Amtrak Crescent trains have Wi-Fi. However, some trains may not have Wi-Fi, and connections may be spotty in remote areas. In any case, it’s a good idea to bring a book or download a movie. Wi-Fi is great for browsing the web, reading emails, and chatting with friends, but it may not be reliable for streaming your favorite shows.
Can I charge my phone or computer on the train?
Yes, Amtrak Crescent trains usually have places to plug in. You can find them near your seat. Be sure to check with your neighbor if they need to charge as well. You can use these locations for both regular plugs and USB chargers. But sometimes, older trains don’t have them. So, if you have a long trip, it’s a good idea to bring a battery pack to keep your phone charged.
What is Amtrak Crescent’s schedule?
The Amtrak Crescent typically runs 306 times per day. But the exact times may vary depending on when you travel and where you are going. You can find the exact schedule on this page by searching for your trip.
Can I buy tickets at the train station?
No, you can’t buy tickets at the station for Amtrak Crescent. You need to buy them online before you get there.
Do you need an ID to get on the train?
Yes, you need to show a government ID to the person checking tickets before you board the Amtrak Crescent.
Are there bathrooms on Amtrak Crescent trains?
Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak Crescent. They are very convenient with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Most do not have running water. Be careful when using the bathroom on a moving train.
Are meals or beverages available on Crescent train?
Yes, you can buy snacks on the Amtrak Crescent. Make sure you have some money with you.
Do you have to print your Amtrak Crescent ticket?
No, you don’t need to print your Amtrak Crescent ticket. You can just show it on your phone.
Does Amtrak Crescent offer any premium features like extra legroom or movies?
Yes, Amtrak Crescent has some seats with extra legroom. It might be different on different trains, but having extra legroom is always good.
Additional Resources
- Official Amtrak website for the Crescent train (https://www.amtrak.com/crescent-train)
- Relevant travel blogs or articles about the Crescent train experience (optional). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescent_(train)