New York to Philadelphia: Amtrak, the Budget Transit Combo or the Bus

New York to Philadelphia takes about 1 hour 25 minutes on the Amtrak Northeast Regional and about 1h10 on the faster Acela, running from Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station to Philadelphia 30th Street Station, both downtown. Departures are frequent all day. A budget NJ Transit to Trenton then SEPTA combo takes around 2h30 for a fraction of the fare, and FlixBus, Megabus and Greyhound coaches take about 2 hours. Here is how the times and fares compare.

Continuing south to the capital? Read our New York to Washington DC train guide.

Fastest	Acela, about 1h10
Frequency	Very frequent Amtrak departures all day
Cheapest	A coach, or the NJ Transit and SEPTA combo via Trenton
Route	Penn Station (Moynihan) to 30th Street Station, about 150 km

Mode	Operator	Duration	Approx fare	Overnight
Train	Amtrak Northeast Regional The standard service, Penn Station (Moynihan) to 30th Street Station, very frequent. WiFi and power sockets. Book ahead for saver fares.	about 1h25	from USD 25 advance	No	Check on 12Go →
Train	Amtrak Acela Fastest with fewer stops, Business and First class only, so fares run higher. Frequent through the day.	about 1h10	from USD 60 (Acela)	No	Check on 12Go →
Train	NJ Transit + SEPTA (via Trenton) The budget combo: NJ Transit to Trenton, then SEPTA Trenton Line into Philadelphia. Slower with a change at Trenton, but by far the cheapest rail option.	about 2h30	from USD 20	No	Check on 12Go →
Bus	FlixBus / Megabus / Greyhound Cheapest overall, frequent daily departures from Midtown, subject to traffic on the approach to each city.	about 2 hours	from USD 12	No	Check on 12Go →

Fares are approximate and shown for comparison. Confirm live prices and times on 12Go before booking.

Activities load from Viator. Booking opens on Viator, and we may earn a commission.

How long is the train from New York to Philadelphia?

About 1 hour 25 minutes on the Amtrak Northeast Regional and about 1h10 on the faster Acela, both running Penn Station (Moynihan) to Philadelphia 30th Street Station, city centre to city centre.

How much does the train from New York to Philadelphia cost?

Northeast Regional advance fares start from about USD 25, with the Acela higher from around USD 60. The cheapest rail option is the NJ Transit to Trenton then SEPTA combo, from about USD 20, though it takes longer.

Is there a direct train from New York to Philadelphia?

Yes. Both the Northeast Regional and the Acela run direct with no change, Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station to 30th Street Station, very frequently through the day.

What is the best way to get from New York to Philadelphia?

The Amtrak Northeast Regional is the best all-round option: downtown to downtown in about 1h25 and very frequent. Use the NJ Transit and SEPTA combo or a coach if you want the lowest fare and do not mind the extra time.

What is the cheapest way from New York to Philadelphia?

A FlixBus, Megabus or Greyhound coach from about USD 12, or the NJ Transit to Trenton then SEPTA rail combo from about USD 20, both cheaper than an Amtrak ticket but slower at around 2 to 2h30.

Hotel options and prices come from Agoda and update at booking time; sample data shown if live pricing is unavailable. Transport fares are estimates, confirmed on 12Go.