By Shawn Gallagher
New York City and Boston both lie along the northeast corridor, and a ton of travel is done between the two cities. This also means that there are several different travel options you can choose from. Aside from driving, the main methods of transportation are train, bus, and plane. Let’s go over the pros and cons of each.
Train (Amtrak)
The most common, and arguably the most popular option is Amtrak. The fastest service takes around 3 and a half hours, and other trips can take around 4 hours.
There are two different types of service: the Acela Express and the Northeast Regional. The Acela offers faster service and a little more of a premium experience for a higher price tag, whereas the Northeast Regional makes more stops along the way but is generally cheaper instead.
Some of the benefits of Amtrak is how easy it is to board the train and the ability to stand up during the trip. Hanging out at the cafe car is common. The train also goes to the city center at both New York (Penn Station) and Boston (South Station), which is very convenient. It can also be a cheap option if you’re booking in advance. Buying tickets a few months out can get you Acela fares for around $70, and the Northeast Regional for around $35.
The trains are reliable as well. Amtrak can run through most inclement weather, and they get priority along the whole route as they own all the tracks.
Conversely, a minus about taking Amtrak is that prices can get very expensive if you’re booking last minute. This is because Amtrak fares are just like airlines where prices change based on demand. You can regularly see tickets over $150 one way just for coach class on the Northeast Regional if you need to travel immediately.
Read my experience in business class on the Acela here.
Bus
Ah, yes. The bus. It’s almost like we only ever hear negative stories about bus travel. It’s not all bad news though. It’s still a great option for many people and like all the other means of travel, it has its pros and cons.
The bus is by far the cheapest way to go. You can regularly find fares as low as $29. Even if you need to book last minute, you’ll still often find tickets for around $50. In my opinion, the bus is worth it when you have to travel immediately, but don’t want to pay over $200 for an Amtrak ticket.
Tickets are easy to purchase, and the buses go to the city center, just like the train. Most buses operate out of Port Authority, except for FlixBus which mainly operates out of a lot on 8th Ave.
The biggest negative about the bus is how common delays are due to traffic. New York City traffic can especially be bad (Boston is not much better), as I’ve had experiences where it would take an entire hour just to get in or out of the city. I had another time when my bus took over 5 and a half hours to get from Boston to New York, when it was scheduled to take a little over 4 hours.
This can turn things into an unpleasant ride, especially on the tight bus seats.
Flying
Flying is another option. Unlike most other routes in the US, air travel doesn’t dominate between NYC and Boston. However, it’s still a major option with lots of flights every day.
The good part about flying is how short the flight is. It’s about a 45 minute flight, which will for sure be one of the shortest flights you’d ever fly. You also can potentially get a good deal by using frequent flyer miles for a last minute trip.
Read here about my experience flying First class on American Airlines from Boston to New York JFK.
However, there are several drawbacks to flying. First, the New York airports are usually not near your origin/final destination. Although the short flight is nice, it takes time and money to get to the city center (if you’re originating in Queens though, it’s probably better to fly).
It also takes time to go through security, and taxi to and from the runway. Although the price and total time are similar to the train, flying will take more energy.
Bottom Line
The luxury of traveling between New York and Boston is the amount of transit options you have, and how you get to make a decision depending on your needs and priorities. Amtrak is generally the best option for most people, but the bus and flying can also make sense in certain situations. It’s all about understanding what each choice brings.
All photos taken by the author.