Amtrak RoutesCarolinian

Amtrak Carolinian Route Guide

3.3kviews
Grounded Life Travel is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. List of everything we use in our travels.

The Amtrak Carolinian will take you from New York to Charlotte, North Carolina. This particular route offers a unique experience from the big city to the charming south of the East coast. You will encounter the same station stops as the Crescent from New York to Charlotte, if you need to arrive an hour faster you may be better off taking the Crescent.

The Carolinian will take you from New York to Charoltte via Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Richmond and Raleigh.

Train Info

WifiYes
Observation Car No
Dining CarNo
CafeYes
Distance704 Miles
Time13 Hours

Ticket Options

On the Carolinian you can purchase tickets in these categories (sample summer fares for 2 people):

  • Coach ($225)
  • Business ($366)

Scenic Views

The Carolinian train route offers spectacular views of the big city as you leave New York and will take you to some great cities along the east coast as you make your way into the charming south. This is not an overnight train so you will see most of the views with daylight as you arrive into Charlotte or you can see the sunset as you arrive in New York City if you ride from Charlotte to the north.

New York City

Major Stations

The Amtrak Carolinian visits the major stations of New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Richmond, Raleigh and Charlotte.

States Visited

The Amtrak Carolinian travels through several states starting in New York, then on to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington D.C., Virginia and North Carolina.

Station Reviews

The Carolinian has terminus stations of New York City on one end and Charlotte on the other. Moynihan Train Hall is a tourist attraction as well as very busy inter modal station. You will want to arrive a bit early to tour the station. There are plenty of options for food and shops if you need anything while you are waiting. It has a baggage check and Metropolitan Lounge. Charlotte Station is a basic station. It offers free baggage service as well as a few other amenities. It offers a comfortable place to wait for your train.

Penn Station – Moynihan Train Hall

You will board your Amtrak train in Moynihan Train Hall in New York. It’s a gorgeous hall with 92 ft high skylights and modern amenities. It is a world class station. You will find restaurants as well as convenience stores.

There are lots of options for hotels near this station. The closest option is the Fairfield Inn & Suites Penn Station.

Charlotte Station

Charlotte Station is located near downtown Charlotte. It is close to many attractions in the area. There are a few services available at this station, like free baggage check. You can grab a few snacks from nearby shops before boarding your train. There is no Metropolitan Lounge at this station.

There are no hotels within walking distance of the Charlotte Station, so take your pick from one of the many in the city center and use other transportation to get there.

Trip Planning

The Carolinian can be paired with several other trains for a longer vacation. You can jump on any train leaving New York City, of which our favorite is the Lake Shore Limited.

Booking Tickets

Tickets for Amtrak can be booked at Amtrak.com or by using their app on your phone. Reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Allie Marmion
Allie is married to Rob and has been traveling with him across the world for the last two years. She is an accomplished personal trainer, speaker and author.