Amtrak Guest Rewards - Drive to Amtrak D.C. to Montreal

Hi all,
I'm debating driving vs. Amtrak from D.C. to Montreal this coming November. It's looking like Amtrak will be about $200 per person which is doable but I'm torn as to whether Amtrak is worth the time.

In order to make it at all convenient trying to go straight from D.C. to Montreal involves a 4am train) we'll take a train up to NYC after work on Thursday, spend the night in a hotel and then take the Adirondack on Friday. Returning on Monday, spend Monday night in NYC and then train back to D.C. on Tuesday.

My main concern is with time. How does it take 11 hours to train NYC to Montreal when I can drive from D.C. in 11 hours. And driving is cheaper if you just look at gas and parking alone (not counting mileage).

Basically, other than the convenience of not driving, why is the train worth it?

I've driven from DC to Burlington VT, which is a very similar trip. There are a couple of other factors to take into account in addition to those you mention. There are quite a few tolls along the way, though this depends in part on the route you choose. Days are short in November, and there is always a possibility of snow, especially as you get further north. As you may know, you also need a insurance card indicating that your insurance is valid in Canada during your trip. (You can get this at no charge by phoning your insurance company, but you need to indicate the dates you will be travelling.) I wouldn't discourage driving, but it does have drawbacks.

Its actually a pretty fun amtrak ride with some good scenary thru New York.

If you are in a rush or want to stop along the way drive, if you have the time take amtrak its a route i enjoy

Another possibility would be to fly from the DC area to Burlington VT and renting a car there. I checked a random weekend in November (not Thanksgiving), and RT flights to Montreal run around $600, depending on the airport you leave from. But RT flights from BWI to Burlington were $210 (on Continental, with a change at Newark); flights were about $30 more from Dulles and about $55 more from National. The drive north from South Burlington (where the airport is located) to the Canadian border is on Interstate 89. It's a good road, with no tolls and good scenery. The interstate is only 1-2 miles from the airport. The car rental shouldn't be too much if split a couple of ways.

I've spent quite a bit of time in the Burlington area (a total of about 6 months over the years), and I can also recommend some good restaurants there, if you wish.

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Redeeming AGR points on the WAS-MTR route would yield good value, but I don't think you would get to overnight in NYC on such a redemption.

We did this ride from Wilmington to Montreal a few years ago, then flew back. The train ride is 11 hours (at least--it is frequently late!) because it goes REALLY slowly, mainly after you get north of Albany. There is an engine change there that takes a while, and then when you hit the Canadian border the train also stops for, well, as long as it needs to stop for. (On our trip, we got the excitement of seeing the Canadian border patrol escort some hapless person off the train.)

The train ride is pleasant, and for us it was part of the fun of the trip, but doing it in both directions just seemed like a major waste of a day. The scenery in NY state is very nice. If you go in November it will be dark for about the final third of the trip, as it was when we did it in February, so you won't get to see anything out the window then anyway.

If your only other option is driving, then I'd say take the train. But my first choice would be to fly a distance that long, at least in one direction.

Basically, other than the convenience of not driving, why is the train worth it?

It's not, especially if there are two or more of you traveling. Two of you traveling by train will cost $400, plus transfers to and from the train stations, plus overnight costs in NYC if you do it that way. Two of you driving the 600-mile route will use a tank and a half of gas each way ($75 to $100) plus tolls and roadfood. It's no contest. And driving can be faster than the train schedule if you want it to be. I've made it from DC to Burlington in eight hours.

As you may know, you also need a insurance card indicating that your insurance is valid in Canada during your trip. (You can get this at no charge by phoning your insurance company, but you need to indicate the dates you will be travelling.)

I have been driving across the border for more than 30 years, on both sides of the country, and have never been asked for this document in my life. You do need a passport these days though.

A bit OT, but what the heck: an alternative would be to sign up for the Barclays US Airways Premier World MC. No fee for the first year; 40K miles for first purchase; and a 5K discount on travel rewards on US metal. That adds up to 2 free RTs (20K/person).

Yeah, you have to connect through PHL (ugh), but there are plenty of flights with decent connection times. The DW & I flew DCA-PHL-YUL last July and I had no problem finding close-in availability on multiple travel dates.

I'm sure the train ride north of Albany is pretty, but I'd take an extra half-day (x2) in Montreal snarfing down poutine & enjoying the city instead.

It is a great ride..and remember it is making more stops along the way than you would probably....

it occasionally waits for other traffic...Canadian border inspection can take forever..or not so much...

The ride is lovely....bring a lunch if you wish, and some snacks..(or buy stuff-i used to do a mix-- OT but the nastiest crew member ever was in the cafe car on the Adirondack some years ago...mumbling all the time about passengers and literally saying how long he had to retire...years, months, hours and minutes...honestly...:D:rolleyes: but i digress..)

The Gare Central in Montreal is ALSO a foodies delight! The station itself is very pretty...and there are lots of great eats!!

Have a great trip whatever you decide...

Yes, you're right: the Adirondack is not just slow and not cheap, but eats up two whole days (one in each direction). I get that it's scenic, but it's not a realistic alternative for a weekend in Montreal.

A bit OT, but what the heck: an alternative would be to sign up for the Barclays US Airways Premier World MC.

Nonstop, DCA-YUL is also 15,000 Aeroplan points; IAD-YUL is 15,000 UACO miles. Or fly B6 to BTV and drive, or take a bus (perfectly fine the one time I did that).

IAD-YUL is 15,000 UACO miles
UA (& CO) award charts say 20K r/t. What am I missing here?

I personally would drive from DC to Montreal. The train time is inconvenient as the train starts in NYP in the morning. As others have mentioned the scenery is gorgeous (I liked the winter scenery) but the train eats up a entire day. I have driven from NYC to Montreal, and the drive can be quite interesting if you stop off along the way on the NYS Thruway. If you need a car in Montreal, then driving is definitely the way to go.

The roads can be quite treacherous (I totaled my first car in a snowstorm driving back from Montreal from Thanksgiving weekend a few years back) so if you are not comfortable driving in bad weather I would at least consider the train or fly.

The roads can be quite treacherous (I totaled my first car in a snowstorm driving back from Montreal from Thanksgiving weekend a few years back) so if you are not comfortable driving in bad weather I would at least consider the train or fly.

That is true in the depths of winter. I lived for some years in Burlington and drove back and forth to Montreal for concerts, hockey games, etc. in all weather, and had a near-death experience or two. So don't drive in snowy / icy conditions, especially at night when you'll be harder to spot in a roadside ditch.

UA (& CO) award charts say 20K r/t. What am I missing here?

Nothing; you're correct. Copy & paste error. (United has on occasion offered such short-haul routes for 15K.)

If you do drive into Montreal and want to avoid parking charges, there are free-on-weekends park & ride lots at outlying Metro stations like Namur.

you save so much time taking the plane verse driving or Amtrak. Fly and spend your time in Montreal and take the short train ride to Quebec City, instead of 33 hours on Amtrak or 22 hours driving.

Hotels are much cheaper in Montreal than NYC in November. Train fares to Quebec City is also cheap. Driving all the way to Montreal is a waste of your energy (you'll feel very tired in Montreal), and riding Amtrak is just wasting of too much time.

If you must take Amtrak, consider staying overnight in Albany because there's many connecting trains from NYP to Albany, and hotels are cheaper in Albany.

Thanks, everyone, for your advice. I have decided to drive. I can leave my home at 6am and be in Montreal by 5pm the same day. Just one small toll. (I live west of D.C. in the outer suburbs so Rt. 15-581-83-81-to Queens Highway (401?). I lived in Montreal for awhile, and go back up 2-4 times a year) so I've done the drive in all sorts of weather so that's not a big deal to me.

I was just thinking it may be a nice change to take the train, but it sounds like it's not nice enough to be worth it. I'd either have to go up to NYC on Thursday night or catch a 4am train in D.C. on Friday to make the Friday Adirondack. And the 11 hours on the train from NYC just sounds painful.

Thanks again!

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one day America will get some high speed trains connecting NYC to MTR in 2 hours. It's only 330 miles in distance. And China's high speed rail goes 200mph today. Dream!

one day America will get some high speed trains connecting NYC to MTR in 2 hours. It's only 330 miles in distance. And China's high speed rail goes 200mph today. Dream!Taking out time for Customs, that leaves only 1 hour for the trip. I think your math is off.

Taking out time for Customs, that leaves only 1 hour for the trip. I think your math is off.

:D

No, no. The dream includes a customs pre-clearance in Montreal.