NY-Baltimore: train or plane
 

I will be going from NYC (midtown, East side) to the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore on a weekday evening. Cost is not at all an issue; the only consideration is speed.

I can take a US flight that departs LGA at 705p and arrives BWI at 825p, or I can take an Amtrak Acela train that departs NYP at 700p and arrives at BWI at 912p. Given these options, what time could I expect to get to my destination? (I know this sounds like an SAT question, but what I'm really trying to figure out is how long it would take to get to the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore from BAL rail station or BWI at that time of night on a weekday.)
Would it make a difference in terms of traffic if I arrived an hour earlier?

To get to LGA for that flight you'd probably have to leave at 5 - so is there an Acela train that leaves around 5:30 or 6? If so, I'd take that. They can run late, but usually that is less than half hour, v. risking a flight this time of year when thunderstorms routinely build and severely disrupt air travel.

There shouldn't be a traffic problem from train station to inner harbor, although you might check the baseball schedule to make sure there isn't a home opener.

I'd be comfortable leaving my office at 5:45 to make a 7:05 flight (even if I have trouble catching a cab or traffic is bad, I can hop on the E to Jackson Heights, Queens, catch a cab from there, and make it LGA in 30 minutes or less). I would leave my office at 6:15 to make a 7:00 train. You are right to point out, however, that the train (delays typically less than 30 min.) is less risky than the plane (delays can be hours).

I do think the O's are in town that night. Does that affect what I should do?

BAL is only about two miles from the Inner Harbor, versus BWI which is something like ten. If the traffic is that bad, you could get out and walk :). (though I actually haven't-- not familiar enough with Baltimore to be comfortable wandering around at night).

There is a light rail connection from BAL to Camden Yards, though I cannot imagine that would be faster or more convenient than a cab.

Take Acela.

I cannot say about the train, since I haven't used it from BWI to the Inner Harbor area.

But, you would be really close, the only thing I don't know is how easy it is to catch a taxi from the station to your hotel.

From BWI by taxi, I always paid under $30 including tip up through last lear. It may have gone up a little since then. For the convenience, I always took the taxi from BWI to the Marriott Waterside or the Courtyard Inn near Lancaster Street. Took 15-20 minutes, and well worth it.

Adding this to the time, your arrival to your final destination in the Inner Harbor area is close either way, with a small advantage to flying in and taking a taxi. But it's not much of a diff.

At that time of night, I've never noticed any probs with traffic. At 3-5 pm, it sometimes takes 20 minutes to get OUT of the Inner Harbor area, but then it's clear sailing.

Given that there may be a game there, I would lean toward flying in/taking a taxi. I've been there on a game day, and while things are a little busy/hectic right around the stadium, it wasn't a problem. I'm thinking a lot more people may be taking the train, though, since the station is so very close to the stadium.

Just my .02, though.

Definitely take Acela. It's a much more pleasant experience than air travel these days. You'll arrive at Baltimore Penn Station, from which a smart cab driver can get you to the Inner Harbor in 10 mins and skip the Orioles traffic. I don't know that there will be any Os traffic at 9pm; depends on the start time for the game, but the cab driver will know.

Driving distance from BWI is further, about 30 mins, and could be 50 in traffic. There's no great way around the traffic from BWI.

I vote for the train, too, and I live near Baltimore. From Penn Station you can take the Light Rail downtown to the convention center or Camden Yards, or you can catch a bus that will probably take you directly to your hotel (which one?). The light rail leaves Penn Station every half hour at that time of day. Or you can grab a cab at Penn...it's not too long a drive.

The light rail also goes all the way to BWI, so you can catch light rail from there and end up stopping at Camden Yards and walking to your hotel, if you're only carrying an overnight bag. Note that a section of the track between BWI and the city is currently being worked on, and you have to get off the light rail, take a shuttle, and get back on the light rail again. Not convenient.

I must say, though, taxis from BWI are good. They're strictly airport taxis, and while expensive, they know their way into the harbor. I don't think taxis at Penn Station are as regulated.

Visit MTA Maryland for good info about getting around Baltimore on public transportation.

--Chris

[QUOTE=Blumie]I'd be comfortable leaving my office at 5:45 to make a 7:05 flight (even if I have trouble catching a cab or traffic is bad, I can hop on the E to Jackson Heights, Queens, catch a cab from there, and make it LGA in 30 minutes or less). I would leave my office at 6:15 to make a 7:00 train. You are right to point out, however, that the train (delays typically less than 30 min.) is less risky than the plane (delays can be hours).

[QUOTE]


They must not make security lines at LGA like they make them at BWI. I'd never consider under an hour from the front door of BWI to the door of the plane.

Take the train. It may cost more, but it is so much more convenient, and AMTRAK needs money.

Definately ake the train. Acela Express is the best but costs more than the others. It will save you only about 10-15 min over the other amtrak.com offerings. but after a long day it wiil be worth it.

MisterNice

Train. :)

-Mark

Very easy choice: the train. Then take a short cab ride from Balt's Penn Station down to the Inner Harbor.

Though I am not exactly certain what an "O" is, if you are are referring to the Baltimore baseball team, then there should be no worries. They are so bad there won't even be traffic before game time!

Guess you haven't spent much time in the Baltimore area in the spring and summer? ;) The O's are the Orioles.

There is no professional baseball team with the name "O's" (and why is it possessive, anyway?) either in their articles of incorporation or their contract with Major League Baseball. If you pursue the conclusion of shortening the name of the Baltimore baseball team, then when they play the Tigers, are they playing the T's? And when they play the Twins, are they playing the T's again? How about the Angels and the Athletics? Are they playing the A's both times? Rangers and Red Sox? R's??

What about when they play the Blue Jays?

Just call them Baltimore. That is the city they play in. That is the city they represent. Though they have, for some reason, been embarrassed to wear that name on their uniform for decades.

And, Analise, I have lived in Northern VA for 12 years. I went to my first major league game (a doubleheader vs Pittsburgh) at Ebbets Field. I have gone to the ballpark in Baltimore to see the "Y's" bash them at least a dozen times.