Getting Around the East Coast of the United States

Road Network, Traffic

Car, RV

Rental

Buses

Two Wheels

Motorcycle

Bicycle

Trains

Trains operated by Amtrak cover the region very well (in fact, it's the best in the country) with multiple intercity routes and connections that extend beyond the East Coast. Here are some of the lines (see details):

• Boston - New York - Philadelphia - Baltimore - Washington: Acela Express

• Montreal - Albany - New York: Adirondack

• Washington - Pittsburgh - Cleveland - Chicago: Capitol Limited

• New York - Washington - Cincinnati - Chicago: Cardinal

• New York - Raleigh - Charlotte: Carolinian-Piedmont

• New York - Atlanta - New Orleans: Crescent

• New York - Albany - Syracuse - Rochester - Buffalo - Niagara Falls: Empire Service

• Rutland - Albany - New York: Ethan Allen Express

• New York - Philadelphia - Harrisburg: Keystone

• New York/Boston - Albany - Chicago: Lake Shore Limited

• Toronto - Niagara Falls - New York: Maple Leaf

• Boston - New York - Washington - Richmond - Virginia Beach: Northeast Regional

• New York - Pittsburgh: Pennsylvanian

• New York - Washington - Charleston - Savannah - Jacksonville - Orlando - Tampa/Miami: Silver Service

• St. Albans - Burlington - Springfield - New York - Washington: Vermonter

In addition, there are peripheral networks in major cities, such as the "Greater New York" system with MTA (which also manages bus and subway lines for the metropolitan area) extending as far as New Haven in Connecticut. These peripheral networks are then connected to the Amtrak system.

Boats

Domestic Flights

While major East Coast cities are generally well connected by air, often at reasonable prices, flying within this part of the country is of limited use in many cases. When you add flight times to the time spent in airports for entry requirements/security, plus trips to and from the city, other modes of transport are often a better option for shorter distances. Moreover, without even mentioning buses, trains are quite well developed on the U.S. East Coast, with the added advantage of usually departing from and arriving in city centers.

In the City

Taxis

Other Means

Urban bus:

Trams:

Subway:

Which Transport to Choose?

Unlike most other regions of the country, especially the Midwest and the West, the New York-Washington area can be explored using public transport with a bit of planning for outlying areas. In short, buses and trains can be a viable option, though having a vehicle will certainly make life easier and offer complete freedom—provided, of course, you avoid using it to get around or near major cities, starting with New York.

Distances Between Cities

Distances (km) between the main cities of the East Coast (and beyond):

For reference, distances in the United States are expressed in miles, with 1 mile = 1.607 km.