We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you. Disclosure
The fastest way from Boston to Washington, DC is a nonstop flight from Logan, scheduled at about 1 hour 45 minutes. The easiest is Amtrak: Acela runs from South Station to Washington Union Station in about 7 hours and the Northeast Regional in about 8, with no airport security and a downtown arrival. Buses are slower still, with Greyhound's fastest trip about 8 hours 45 minutes, and the drive is roughly 440 miles.
For a one-way trip with luggage, the train is the calmest choice; for a quick business trip, fly; to save money, take the bus and book early.
Boston to DC compared
| Option | Typical time | Boston departure | DC arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | About 1 h 45 min scheduled | Logan Airport | Reagan National, Dulles or BWI |
| Amtrak Acela | About 7 h | South Station or Back Bay | Union Station |
| Amtrak Northeast Regional | About 8 h | South Station or Back Bay | Union Station |
| Greyhound bus | From about 8 h 45 min | South Station Bus Terminal | Union Station and other stops |
| Car | A long day, set by New York traffic | Anywhere | Anywhere |
By air: fastest in the air
Flights from Logan to the Washington area are scheduled at about an hour and three quarters. Reagan National is the closest airport to central Washington, while Dulles and BWI are farther out. Logan's own location helps at the Boston end: the Silver Line SL1 runs from South Station to the terminals, and the Blue Line stops at Airport station. Add the trips to and from the airports, check-in and security, and the door-to-door advantage over the train shrinks to a few hours. You can compare Boston to Washington fares on Expedia.
By train: Acela or Northeast Regional
Amtrak's current timetable shows Acela trains from Boston to Washington taking about 7 hours, and Northeast Regional trains about 8. Both leave from South Station and stop at Back Bay, then run through Providence, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore to Union Station on Capitol Hill. Acela, now running new NextGen trainsets introduced in August 2025, has Business and First Class seats only; the Regional adds a cheaper coach class.
The train makes the most sense if you want to work or read on the way, travel with bags, or break the trip with a night in New York or Philadelphia. Amtrak prices rise as trains fill, so book early for Fridays, Sundays and holidays.
By bus: the budget option
BoltBus, which older guides still recommend, stopped running in July 2021, and Greyhound took over its routes. Greyhound now runs the trip from South Station at 700 Atlantic Avenue to Washington's Union Station, with its fastest trips taking about 8 hours 45 minutes and departures spread across the day and night. Compare total trip times before booking, since they vary widely by departure.
By car: I-95 down the East Coast
The drive is roughly 440 miles, mostly on I-95 through Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The miles are the easy part; the bottlenecks around New York City and on the approach to Washington decide how long it takes, so leave early or late. Expect tolls on bridges and turnpikes along the way. In Boston, Massachusetts tolls are electronic only, charged to an E-ZPass or billed by mail through Pay By Plate.
Planning the rest of the trip
Coming the other way, or linking the Northeast cities? See NYC to Boston and our guide to getting to Boston. For getting across town to South Station or Logan, read how to use the T.