The East Coast travels without renting a car thanks to the Acela train — probably the only American road trip done better by train than by car.
Acela (Amtrak high-speed): NYC Penn Station ↔ Washington Union Station 3h ($100-200), NYC ↔ Boston South Station 3h45 ($100-250), Washington ↔ Boston 7h. Northeast Regional service (classic Amtrak) 30% cheaper but 30% slower (NYC-DC 3h30, NYC-Boston 4h30) — $60-150. Book 2-4 weeks ahead on amtrak.com for best prices. Acela First Class offers leather seats, included meals, fast wifi.
Domestic flights between cities: possible but rarely cost-effective vs Acela. NYC-Washington flight 1h15 + 2x1h30 transfers = 4h door-to-door vs 3h train. NYC-Boston flight 1h30 + 2x1h30 = 4h30 vs 3h45 train. Flight fares $100-300 by lead time. Prefer Acela for NYC-DC and NYC-Boston, flight for Boston-DC (long by train).
In New York, public transport is excellent — 24/7 subway, 472 stations, 36 lines, $3 per ride, 7-day MetroCard unlimited $33 (best deal). Complementary buses. Yellow taxis $3-15 for most central Manhattan rides, +50% surcharge between 8pm-6am. Uber/Lyft available everywhere ($4-25 by distance), Surge pricing at peak hours and rain. Free Staten Island Ferry (Statue view from deck). JFK Airport → Manhattan: AirTrain + subway $11 (1h), taxi flat $70 + toll + tip $88 total, Uber/Lyft $60-100. LaGuardia (LGA): taxi $40 + tip (35 min), Uber $30-60.
In Washington D.C., WMATA metro covers the city (6 lines, 91 stations, $2-6 by distance/hour). SmarTrip card rechargeable $2. Complementary buses. Walk: city is walkable around the National Mall (3.2 km long). Capital Bikeshare self-service bike ($1 unlock + $0.05/min). Reagan Airport (DCA): metro $6 (20 min), taxi $20. Dulles (IAD): Silver Line metro $6 (45 min) or $70 taxi.
In Boston, the T (metro) is America's oldest line (1897) — 4 main lines, $2.40 per ride, rechargeable CharlieCard. Very walkable city (Freedom Trail 4 km on foot), Bluebikes bike rental ($4/day). Logan Airport (BOS): Silver Line + Red Line $2.40 (25 min), taxi $30-40, Uber/Lyft $20-40. For Cambridge (Harvard, MIT), direct Red Line from downtown.
Read also
- New York City — Manhattan, Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn: the world's most iconic metropolis.
- United States — Complete country-continent guide: ESTA visa, currency, regions, best time.
- California — The West Coast alternative: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Yosemite.
- Florida — The beach and Disney option: Miami, Orlando, Keys.