Bedroom
- Power plugs
- Extra legroom
- Free Drinks
- Free meal
- Lounge Access
Cheapest price on 19 Sept
£39
Average ticket price on 19 Sept
£53
Fastest journey on 19 Sept
4 h 38 m
Average journey duration on 19 Sept
4 h 41 m
Trains on 19 Sept
4
Distance
238 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA will cost around £53 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £39.
On Sat 19 Sept, we found 4 trains from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA, including 4 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 238 km distance in an average of 4 h 41 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 38 m .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 43 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.








Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £21 For those with little time, consider booking a coach, which has an average total journey time of 4h 50m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £21, while a flight costs an average of £312.
Distance: 238 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
£37 Average Price | £21 Average Price Cheapest | £312 Average Price | £30 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 13m Average total duration 4h 43m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 50m Average total duration Fastest 4h 20m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 45m Average total duration 3h 45m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 3h 14m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA:
A coach is £17 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA costing on average £37.
A coach is £292 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA costing on average £312.
Other travel options to Portsmouth, VA take longer:
Coach takes on average 4h 20m.
Train takes on average 4h 43m.
Tickets start at around £37 compared to roughly £30 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £-7.45. The journey takes 4h 43m versus 3h 14m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
The table below shows live departures for Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA trains for today, Friday 18 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 19:50 Washington, DC | 5h35 | 1:25 Portsmouth, VA | 0 changesdirect | |
| Saturday 19 September | |||||
![]() | 0:12 Washington, DC | 4h43 | 4:55 Portsmouth, VA | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, coach and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA run on average 7 times per day, taking around 4h 43m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £22 but you can travel from only £19 by coach.
There are 2 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 05:15, the last at 19:12. The fastest train covers the 238 km distance in 4h 21m.
Distance 238 km |
Average train duration 4h 43m |
Cheapest ticket price £22 |
Trains per day 7 |
Direct trains 2 |
Fastest train 4h 21m |
First train 5:15 |
Last train 19:12 |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jul - Sept |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 28 days |
Compare Amtrak classes and the amenities included in each one.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Portsmouth, VA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Washington, DC to Portsmouth, VA trains use the New Carrollton Amtrak Station to Norfolk Station station pair. Use this guide to compare Washington, DC and Portsmouth, VA train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Union Station is 2 km from Washington city centre. Public transport options include:
Union Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: Shake Shack, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Chopt Creative Salad Co., Chipotle Mexican Grill, Thunder Grill, Johnny Rockets, Jamba Juice, Ladurée Union Station, & many more
Free Wi-Fi in the station courtesy of Amtrak. ATMs are there are 2 ATM machines located on Level G.
The ticket office is open Mon - Fri: 04:30 - 22:00, Sat - Sun: 05:00 - 22:00. Information desks are located on the train concourse of Level G near the Amtrak Waiting Area.
Luggage storage is amtrak provides temporary luggage storage for $10 per bag for 24 hours for customers holding Amtrak tickets.
Available at Union Station: Parking, Taxis.
Available at Union Station: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Union Station: Elevators, escalators, wheelchair access. Accessible facilities including restrooms, parking, platforms, ticket office, waiting room.
Nearby hotels include Hyatt Recency Washington On Capitol Hill, Phoenix Park Hotel, Kimpton George Hotel.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need