- Must visit
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Major natural sciences museum with dinosaur displays, live animals, research exhibits, and a nature exploration centre for all ages.
Cheapest price on 21 Oct
£77
Average ticket price on 21 Oct
£77
Fastest journey on 21 Oct
8 h 10 m
Average journey duration on 21 Oct
8 h 10 m
Trains on 21 Oct
1
Distance
375 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Washington, DC to Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC will cost around £77 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £77.
To travel from Washington, DC to Raleigh, NC you need to make at least 2 changes.
1479 Connecting Bus · 1179 Carolinian · 79 Carolinian
1479 Connecting Bus · 1179 Carolinian · 79 CarolinianTrains from Washington, DC to Raleigh, NC run on average 2 times per day, taking around 6h 1m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £39 but you can travel from only £26 by coach.
There are 2 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 08:24, the last at 14:48. The fastest train covers the 375 km distance in 5h 53m.
Distance 375 km |
Average train duration 6h 1m |
Cheapest ticket price £39 |
Trains per day 2 |
Direct trains 2 |
Fastest train 5h 53m |
First train 8:24 |
Last train 14:48 |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 28 days |
The table below shows live departures for Washington, DC to Raleigh, NC trains for today, Tuesday 20 October. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1479 Connecting Bus · 1179 Carolinian · 79 Carolinian | 11:10 Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 8h10 | 19:20 North Carolina State Fair Station, Raleigh, NC | 2 changes | |
1479 Connecting Bus · 1179 Carolinian | 11:10 Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 7h34 | 18:44 Raleigh Union Station, Raleigh, NC | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Discover the best of Raleigh, NC — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Raleigh, NC trip today.
Major natural sciences museum with dinosaur displays, live animals, research exhibits, and a nature exploration centre for all ages.
Art museum with American and European works, contemporary galleries, and a sculpture park linked by pleasant outdoor trails.
Hands-on history museum covering North Carolina’s past through changing exhibitions, artefacts, and family-friendly interpretation.
Central downtown promenade with public art, shops, and regular events, useful for exploring Raleigh on foot.
Lively warehouse district with galleries, murals, event spaces, and an easy walk to museums, markets, and nightlife.
Large urban park with walking paths, pedal boats, sports facilities, and skyline views around a scenic lake.
Eastern North Carolina chopped pork barbecue with a sharp vinegar and chilli sauce. It is a defining regional staple across the Raleigh area.
Slow-cooked pork shoulder, often smoked then pulled and dressed lightly with vinegar sauce. Common at local barbecue joints and community gatherings.
Crisp fried cornmeal-coated catfish, usually served with hush puppies and slaw. It reflects the region’s long freshwater fish and fry tradition.
Refined downtown dining room focused on North Carolina ingredients, seasonal tasting menus and polished modern Southern cooking.
Laid-back brewery and taproom pouring local beers with a broad range of styles. A good stop to sample Raleigh’s craft beer culture.
Popular casual restaurant serving biscuit sandwiches, Southern breakfast plates and comfort food in a busy, friendly atmosphere.
Raleigh is moderate for US city breaks, with mid-priced hotels, fairly affordable dining, and low local transport costs compared with larger East Coast cities.
Tip 18-20% in restaurants, more for excellent service. Taxis usually get 10-15%. For cafés, round up or add $1 per drink.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Washington, DC to Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Washington, DC to Raleigh, NC trains use the Union Station to Raleigh Union Station station pair, with some services arriving at North Carolina State Fair Station. Use this guide to compare Washington, DC and Raleigh, NC 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.
Raleigh Union Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, Information Desk and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: The Pit Authentic BBQ, Humble Pie, Whiskey Kitchen
Free.
Ticket office support is available at Raleigh Union Station. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Raleigh Union Station. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Raleigh Union Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Raleigh Union Station: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Raleigh Union Station: Elevators, ramps.
Nearby hotels include The Raleigh Marriott City Center, Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown.
North Carolina State Fair Station is 6 km from Raleigh city centre. Public transport options include:
North Carolina State Fair Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at North Carolina State Fair Station. ATMs are available during fair events.
Ticket office support is available at North Carolina State Fair Station.
Available at North Carolina State Fair Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at North Carolina State Fair Station: Accessible platforms during events.
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