Airplanes might be the king of travel in the US, but when it comes to the Northeast, the train is still a strong contender, especially for trips like Boston to New York. Many automatically think flying is faster and easier, but that’s not always the case when you factor in the whole airport experience.
Recently, I decided to put this to the test. I flew from New York to Boston with Spirit Airlines and returned on Amtrak’s Acela train to see which mode of transport truly saved more time on this popular Northeast route.
For longer distances, flying is usually the undisputed champion. However, for shorter hops within the Northeast Corridor, particularly between major cities like New York, Boston, and Washington, DC, the best choice isn’t always clear-cut. It often comes down to personal preference and what you value most in your travel experience.
While flights themselves are quicker than train journeys, you have to factor in getting to and from the airport, navigating security lines, and the ever-present possibility of flight delays. All of this adds to your total travel time. On the other hand, train travel allows you to arrive at the station much closer to your departure time, and there are no security checks to contend with. Of course, train delays can happen too, but the overall pre-boarding process is significantly streamlined.
To really understand the best way to travel between these two iconic cities, I embarked on a timed experiment from New York to Boston and back. Flying with Spirit for the outbound leg and experiencing Amtrak’s high-speed Acela for the return, I aimed to find out definitively which method was faster for traveling from Boston to New York.
As someone who appreciates aviation, and also enjoys the charm of train travel, I was keen to see which would come out on top for this 200-mile journey. The results might surprise you when considering the best travel websites for booking your trip from Boston to New York.
