RouteNew York, NY / Boston, MA – Chicago, IL (sections join/split at Albany-Rensselaer, NY)
OperatorAmtrak
Duration19 hours (New York section); about 21 hours 30 minutes–22 hours (Boston section)
Distance959 miles (Chicago–New York); 1,018 miles (Chicago–Boston)
FrequencyDaily
SeasonYear-round
Two endpoints, one train Chicago–Albany — count as ONE journey with two branches, like the Empire Builder.
From the window
Lake Erie/Michigan shorelines, Mohawk River and Erie Canal corridor, Hudson Valley (NY section) and Berkshires (Boston section)
Keep exploring
✓ Last verified: November 2026
