Best Train Rides

Lake Shore Limited

New York and Boston to Chicago along Lake Erie, the Mohawk River and the Hudson Valley.

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)

Official Amtrak information for this service ↗

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✓ Last verified: November 2026