Travel Tips for Taking Amtrak to Inauguration Weekend

It’ll be cold outside, but the Presidential Inauguration is the hottest ticket in town! Amtrak provides stress-free travel to Washington, D.C. with plenty of perks fit for a VIP (or VP?) like WiFi, no middle seat, dual-outlets, and a fully stocked Cafe Car.

Because of expected crowds, we’re making it easier for people to travel to the Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20 and surrounding weekend activities by offering additional trains and seating capacity in the days before and after the event with added capacity for Amtrak Northeast Regional service Jan. 20-23, and additional round-trips on Acela Express and Northeast Regional services on Jan. 21. All Amtrak trains in the Northeast require reservations and ticket purchases prior to boarding. Tickets for all Amtrak trains are available but customers are advised to book as early as possible to ensure availability. Customers can purchase tickets on Amtrak.com, Amtrak mobile apps, or by calling 800-USA-RAIL.

Oh! And don’t forget to check out these great Inauguration weekend events, or use the opportunity to explore the Nation’s Capital by visiting the Smithsonian museums, monuments, or see where it all began with our founding father George Washington himself at Mt. Vernon.

Before traveling to or through Washington, D.C., here are a few tips to keep in mind before heading out the door:

• Allow additional time to arrive at the station before departure.
• Don’t chance missing your train: due to increased ticket demand, customers are encouraged to pick up roundtrip tickets (departure and return) before boarding the train for Washington.
• Due to larger crowds and increased security, access to Washington Union Station may be limited to select points of entry on Thursday, Jan. 19, Friday, Jan. 20, and throughout the weekend. Please follow special signage to reach boarding gates for Amtrak, commuter and transit services, and the parking garage and bus deck.
• Amtrak Ambassadors wearing high-visibility vests will be on-hand to assist customers at Washington Union Station and several other Northeast Corridor stations including New York Penn, Philadelphia 30^th Street, Wilmington and Baltimore.
• With numerous trains arriving within short time frames, trains may take turns unloading customers to prevent unsafe overcrowding conditions in the station. Customers with special needs should specifically request assistance when making reservations.
• Special pedestrian traffic patterns in and around Washington Union Station will be in effect. Follow the instructions of station personnel and law enforcement for exiting and entering the station.
• Access to station restrooms will be limited, however additional facilities will be available outside the station.

Additional announcements with more detailed information will be made in the upcoming weeks and posted to the Amtrak.com/Inauguration website, which will be updated regularly. For more travel and safety tips, check out this interview from Cruz the adorable Amtrak Police Department K-9.

All aboard, and God Bless America! 🇺🇸 🎉