The Amtrak Cardinal is such a fantastic way to see the beautiful landscapes of the United States! Connecting New York City and Chicago three times a week, it makes stops at 30 charming destinations, allowing you to soak in the sights along the way.
This route offers stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains, the New River Gorge, and picturesque small towns that add to its charm. Whether you’re aiming for a quick weekend escape or planning an epic cross-country trip, I’m excited to share my experience and insights!
I have a printable schedule and all the essential info you’ll need to help you plan your adventure. I’ll also include details on how to connect with other long-distance trains along the Cardinal’s route. Happy travels!
The views of the Amtrak Cardinal
The Cardinal offers unforgettable views as it passes through horse country, including the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, and the wild white-water rivers of West Virginia.
As the train heads westward, it travels along the banks of the mighty Ohio River, through the quaint towns of Ashland and Maysville, and on to the skyline of Cincinnati. From there, the journey continues to Indianapolis and then northward to Chicago.
If you want to learn about the towns you will pass through, you can use a route guide published by Amtrak, albeit it may be from years ago.
Amtrak Cardinal’s on-time performance
Delays happen regardless of how you travel. While sometimes Amtrak is responsible for delays or acts of God, host railroads often cause delays.
- The Cardinal’s average passenger on-time performance
- From October 2023 to 2024, the Cardinal’s average on-time performance was 57.5% of the time, with an average delay of 72 minutes.
- For October, the Cardinal averaged a 61.0% average delay of 56 minutes.
- The main reasons for delays caused by the host railroads of 15 miles or more:
- CSX (703 miles): freight train interference and signal delays
- NS (79 miles): signal issues and passenger train interference
- BBRR (132 miles): passenger train interference and freight train interference
The information for this section comes from the October 2024 Amtrak Host Railroad Report.
If you want to check the performance of other trains, visit my Amtrak Long-Distance Performance page.
Coach class on the Amtrak Cardinal
The Amtrak Cardinal offers coach seating in Amfleet 2 cars, providing an economical travel option.
If you have a coach reservation, often you are assigned your seat right before you board the train.
- The Cardinal coach seats recline further back than regional Amtrak coach seats!
- These seats have foot and leg rests, ample legroom, and a fold-down tray.
- Individual reading lights and 120v electric outlets are available on the wall.
- Each car has two bathrooms across from each other on one end of the coach car.
- There are overhead storage compartments above the seats for baggage
- Or passengers can use the luggage rack at the car’s end.
Amtrak Cardinal coach car layout
Sleeper Car (Rooms) Accommodations on the Cardinal
Learn about the advantages of getting Amtrak sleeping accommodations. If you book a sleeping accommodation, you will get your room and car number after completing your transaction. You will get a ticket email, plus you can get this information in the Amtrak app or under the My Trip section of the website.
What Cardinal Rooms Include
- Fresh linens and towels
- Complimentary meals
- Lounge access in Chicago, New York, Philidelphia. and Washington DC
- Dedicated car attendant
- Access to showers
- The windows in each car have curtains that block out light and give you privacy.
- These rooms have seats by day and beds by night.
Room Options On Amtrak’s Cardinal
- Roomettes
- Smallest of accommodations
- Suitable for one cozy for two
- Bedroom
- It is about twice the space of a roomette.
- There is a bathroom, sink, and shower in the room.
- Accessible Room
- This accommodation is for passengers with mobility issues.
- There is a bathroom, sink, and shower in the room.
Amtrak Cardinal sleeper car layout
The layout below is of the older Viewliner sleeper, but the new one is similar. This train also uses a dorm baggage car with half roomettes and half baggage. Those cars still have a shower and bathroom.
Packing For A Trip On The Cardinal
My first time on the Cardinal was in coach class in 2013, and over the years, I’ve picked up several tips to improve your journey, whether you’re traveling in coach or a sleeper car.
Essential Items for Every Passenger
Travel can be unpredictable, so I recommend bringing a water bottle and snacks.
Just like other forms of transportation, trains can become dry. While you can purchase drinks in the cafe car, bringing something to help you stay hydrated is a good idea. There are locations on the train where you can refill your water bottle. Additionally, many people find it helpful to bring lip balm, like Carmex, to prevent dryness and chapped lips.
Feel free to bring cash or a credit card for the cafe car, which offers snacks, drinks, and meals. It’s always nice to have options. More information about the cafe car is further down, so don’t forget to check that section. Please note that this train does not have a traditional dining car.
Power Up: Extension Cords & Chargers
One practical tip is to bring an extension cord, especially for coach and sleeper passengers with multiple charging devices. The cord is often the last thing to go in my bag, so it’s the first thing I pull out on the train. The outlets on the train are grounded, also known as the three-prong North American outlet.
Of course, don’t forget your chargers, and if you plan on using devices a lot, a power brick is a great addition, allowing you to charge up at stations or while on the move.
Entertainment Options
If you have a reservation in coach class, consider bringing a few items to enhance your sleeping comfort: an eye mask, earplugs, a pillow, and a blanket. Amtrak sells a comfort kit in the café car, but they may run out, so it’s wise to come prepared. You can also purchase a comfort kit from the online Amtrak Store if you want an Amtrak-branded one.
Sleeping on the Train
If you have a reservation in coach class, I suggest bringing a few items to make sleeping more comfortable: an eye mask, earplugs, a pillow, and a blanket. While Amtrak does sell a comfort kit in the cafe car, they can sometimes run out, so it’s best to come prepared; you can buy one from the Amtrak store.
On the other hand, Amtrak provides sleeper car passengers with pillows, blankets, and linens. You also get privacy and a bed to stretch out, but packing your earplugs and eye mask can still be beneficial if you’re sensitive to noise or light.
Staying Fresh
Coach passengers don’t have access to a shower, so a pack of wet wipes can be a game-changer for freshening up during your trip.
Sleeping car passengers can use a private or shared shower, depending on their accommodation. If you have a roomette, there is a sink in your room, soap, washcloths, and hand towels that you can use to freshen up.
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Wi-Fi
This train has free Wi-Fi that supports general web browsing activities. Learn more about Amtrak Wi-Fi, such as how to log in and the do’s and don’ts.
Pets and service animals
- Amtrak allows dogs and cats
- The max combined weight of the pet and carrier is 20 pounds.
- For trips up to seven hours
- You need to fill out paperwork before you get to the station.
- Learn more about Amtrak’s Pet policy and get the needed paperwork.
If you have a service or comfort animal, read Amtrak’s service animal policy before booking to ensure your critter qualifies and is appropriately on your reservation.
Carry-on & checked bags on the Cardinal
Not all stations can handle checked baggage. Click the station links below to see if they offer checked baggage service. Your beginning and ending stations must both offer checked bag service.
- Amtrak checked baggage allows:
- Two bags up to 50 lbs.
- Seventy-five linear inches per person for free.
- Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage.
- You are permitted two for free and two extra for a fee.
Each passenger may carry on:
- One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches
- Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each
If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at some point along your journey, the baggage size for that train is up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each.
Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage; check out Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.
Bikes on the Cardinal
- Space is available for standard, full-size bicycles
- Up to 50 lbs, 70 inches x 41 inches x 8.5 inches.
- Amtrak stores bikes in designated bike racks/areas inside the baggage car (if available).
- More information on bringing bikes is here.
The Amtrak Cardinal food options
One food car on this train serves double duty; while the cafe is open to all, some choices are only available for sleeper passengers. The cafe has a similar layout to the car below.
The Amtrak cafe offers a variety of hot and cold meals and snacks, as well as hot, cold, and adult beverages.
The car hours are from early morning until late at night but may be closed for breaks, sleeper meal times, and at the Washington DC station stop. The cafe is between the coach cars and the sleeper cars.
You can consume your purchase in this car; coach passengers usually sit closest to the coach cars.
While you can bring your food and drink, Amtrak cannot store or heat your food. Additionally, you cannot consume alcohol you brought onboard unless you are in a sleeper.
Flex dining
Flex dining is a meal system for sleeping car passengers, and at this time, it is unavailable for coach passengers.
- More about Flex Dining:
- These meals are prepared ahead of time and warmed on the train.
- Complimentary dining for sleeping passengers.
- You can eat in private rooms or the cafe car.
- Meals include breakfast selections, while lunch and dinner share the same menu.
- Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.
- One complimentary adult beverage comes with dinner!
Meals offered to sleeper car passengers
This table will show you what meals you will get while you are on the Cardinal.
| DIRECTION | CITY SECTIONS | DAY OF TRAVEL | MEALS OFFERED |
|---|---|---|---|
| #50 Westbound | Chicago, IL – Indianapolis, IN | 1 | Dinner |
| Connersville, IN – New York, NY | 2 | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | |
| #51 Eastbound | New York, NY – Maysville, KY | 1 | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |
| Cincinnati, OH – Chicago, IL | 2 | Breakfast |
Amtrak Cardinal Schedule
The Cardinal runs three days a week.
The information in this section comes from the official Amtrak website; they can change it anytime.
| Train 51 Westbound | Communities Served | Miles | Train 50 Eastbound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read Down | This train runs three days a week. | – | Last Stop |
| 6:45a Su-We-Fr | New York, NY Moynihan Train Hall (NYP) | 0 | 10:23p We-Fr-Su |
| R 7:05a | Newark, NJ – Penn Station (NWK) | 10 | D 10:03p |
| 7:42a | Trenton, NJ (TRE) | 58 | D 9:27p |
| 8:15a | Philadelphia, PA William H. Gray III 30th St. Station (PHL) | 91 | D 8:56p |
| 8:40a | Wilmington, DE (WIL) | 116 | D 8:30p |
| 9:28a | Baltimore, MD – Penn Station (BAL) | 185 | D 7:41p |
| 10:09a | 10:59a | Washington, DC – Union Station (WAS) | 225 | D 6:44p | 7:09p |
| 11:19a | Alexandria, VA (ALX) | 233 | D 6:27p |
| 11:52a | Manassas, VA (MSS) | 258 | 5:35p |
| 12:25p | Culpeper, VA (CLP) | 293 | 5:00p |
| 1:43p | 1:52p | Charlottesville, VA (CVS) | 340 | 3:35p | 3:44p |
| 2:54p | Staunton, VA (STA) | 379 | 2:38p |
| 4:13p | Clifton Forge, VA (CLF) | 437 | 1:09p |
| 5:05p | White Sulphur Springs, WV (WSS) | 472 | 12:01p |
| 5:36p | Alderson, WV (ALD) | 496 | 11:18a |
| 6:06p | Hinton, WV (HIN) | 517 | 10:50a |
| 6:43p | Prince, WV (PRC) | 540 | 10:18a |
| 6:59p | Thurmond, WV (THN) | 551 | 9:56a |
| 7:50p | Montgomery, WV (MNG) | 592 | 9:02a |
| 8:29p | Charleston, WV (CHW) | 619 | 8:31a |
| 9:44p | 9:51p | Huntington, WV (HUN) | 668 | 7:19a | 7:26a |
| 10:14p | Ashland, KY (AKY) | 683 | 6:45a |
| 10:57p | South Shore, KY Portsmouth, OH (SPM) | 712 | 5:55a |
| 11:52p Su-We-Fr | Maysville, KY (MAY) | 766 | 5:02a |
| 1:41a Mo-Th-Sa | Cincinnati, OH Union Terminal (CIN) | 828 | 3:37a |
| 3:36a | Connersville, IN (COI) | 893 | 1:31a |
| 5:15a | 6:00a | Indianapolis, IN (IND) | 951 | We-Fr-Su 11:49p | 12:15a Tu-Th-Sa |
| 6:58a | Crawfordsville, IN (CRF) | 998 | 10:30p |
| 7:36a | Lafayette, IN – Amtrak Station (LAF) | 1025 | 9:56p |
| 7:40a | Rensselaer, IN (REN) | 1072 | 7:45p |
| 8:29a | Dyer, IN (DYE) | 1118 | 6:45p |
| 10:00a Mo-Th-Sa | Chicago, IL – Union Station (CHI) | 1147 | 5:55p Tu-Th-Sa |
| Last Stop | Stations | Miles | Read Up |
- Su- Sunday; Mo-Monday; Tu-Tuesday; We-Wednesday; Th-Thursday; Fr-Friday; Sa-Saturday
- R = Receive passengers only; this means you can board the train, but you cannot buy a ticket on this train to this station.
- D = Depart only; you can buy a ticket to this station but not from this station. The train may leave early from this stop.
- * = Stations with Amtrak Connecting Services.
Printable Amtrak Cardinal Schedule
You can print out the PDF below or download it to your device. This document is longer because it includes most connection services, so feel free to print what you need.
You can also print route or customs schedules from Amtrak! Learn how to print your own Amtrak schedule from the Amtrak website.
Connecting From the Cardina To Other Long-Distance Trains
Depending on where you are going, you may need to take more than one train. In most cases, Amtrak will not allow you to connect with another train if an overnight stay is required or the train leaves after midnight the next day. In those cases, you can always book lodging for that night and one-way or multi-city tickets.
The chart below will tell you where you will get off the Cardinal and whether you will need an overnight train or ride a connecting bus.
Going East
| Train | Transfer | Overnight stay | Connecting Bus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent | Charlottesville, VA | No | No |
| Lake Shore Limited | New York Penn | Yes | No |
| Floridian | Washington DC | Yes | No |
| Silver Meteor | Charlottesville, VA | No | Yes |
Going West
Note that you can only connect with these trains on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
| Trains | Transfer | Overnight | Connecting Bus |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Zephyr | Chicago, IL | No | No |
| City of New Orleans | Chicago, IL | No | No |
| Empire Builder | Chicago, IL | No | No |
| Southwest Chief | Chicago, IL | No | No |
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Thanks for this.
You are welcome!
Safe Travels,
Kev
Thanks especially for this timetable, Kev. Last spring, I mentioned to my wife that an Amtrak Cardinal T-shirt would be a nice Father’s Day gift. When my wife saw a picture of it, she wanted one too, so we bought two. Living in Alexandria, Virginia, at the time, I thought that a day trip on the Cardinal would be fun. I had done it some years before with a friend. I tried searching the booking thingy on the Amtrak website by train numbers, stations, range of dates, and found nothing. I couldn’t tell whether the train was even running. Since then we have moved to Pennsylvania, but maybe we will take a long ride later this year.
You are welcome, Steve! The Cardinal is still going, but three times a week. I hope you ride it again; it is one of my favorite trains.
Thanks for your post. In 1994, I took the Cardinal in October on a trip from Milford UT (Amtrak no longer runs there) to Atlanta GA. I booked the Cardinal because it was during the leaf change. It was a great trip!
You’re welcome! The Cardinal is one of my favorite trains, and I hope you get to ride it again soon