The Amtrak Crescent is a daily long-distance Viewliner train that travels between the lively city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and New York’s bustling hub. It makes 31 stops, including communities like Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Laurel, Mississippi. The trip covers 1381 miles and averages 31 hours and 46 minutes along its scenic journey!
This article provides the details to familiarize yourself with this train, including the schedule or timetable, a list of all the stops, accommodation options, and onboard food.
A little about the Crescent route
Discover the beauty of the American South as you ride the Amtrak Crescent.
The train can help you explore historic towns like Monticello and Charlottesville, where you can experience the rich heritage of the South. Visit New Orleans to dive into the city’s vibrant scenes, from jazz music to delicious Cajun food and so much more. Don’t forget to take a relaxing cruise on the Mississippi River and soak in the breathtaking views.
If you plan to visit New Orleans, do yourself a favor and check out Beyond Bourbon Street Podcast to discover New Orleans’ and its hidden treasures. Mark, a local expert, and his guest share insider tips and secrets to help you make the most of your visit.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a food lover, or simply seeking adventure, the Amtrak Crescent offers an unforgettable journey through some of America’s most beloved destinations.
If you are heading to New Orleans, please send me a pic of your beignets, one of my favorite New Orleans treats! Remember, do not sneeze or breathe deeply when you have one in your hand, or you will have a mess!
The Amtrak Crescent on-time performance and host railroad
Due to various factors, delays are part of most travel, regardless of your transportation mode. While Amtrak may be at fault in some instances, such as mechanical issues, a significant portion of delays are beyond its control, often due to the actions of host railroads.
The Amtrak Crescent’s average passenger on-time performance from April 2023 to 2024 is 59.6%, with an average delay of 75 minutes.
For March 2024, the average on-time performance was 57.6%, with an average delay of 65 minutes.
The primary causes of delays from Norfolk Southern are interference from freight trains and slow orders.
Information from this section comes from the Amtrak Host Railroad Report for April 2024.
Coach seating the Amtrak Crescent.
If you’re considering taking the Amtrak Crescent, the train features Amtrak’s Amfleet II coach cars, which offer various accommodations. I have used coach class accommodations for short trips and cross-country Amtrak adventures.
When traveling in the Crescent coach class, you can enjoy several amenities, including comfortable reclining seats, ample legroom, fold-down trays, individual reading lights, and 120v grounded (three-prong) electric outlets on the wall.
Additionally, there are designated spots for those in mobility vehicles, and each train has two restrooms available for passengers to use.
Luggage-wise, overhead, and end-of-car racks are available to store bags during the journey.
You get your seat assignments moments before boarding, so you may sit next to someone you don’t know. Unfortunately, you cannot reserve a specific seat when booking.
I recommend that those traveling overnight in coach class bring a pillow and blanket to make their journey more comfortable.
It’s worth noting that there are no showers in the coach cars, but you’ll still be able to enjoy a relaxed and enjoyable journey aboard the Amtrak Crescent. I found a pack of wet wipes that can help keep you feeling fresh.
Amtrak Crescent coach car layout
Sleeper Car or rooms on the Amtrak Crescent
Those travelers looking for a comfortable and convenient way to travel can upgrade their Crescent adventure by reserving a room in a sleeping car.
Amtrak sleeper rooms are equipped with all the essentials to make your journey enjoyable, including seating, beds, a sink, and more!
My favorite part of these rooms is privacy and sleeping horizontally. They are one of my happy places and could be worth the upgrade.
Each room has comfortable seating during the day, which attendees converted into beds at night. A second bed comes down from the ceiling for a travel companion.
The room also features a table that can be pulled from the wall, allowing you to play games such as checkers or chess during your journey.
Enjoy complimentary meals, the assistance of a dedicated car attendant, and a refreshing start to your day with complimentary coffee and juice in the morning.
Sleeper car passengers have lounge access when boarding in New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York Penn, or Washington, DC.
These rooms come with privacy and comfort. All windows have curtains to block out light.
Amtrak also provides hangers, pillows, fresh linens, blankets, and towels to make your stay as cozy as possible.
The door locks while you are inside the room but do not lock if you leave,
Rooms types offered on the Crescent
- Roomette
- Smallest Amtrak accommodation
- Comfortable for one, cozy for two.
- Bedroom
- It is larger and has a bathroom and shower in the room.
- This room allows you to stretch out as you travel.
- Accessible room
- For passengers with mobility issues.
- There is room for you and a travel companion.
Crescent sleeping car layout
There are three different sleeper car layouts; the one below gives you a general idea of what to expect.
Bringing bikes and pets Amtrak Crescent
There are a few things you can add to your next trip.
Bikes
- Bring a standard, full-size bicycle.
- 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.
- For more information on bringing your bike on the Crescent, check out Amtrak’s bike policy.
- Space could be limited.
Pets and service animals
- Amtrak allows dogs and cats up on the Cresent.
- The weight of the animal and case needs to be under 20 pounds
- Trips need to be seven hours or less.
- You must complete the paperwork before boarding.
- Amtrak will send you the online form after your reservation is complete, or you can find it in the My Trip sections on Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app.
- Get more information from Amtrak’s pet policy page.
If you have a service or comfort animal, read and review Amtrak’s service animal page for qualifications and booking instructions before booking.
Luggage
- You can check baggage.
- Two bags up to 50 lbs. and 75 linear inches are allowed per person for free.
- Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage.
- Not all locations can handle checked baggage.
- Click the station links below to see if they offer checked baggage service.
Each passenger may carry on:
- One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches, and
- 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.
Accessibility on the Crescent
A Wheelchair Lift is available to assist passengers with a wheeled mobility device in boarding and detraining. There is also space in coach cars and accessible rooms.
Amtrak Crescent food options
There are two food cars on this train, but you can bring your food and beverages on board the Crescent to enjoy during your journey. Please note that Amtrak cannot store, heat, or refrigerate any food you bring.
While you can bring alcohol onto Amtrak trains, keep in mind that you’re not allowed to consume the alcohol unless you are in a sleeper car and your room or a buddy’s room.
I’ve found bringing snacks for the adventure helpful, even if I have a room with meals on my reservation. When I travel in coach class, I usually buy food on board, but I still pack some snacks in case the cafe is closed. You never know when you might need a quick snack along the way.
If you’re traveling on a long-distance train, please note that the cafe will be closed at night. Therefore, food service will not be available until they open in the morning. In such cases, the snacks you pack will come in handy.
Cafe Car – open for all passengers!
The café is between the coach cars and the sleeper cars.
It is open from early morning until late at night, typically from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Please note that the café may be closed during the café car attendant’s breaks and while the attendant prepares meals for the sleeper cars.
The cafe offers various hot and cold meals and snacks, and if you get thirsty, you can purchase hot, cold, and adult beverages.
Dining car – for sleeper car passengers
The Crescent provides Amtrak Flex Dining for sleeper car passengers, served in the dining car, similar to how you receive meals on the Lake Shore Limited.
The meals are prepared off-site, warmed up on the train, and served with beverages and appropriate sides.
Non-alcoholic drinks accompany the meals; passengers even receive a complimentary adult beverage with dinner.
Sleeper passenger can eat their meal in their room, in the case the car attendants often bring the meal, or you can eat in the dining car.
Meals available for sleeping car passengers
The following table displays the meal served to sleeper passengers on the Amtrak Crescent.
| DIRECTION | CITY SECTIONS | DAY OF TRAVEL | MEALS OFFERED |
|---|---|---|---|
| #19 Westbound | New York, NY – Danville, VA | 1 | Dinner |
| Greensboro, NC – New Orleans, LA | 2 | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | |
| #20 Northbound | New Orleans, LA – Spartanburg, SC | 1 | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |
| Gastonia, NC – New York, NY | 2 | Breakfast |
Amtrak Crescent Timetable or Schedule
This timetable comes from the official Amtrak website, and I last updated it on 06/14/2024. Times can change anytime, so consult with your e-ticket on your day of travel or print your ticket around your day of travel.
| Train 19 Southbound | Communities Served | – | Train 20 Northbound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read Down | Daily train | Miles | Last Stop |
| 2:15p | New York, NY Moynihan Train Hall (NYP) | 0 | 6:01p 5:48p + |
| 2:37p | Newark, NJ Penn Station (NWK) | 10 | 5:37p 5:23p + |
| N/A | Metropark, NJ (MET) | 24 | 5:21p 5:10p+ |
| 3:18p | Trenton, NJ (TRE) | 58 | 4:51p 4:44p+ |
| 3:55p | Philadelphia, PA William H. Gray III 30th St. Station (PHL) | 91 | 4:21p 4:14p+ |
| 4:19p | Wilmington, DE (WIL) | 116 | 3:50p 3:45p+ |
| 5:08p | 5:15p | Baltimore, MD Penn Station (BAL) | 185 | 2:58p 2:56p+ |
| – | Baltimore, MD BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) | 196 | 2:41p 2:39p+ |
| 6:03p | 6:30p | Washington, DC Union Station (WAS) | 226 | 1:47p | 2:15p |
| 6:49p | Alexandria, VA (ALX) | 234 | 1:19p |
| 7:22p | Manassas, VA (MSS) | 259 | 12:25p |
| 7:55p | Culpeper, VA (CP) | 294 | 11:51a |
| 8:52p | Charlottesville, VA (CVS) | 338 | 10:59a |
| 10:00p | 10:16p | Lynchburg, VA (LYH) | 399 | 9:37a | 9:41a |
| 11:24p | Danville, VA (DAN) | 462 | 8:28a |
| 12:32a | Greensboro, NC (GRO) | 513 | 7:29a |
| 12:49a | High Point, NC (HPT) | 529 | 7:01a |
| 1:27a | Salisbury, NC (SAL) | 563 | 6:17a |
| 2:30a | 2:55a | Charlotte, NC (CLT) | 605 | 5:06a | 5:31a |
| 3:22a | Gastonia, NC (GAS) | 627 | 4:04a |
| 4:24a | Spartanburg, SC (SPB) | 682 | 3:04a |
| 5:24a | 5:31a | Greenville, SC (GRV) | 713 | 2:23a |
| 6:09a | Clemson, SC (CSN) | 743 | 1:41a |
| 6:45a | Toccoa, GA (TCA) | 777 | 1:05a |
| 7:28a | Gainesville, GA (GNS) | 814 | 12:24a |
| 8:43a | 9:08a | Atlanta, GA (ATL) | 863 | 11:00p | 11:29p |
| 10:30a | Anniston, AL (ATN) | 963 | 6:59p |
| 12:45p | 1:03p | Birmingham, AL (BHM) Intermodal Facility | 1027 | 5:15p | 5:24p |
| 2:02p | Tuscaloosa, AL (TCL) | 1082 | 3:14p |
| 4:19p | Meridian, MS Union Station (MEI) | 1179 | 1:37p |
| 5:16p | Laurel, MS (LAU) | 1235 | 12:20p |
| 5:53p | Hattiesburg, MS (HBG) | 1264 | 11:45a |
| 6:57p | Picayune, MS (PIC) | 1328 | 10:37a |
| 7:22p | Slidell, LA (SDL) | 1346 | 10:12a |
| 9:02p | New Orleans, LA Union Passenger Terminal (NOL) | 1381 | 9:15a |
| Final Stop | Stations | Miles | Read Up |
Abbreviations For Amtrak Crescent Schedule
R = Receive passengers only; you can board the train but not buy a ticket to this station using this train.
D = Depart only; you can buy a ticket to this station, but you cannot leave this station on this train. Early departures are possible.
* = Stations with Amtrak Connecting Services.
+ = These times apply if you arrive or depart stations between Washington, DC, and New York on Friday and Saturday.
Printable Amtrak Crescent Schedule
Here is a PDF for download or print. You can print off custom and complete schedules on Amtrak.com; learn how to print Amtrak schedules.
A few other links
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Hi Linda.
Over the past 56 days, the train left Washington DC 57% (within 15 minutes) on time.