Amtrak Crescent: Schedule, Stops, & Route Guide

The Amtrak Crescent is a daily long-distance train that connects New York City and New Orleans. It travels through various regions, including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Train 19 heads southbound to New Orleans, while Train 20 goes northbound to New York City.

The entire trip lasts approximately 32 hours, with key stops at Washington, DC; Charlottesville; Charlotte; Atlanta; Birmingham; Meridian; and New Orleans.

This guide provides information on the Crescent schedule, station stops, coach and sleeping-car options, food service, luggage, bicycles, and pets, and includes a printable schedule to help you plan your trip.

Amtrak Crescent At a Glance

A Little About the Crescent Route

The Amtrak Crescent connects the Northeast to the Deep South, traveling from New York City to New Orleans. Along its route, the train passes through 12 states and Washington, DC. These states include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

This route offers a blend of large cities, college towns, Southern landscapes, and traditional long-distance train travel. Key stops include Washington, DC, Charlottesville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, Meridian, and New Orleans.

Charlottesville is a popular destination for history enthusiasts, especially with attractions like Monticello nearby. Further south, New Orleans offers vibrant music, delicious food, scenic river views, and a unique character. Whether you’re traveling the entire route or just a portion of it, the Crescent is one of Amtrak’s classic train services that connects the Northeast with the South.

If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans, be sure to listen to the Beyond Bourbon Street Podcast for local tips and suggestions that go beyond the typical tourist attractions. Mark and his guests provide valuable insights for travelers looking to experience more of what the city has to offer.

And if you go, please send me a picture of your beignets. They are one of my favorite treats! Just remember: do not sneeze or breathe deeply while holding one, or you will create a powdered sugar mess.

Amtrak Crescent Timetable or Schedule

This timetable is sourced from the official Amtrak website and was last updated on June 19, 2026. Times can change at any time, so please check your e-ticket on the day of travel or print your ticket in advance.

Abbreviations For the Amtrak Crescent Schedule

Printable Amtrak Crescent Schedule

Here is a PDF for download or printing. You can also print custom, complete schedules on Amtrak.com; learn how to print Amtrak schedules.

Amtrak Crescent On-Time Performance

In June 2026, the Crescent’s Customer On-Time Performance (OTP) was 55.0%, compared to a trailing 12-month average of 72.2%. Both figures are below Amtrak’s minimum standard of 80% for long-distance trains.

In June, passengers who arrived late experienced an average delay of 92 minutes. Over the past 12 months, the average delay for late passengers was 69 minutes.

The Crescent travels over Amtrak-owned tracks between New York Penn Station and Washington, D.C. South of Washington, the train primarily operates over Norfolk Southern tracks.

• Norfolk Southern: Freight train interference was the largest host-responsible delay category in June, followed by temporary slow orders.

June’s Customer OTP was significantly lower than Crescent’s trailing 12-month average. Passengers should allow extra time when arranging separate train reservations, flights, rental car pickups, or other time-sensitive activities after their arrival.

These initial figures are from Amtrak’s June 2026 Host Railroad Report. Customer OTP measures if passengers arrived at their destination on time, rather than if the train reached all scheduled stations.

Coach seating on the Amtrak Crescent.

If you’re considering the Amtrak Crescent, it features Amtrak’s Amfleet II coaches, which offer a variety of 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 amenities such as comfortable reclining seats, ample legroom, fold-down trays, individual reading lights, and 120V grounded (three-prong) wall outlets.

Additionally, designated areas are available for passengers using mobility vehicles, and each train has two restrooms.

Luggage-wise, overhead and end-of-car racks are available for storing bags during the journey.

You receive 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 overnight coach travelers bring a pillow and blanket to make their journey more comfortable.

Please note that there are no showers in the coach cars, but you’ll still enjoy a relaxed 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

Amtrak sleeper rooms have everything you need for an enjoyable journey, including seating, beds, a sink, and more!

One of my favorite aspects of these rooms is the privacy and the ability to sleep on your side. These rooms are one of my happy places and could be well worth the upgrade.

Each room provides comfortable daytime seating that the sleeper car attendants convert into beds at night. A second bed folds down from the ceiling for a travel companion.

The room also features a table that pulls out from the wall, perfect for playing games like checkers or chess during your journey.

Enjoy complimentary meals, a dedicated car attendant, and a refreshing start to your day with complimentary coffee and juice.

Sleeper car passengers have lounge access when boarding in New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York Penn Station, or Washington, D.C.

These rooms provide privacy and comfort, with curtains on all windows to block out light. Amtrak also supplies hangers, pillows, fresh linens, blankets, and towels to ensure a cozy stay.

The door locks while you are inside, but not when you leave the room, so be mindful of your belongings.

Room types offered on the Crescent

• Roomette
  • Smallest Amtrak accommodation
  • Comfortable for one, cozy for two.
• Bedroom
  • Larger, with a bathroom and a shower.
  • This room allows you to relax and unwind during your travels.
• Accessible room
  • For passengers with mobility issues.
  • There is room for you and a travel companion.

Crescent sleeping car layout

There are two sleeper car layouts, and the one below provides a general overview of what to expect.

Bringing bikes and pets on the Amtrak Crescent

Bikes

Amtrak has limited space available for standard, full-size bicycles. Bikes must meet the following requirements:

• Weight: Up to 50 lbs
• Dimensions: 70 inches x 41 inches x 8.5 inches

Amtrak places bikes in designated bike racks or areas inside the baggage car. For more information on bringing your bike on the Crescent, please refer to Amtrak’s bike policy.

Pets and Service Animals

Amtrak allows dogs and cats on the Crescent, with a few conditions:

• The combined weight of the pet and carrier must be no more than 20 pounds.
• Trips must be seven hours or less.
• You must complete the necessary paperwork before boarding.

Amtrak will send you the online form after your reservation is complete. You can also find it in the “My Trip” section on Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app. For more details, visit Amtrak’s pet policy page.

If you have a service or comfort animal, please review Amtrak’s service animal page for qualifications and booking instructions before making your reservation.

Luggage

• You can check baggage.
  • Two bags, each weighing up to 50 lbs. and measuring up to 75 linear inches, are allowed per person at no charge.
  • 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, up to 25 pounds (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

Charges apply to additional and oversized luggage; see Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.

Accessibility on the Crescent

A Wheelchair Lift is available to assist passengers with wheeled mobility devices in boarding and deplaning. There is also space in coach cars and accessible rooms.

Crescent route divided by day

This graph shows the Crescent route broken down by day, with each day’s first and last stops.

Eating On The Amtrak Crescent

There are two food cars on the Crescent, and you are welcome to bring food and beverages on board to enjoy during your journey. However, please note that Amtrak cannot store, heat, or refrigerate any food you get on board.

While you can bring alcohol onto Amtrak trains, keep in mind that you are not allowed to consume it unless you are in a sleeper car and are in your room or a buddy’s room.

I’ve found that bringing snacks on my adventures is helpful, even when meals are included with my sleeper car reservation. When I travel in coach class, I usually buy food on board, but I still pack some snacks in case the café is closed. You never know when you might need a quick snack along the way.

If traveling on a long-distance train, please note that the café will be closed at night. Food service will not be available until it reopens in the morning. In such cases, the snacks you pack will be beneficial.

Café Car – Open for All Passengers!

You will find the café car between the coach cars and the diner or sleeper cars. It is open from early morning to late at night, typically 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Please be aware that the café may close during the attendants’ breaks.

The café offers a variety of hot and cold meals and snacks, as well as hot, cold, and alcoholic beverages.

Dining car – for sleeper car passengers

The Crescent offers Amtrak Flex Dining for passengers in sleeper cars. Meals are available in the dining car, as 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 are served with meals, and passengers receive a complimentary adult beverage with dinner.

A sleeper passenger can dine in their room or in the dining car, with car attendants often delivering meals to the room as needed.

Meals offered by day for sleeping car passengers

The following table displays the meals served to sleeper passengers on the Amtrak Crescent.

Ready to Ride the Amtrak Crescent?

I hope this schedule and guide help simplify your planning for the Crescent trip between New York and New Orleans. Before you travel, please check your eTicket or the Amtrak app for the most current departure and arrival times, as schedules may change.

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If you found this guide helpful, please consider supporting Travels with Kev through my support page or by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon. Patreon members receive a postcard from my travels each month.

Thank you for reading and supporting “Travels with Kev.” Safe travels, and I hope you enjoy your journey aboard the Crescent!

Kev

A few other links