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Hop aboard the Amtrak Crescent, 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. This train ride offers a taste of different places and new things to see.

The trip covers 1381 miles and averages 31 hours and 46 minutes along its scenic journey! Join us as we delve into all the details of this incredible train adventure, including its schedule, stops, accommodations, and onboard food.

A quick look at the Amtrak Crescent

For those looking for quick answers.

• Accommodations on the Crescent
  • Coach class
  • Sleeping (rooms) accommodations
• Food services on this train.
  • The cafe car is open to all people.
  • Sleeper passengers receive flex dining.
• This train offers free Amtrak Wi-Fi.
• Checked baggage is available between some stations.
• There are a few add-ons for this train.
• Amtrak prohibits Smoking and vaping on all Amtrak trains.
• Get the schedule for this train.

A little about the Crescent route

Discover the beauty of the American South on the Amtrak Crescent, a train journey from the bustling streets of New York City to the lively vibes of New Orleans. Along the way, you’ll visit famous cities such as Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Atlanta, each with fascinating history and culture.

Explore historic towns like Monticello and Charlottesville, where you can experience the rich heritage of the South. In New Orleans, dive into the city’s vibrant scene, from jazz music to delicious Cajun food. Don’t forget to take a relaxing cruise on the Mississippi River and soak in the breathtaking views.

Check out the Beyond Bourbon Street Podcast to learn more about 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.

Who owns the tracks that the Cresent uses?

Amtrak does not own all the tracks it uses, so it runs on ones owned by freight railroads, called host railroads. These railroads are the ones Amtrak uses for 15 miles or more.

• Norfolk Southern (NS)

The Amtrak Crescent on-time performance

Anyone who travels knows that delays happen. Sometimes, they are Amtrak’s fault, such as a mechanical issue; some delays are acts of God. However, on average, the host railroads are responsible for most of Amtrak’s delays.

• The average on-time performance for each station along the route
  • From February 2023 to 2024, the on-time performance averaged 53.5%, with an average delay of 80 minutes.
  • For February 2024, the average on-time performance was 55.6%, with an average delay of 80 minutes.
    • That does not mean the train is late at every station, and trains can make up time.
• The primary causes of delays from Norfolk Southern are interference from freight and passenger trains.

Information from this section comes from the Amtrak Host Railroad Report for February 2024.

Coach seating the Amtrak Crescent.

The Amtrak Crescent features Amtrak’s Amfleet II coach cars, offering various accommodations.

Here are a few things Amtrak’s Crescent coach class provides:

• Comfortable reclining seats
• Ample legroom
• A fold-down tray
• Individual reading lights
• 120v grounded (three-prong) electric outlets on the wall.
• There are also spots for those in mobility vehicles.
• Amtrak coach cars have two restrooms on one of the trains
• Overhead and end of car rack to store your luggage.

Seats get assigned to passengers before boarding, and you may sit with someone unfamiliar, as you cannot reserve a specific seat when booking.

Bring a pillow and blanket if you are traveling overnight in coach class to give you some sleeping comfort. There are no showers in these cars.

Amtrak Crescent coach car layout

Sleeper Car or rooms on the Amtrak Crescent

The Crescent has accommodations that allow you privacy and the chance to sleep horizontally.

All rooms include:

• Complimentary meals
• Lounge access in New Orleans, Philidelphia, New York Penn, and Washington DC
• Dedicated car attendant
• Morning Coffee and juice
• Seats by day and beds by night.
• Currtans are on all windows for privacy and to block out light.
• Amtrak provides
  • Hangers
  • Pillows
  • Fresh linens, blankets, and towels

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.
    • You will receive 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 the 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

Wheelchair Lift is available to assist passengers in boarding and detraining with a wheeled mobility device. There is also space in coach cars and accessible rooms.

Food Offerings On The Crescent

You are welcome to 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.

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.

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.

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 car is available to all passengers and offers:
  • Various hot and cold meals
  • Snacks
  • Hot, cold, and adult beverages.

Meals for Sleeper Car Passengers

The Crescent provides Amtrak Flex Dining for sleeper car passengers.

The meals are prepared off-site, warmed up on the train, and come with beverages and appropriate sides. Non-alcoholic drinks are included, and passengers even receive a complimentary adult beverage with dinner.

Sleeper passenger can eat their meal in their room or the cafe car. Car attendants often bring the meal to the rooms.

Meals available for sleeping car passengers

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

Amtrak Crescent Schedule

Use this information as a guide; check with Amtrak or eticket for exact times. This page displays best on mobile devices if you hold your phone horizontally. These are also guides, and Amtrak can change times at any time.

Abbreviations For Amtrak Crescent Schedule

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