Amtrak’s Night Owl fares to Philadelphia, Washington, DC and more

Here’s the good news. Yes, you can actually travel from New York’s Penn Station to Philadelphia on Amtrak for just $10 each way, thanks to the so-called Night Owl fares the company introduced last year. That’s cheaper than driving to Philly when you factor in tolls for the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and New Jersey Turnpike ($21.67 with Fast Pass), not to mention the price of gas. For many of us, this is even cheaper than the cost of the Long Island Rail Road train Get you to Penn for the trip to Philly.

But a close look at Amtrak fares over the next few weeks shows there’s a catch: You’ll have to be prepared to leave Penn at unusual times — just after midnight, say, on a train that leaves just before 2 a.m arrives. Happily, Philly’s $10 round-trip trains typically run on a more reasonable schedule, leaving at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m.

Things get a little more interesting when traveling further afield. Trains from Penn to Union Station in Washington, D.C., a 3 1/2-hour trip, can cost as little as $20 (leaving at 5:45 a.m. on certain days) or $25 (4:50 a.m.), round-trip during the 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. hours are often $25 as well. To ensure you get the cheapest rate, it’s best to book at least a week in advance.

The same goes for traveling from Penn to Boston. For trains departing at 7:00 p.m. on select dates, fares can be as low as $25 for the 4 1/2-hour trip. Round-trip trips to Penn between 9 and 10 p.m. are also often $25.

Assuming Amtrak trains run on time – although that’s not always a sure thing – all three destinations are cheaper to reach by train than by car, let alone by plane. Not only do Amtrak’s Night Owl fares beat the cheapest airfares, they also have fewer restrictions and can be more convenient (despite those crazy departure times). Wi-Fi is free on all trains, you can take up to three pieces of luggage for free, middle seats remain unsold, and the trains take you right into the middle of the city.

For more information on fares and schedules, visit amtrak.com.