How to Book Train Travel from Cincinnati to Washington, DC

The train ride from Cincinnati to Washington, DC covers some amazing parts of the country, including the Blue Ridge Mountains, the banks of the Ohio River, and the white-water rapids of West Virginia. You can choose to travel directly east from Cincinnati to Washington, or enjoy an extended train ride east to Chicago.

Things You'll Need

• A computer with internet access.

Instructions

1. The 50 Cardinal travels this route directly three days per week. This trip lasts about 15 hours.

2. Traveling on days that the 50 Cardinal does not run requires a trip west to Chicago aboard the 51 Cardinal. Take advantage of the stop-over in Chicago to visit local landmarks such as Wrigley Field, or to enjoy some of Chicago's finest cuisine. Board the 30 Capitol Limited for the eastward trip to Washington, DC, which will last over 17 hours.

3. Call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak's web site in the "Resources" section below. On the web site, you can book your train reservations via Amtrak's Fare Finder. You can also navigate the site if you have a PDA, Blackberry or other handheld device.

4. If you ordered your tickets online or by phone, pick them up at a ticket agent or at one of the Quik-Trak kiosks that can be found at many Amtrak locations (you'll need to enter your reservation number). If you've booked your trip far in advance, you can also request that your tickets be mailed to you.