Everything You Need to Know About Amtrak’s Night Owl Fares

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel

Cheaper Amtrak tickets and more time to explore your destination—Amtrak’s Night Owl fares are a win-win. Amtrak recently expanded these ultra-cheap fares (priced as low as $5) to more times and routes, making it even more convenient to travel for less.

“Travelers returning from concerts, plays, sporting events or who prefer earlier and later departures can take advantage of these lower rates,” said a spokesperson for Amtrak.

The inexpensive tickets are available on select trains for departures between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Travelers can find the $5 fares on journeys between Washington, D.C. and New York City and New York City and Boston.

Four bags (two personal items and two suitcases) are included in the fare.

The discounted tickets are subject to availability, so book early to have the best chance of finding one.

Amtrak train crossing a bridge on the Hell Gate Line in New York — Amtrak

Sample Night Owl Fares

One-way coach class fares are priced starting at:

Philadelphia – Baltimore/BWI: $5
New York – Newark/Newark Liberty: $5
Washington – Baltimore/BWI: $5
Boston – Providence: $5
New York – Philadelphia: $10
Philadelphia – Washington: $10
Providence – New Haven: $10
Boston – New Haven: $15
New York – Baltimore/BWI: $15
Washington – Newark/Newark Liberty: $15
New York – Washington: $20
Boston – New York: $20

You Might Also Like:

• Do You Need an International Driver’s License to Rent a Car Abroad?
• How to Layer for Unpredictable Weather Without Looking Like You’re Going on an Expedition
• How to Avoid the Most Expensive Mistakes Most Travelers Make
• The Worst Cities for Airbnb Fees
• How to Beat the Holiday Airport Rush This Season

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.