overnight train or late night bus from NY-DC

[Anonymous]

Hi, just trying to figure out what is best. 11pm bus from port authority, arrive union station 3:30am or 11:30 pm amtrak, arrive union station 7 am (2 hour stop in philly). the price is the same. I like the idea of the train for comfort but just wondering if it will be brutal with that two hours of waiting if can't sleep. thanks to anyone who has done either of these!

[Anonymous]

Neither of these sound great.
There are so many daytime train and bus options-why can't you take something at a more decent hour?

[Anonymous]

have to be in city for something in evening and be at work the next day in DC

[Anonymous]

Why would you want either option? Just take the Acela or fly.

[Anonymous]

ugh. the train is much nicer, but i would do the bus in this case to avoid sitting in philly 2 hours.

[Anonymous]

If I had to go to work the next day, I'd rather arrive at 3:30am than 7am.

[Anonymous]

Is there not a direct train?
I’ve taken Amtrak before from NY to DC in the evening with no stop.

[Anonymous]

Both sound horrible.

[Anonymous]

Why not just hang around NYC a bit longer (lot more to do there than Philly at night!), then take the 4am Amtrak that arrives at 7:45am?

Also if you're referring to Train 67 Northeast Regional that leaves NYC at 11:23pm, it sits in Philly 3.5 hours from 12:51am-4:39am.

[Anonymous]

Do you change trains or just sit on the train for 2 hours in Philadelphia? Either one sounds awful and I probably would not be able to sleep. I'd take the bus.

[Anonymous]

What time do you have to be there?

Getting in to NYC at 3 AM sounds terrible. Even if you found somewhere to hang out for a few hours you'd be a zombie.

If you have to be there super early is there any reason you can't stay the night over?

[Anonymous]

thanks this is NY-DC and DC is home so I'll just go home. thanks to poster that checked it is 3.5 hours---I think that seals the deal and bus it is. I can sleep a bit on bus and then at least lie down for two hours at home and shower and go to work. I'm getting in the mindset of a trip to Europe where you have to work the day you arrive.