I have done this trip a few times, and definitely the train is your best bet. Take Amtrak.

The bus can run into traffic and weather delays.

For a teen boy, maybe do food-related stuff like pizza tour, walk across Brooklyn Bridge, a live TV taping like SNL, go to the top of a building like Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards/Top of the Rock/Empire State Building, hang out around NYU and people watch in Washington Square Park, go on a boat ride around Manhattan.

Have you looked at flying? It's often quite inexpensive, and almost always less expensive than the Acela. It's my first choice for work. For personal trips I usually drive.

I’ve taken Vamoose several times and it was very easy (haven’t gone in the past few years though). We left from Rosslyn.

Vamoose and Tripper are both fine from Bethesda— that’s our preferred way to go because we live near there and it would be another 30-40 minutes to get to Union Station (plus fewer departures and more money).

Probably slight edge to Vamoose but whichever has a better schedule is fine. You can also pay extra for the bus that is 2 and 1 seats vs 2 and 2.

I have taken the Go bus and the best bus from the Vienna metro multiple times. Sometimes it has been “an adventure”, but the value is great and I felt I could splurge more in New York City!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which DC suburb? Different buses run from different areas. We use Best Bus from the Vienna Metro.

Can you leave your car parked at the Vienna Metro for days?

No, there are 4 stations that allow multiple day parking.

https://www.wmata.com/service/parking/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which DC suburb? Different buses run from different areas. We use Best Bus from the Vienna Metro.

Can you leave your car parked at the Vienna Metro for days?

Probably easier to uber to the metro.

Go Bus from Tysons was old and bumpy on the way there. The one from NYC was much better. I would do it again, but some people wouldn't like it.

Anonymous wrote:Which DC suburb? Different buses run from different areas. We use Best Bus from the Vienna Metro.

Can you leave your car parked at the Vienna Metro for days?

Anonymous wrote:Take Amtrak or drive. Do not take a bus.

Why?

Take Amtrak or drive. Do not take a bus.

Which DC suburb? Different buses run from different areas. We use Best Bus from the Vienna Metro.

IMO the Acela isn’t really worth the money for saving only 30 minutes. Regular Amtrak is an easy trip.

For busses you could look at Vamoose or Tripper—both stop in Arlington and Bethesda. The train is way better though.

Doesn't the Acela run just about hourly?

Personally I don't think it's worth the cost to save only 30 minutes compared to the regular train. That's the best option if you can book well in advance and get the $100-120 roundtrips. But need to book usually 2 months in advance for those fares.

The Acela times don’t really work for me. What bus lines have you taken recently? Or should I take the regular Amtrak? We are in the DC suburbs and heading to Manhattan for a weekend and do not want to bring a car.

Also- anything that you’d recommend doing with 16 year old boy? (Already have a Broadway show booked and some restaurants picked out. He’s been there with school so we aren’t planning on Ellis island or the Tenement museum…).

Thanks!