pittsburgh train tour

Amtrak Guide

By train travelers for train travelers, 12 best amtrak trips from pittsburgh.

If you’re looking for a unique getaway from Pittsburgh, two Amtrak routes stop in the city each day ( Capitol Limited and Pennsylvanian ) that can take you as far west as Chicago and to cities on the East Coast. There are many stops along the way, and a day trip is doable or you can spend a night on the train or in the destination of your choice.

To start planning, here are the the best Amtrak trips from Pittsburgh that don’t involve train transfers or middle-of-the-night travel.

This website is reader supported and not affiliated with Amtrak. We may earn a small commission from links on this page . For current schedules and ticket prices, visit Amtrak.com.

An short day trip, Johnstown is a small city in the Alleghenies that is less than two hours away from Pittsburgh by train. A fun attraction is the Inclined Plane Tram that will take you to the top of Yoder Hill for panoramic views. In town you can learn about the great flood (which is why the tram was built) at the Johnstown Flood Museum, or explore the many trails at the scenic Stackhouse Park .

Restaurants, the above attractions, paintball and an escape room are in walking distance of the Amtrak station (ride the inclined plane to reach the park). Rideshare may also be available. Note that the train arrives in the morning and returns same day to Pittsburgh around dinnertime.

If you love trains, then consider an Amtrak trip to Altoona . Travel time is about 2.5 hours and you can return same day to Pittsburgh, making it a great day trip option. The city was established in 1849 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, and you can visit the Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark , which trains still use today to travel over the Allegheny Mountains. You can also take the family to Lakemont Park for the world’s oldest surviving roller coaster and other rides.

Just over three hours from Pittsburgh on Amtrak, Huntingdon is a small city near many outdoor recreation areas. Raystown Lake is a popular vacation spot that’s a short drive away from the station. You can also check out Lincoln Caverns , Cliffs Trail (wonderful views) and multiple state parks with a rental car ( Enterprise has pickup service). Stay overnight to enjoy all the things to do, or you can explore the area for about five hours before heading back to Pittsburgh.

Cumberland, Maryland is four hours away from Pittsburgh on Amtrak. You can hike or bike on the  Great Allegheny Passage ,  C&O Canal Towpath  and in  Rocky Gap State Park . Other top attractions include the C&O Canal National Historical Park, Allegheny Museum and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. For golf, spa and casino, consider staying at the  Rocky Gap Casino Resort  or view  top places to stay  for other ideas. Enterprise Rent-A-Car  is near the Amtrak station and offers pickup service.

The capital of Pennsylvania,  Harrisburg  has a variety of things to see and do. You can visit the  National Civil War Museum  and  State Museum of Pennsylvania , explore City Island Park (which has a playground, beach, mini-golf and  riverboat cruises ) and walk or bike along the  Capital Area Greenbelt  ( bike share rentals  available). You can also rent a car or use rideshare to reach Hersheypark , which is only a 22-minute drive away from downtown. Amtrak travel time from Pittsburgh is 5.5 hours.

Plan a trip to  Lancaster  to experience Amish Country. Kids will have fun at the  Dutch Wonderland  amusement park, and there are historical sites to explore including  President James Buchanan’s home ,  Amish Village  and the  Amish Farm and House . The historic  Central Market  is also a fantastic place to buy local food (consider bringing a cooler or cooler bag with you on the train). To get around, rideshare is your best option. Travel time from Pittsburgh is about six hours.

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry  is full of history and beautiful scenery. The town played an important role in the Civil War, and we recommend a  certified guide tour to learn about all that has happened here. The other must-do activities include visiting  The Point  (where two rivers meet),  Jefferson Rock  and various  hiking trails  for beautiful river and mountain views. You’ll also find the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters nearby.

Travel time on the train is just over six hours and you’ll arrive next to the Potomac River, restaurants and shops in the downtown area. For a convenient place to stay,  Town’s Inn ,  Stonehouse Bed & Breakfast  and  The Ledge Bed & Breakfast  are in walking distance of the station and the attractions.

Philadelphia

For an essential American experience, travel 7.5 hours to  Philadelphia  on the train to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Other top things to do include eating  cheesesteaks , hanging out at the waterfront , going on a walking tour and visiting the many museums .

A hop-on-off  sightseeing trolley  and  bus tours  are options for getting around the city and seeing the sights in a short amount of time. There are also bikeshare rentals and plenty of Lyft and Uber rides. For more things to do, explore Amtrak day trips from Philadelphia .

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is full of activities : museums, monuments,  year-round events  and  great restaurants . Consider a  sightseeing tour  to easily explore the many attractions, and plan your trip in March to view the  cherry blossoms  or in fall for great weather and fewer tourists.

Travel time from Pittsburgh is almost eight hours and you’ll arrive at  Union Station  where you can transfer to the  WMATA  red line or get a ride with Uber, Lyft or a taxi. View the  best places to stay in Washington D.C.  — you’ll need to stay at least one night in the area. There are also many Amtrak day trip options from Washington D.C. (and longer train trips ) if you want to continue your rail adventure.

The home of the University of Notre Dame,  South Bend  is about eight hours away from Pittsburgh by train. It’s a great option if you want to go to a college football game or explore the campus. You can also visit the  Studebaker National Museum , go to a show or tour the beautiful  Morris Performing Arts Center , gamble at the  Four Winds Casino , or view the  St. Joseph River  via kayak, whitewater raft , bike or your own two feet.

New York City

For a big-city getaway, travel 9.5 hours on Amtrak to  New York City . You’ll arrive at  Penn Station  with easy access to the subway, commuter trains, taxis and rideshare services, which makes it easy to visit the many  museums ,  attractions ,  restaurants ,  Broadway shows  and  shopping  destinations.

We recommend staying in New York City at least two nights to have enough time to sightsee and go to a show.  Midtown  (near Broadway theaters),  West Village ,  Upper West Side  and  Chelsea  are some of the popular areas for an overnight stay.

For great food,  live music  and  museums , head to  Chicago . Travel time is almost 10 hours and you’ll arrive early evening near the Chicago River and a  water taxi  stop. There are many  festivals and events  to plan a trip around, and top attractions include the 360 Chicago Observation Deck, Chicago Riverwalk, Lakefront Trail, Navy Pier and Wrigley Field. There are also many boat tours , which are a fun way to see the city.

It’s best to stay two nights or longer to see the sights. Popular hotel areas include the  Loop ,  West Loop  and  River North . You can also continue on your rail journey with an  Amtrak trip from Chicago  to reach destinations across America.

More Information

• Pennsylvania Amtrak Stations
• 5 best Amtrak sleeper car routes
• 10 best Amtrak trips on the East Coast
• Amtrak’s 15 long-distance routes and the places they go

Top photo credit: Roman Boed

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Yankee Leisure Group | Yankee Holidays | Unique Journeys

Best Amtrak Trips From Pittsburgh

The home of football fanatics and “the Golden Triangle” is a place everyone should visit to get in some sight seeing and relaxation. Come to Pittsburgh to see one of their four outrageously successful sports teams or take a trip down one of the three rivers that flow through the city. Don’t leave the city without taking the Duquesne Incline Railway that will takes you 400 feet up in an 1877 cable car to the top of Mount Washington. Now, that’s a view!

There are four notable places that you may want to travel to near the “Steel City”, if you want to have a special experience riding the rails. Amtrak has routes running from Pitttsburgh to four cities that beg to be explored. Washington, D.C., Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Chicago are major cities that have the entertainment, history and adventure that you crave.

• 1.1 How to get to Washington, D.C. from Pittsburgh
• 1.2 What to do in Washington, D.C.
• 2.1 How to get to Harrisburg, PA from Pittsburgh
• 2.2 What to do in Harrisburg, PA
• 3.1 How to get to Philadelphia, PA from Pittsburgh
• 3.2 What to do in Philadelphia
• 4.1 How to get to Chicago, IL from Pittsburgh
• 4.2 What to do in Chicago

Washington D.C.

How to get to washington, d.c. from pittsburgh.

Your journey from Pittsburg to Washington D.C. will be filled with the sights of rolling hills, historic places and forest covered mountain tops. Nix the driving idea and go for a train ride that will take you 7 hours and 45 minutes instead of the drive that includes toll fees, gas stops and traffic. This can be an experience that you might want to replicate going from city to city.

Hop on the Capitol Limited at Union Station in Pittsburg and ride the rails as you enjoy the scenery on this Superliner that has all the comforts you could ask for. If you want a place to rest and take a nap, reserve a roomette or a bedroom and have the place to yourself. Have hot meals brought to your room and enjoy your own toilet if in a bedroom . If you like mingling with other guests, grab a snack and head to the Observation Car for the best seat on the train to see America pass you by.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

As you probably know, there is never a shortage of things to do in America’s capital city. If you stand in the middle of the National Mall, there is nothing like being surrounded by America’s most iconic sights. Filled with history, they are all begging to be explored. The National Museum of American History is a great place to start. Then stroll over to the Lincoln Monument. If you got a ticket, tour the Washington Monument and see the spectacular views from the top.

Harrisburg, PA

How to get to harrisburg, pa from pittsburgh.

Your tour of Pennsylvania can include an Amtrak ride to the state capital and all that goes with a metropolitan city in a beautiful area. From Pittsburgh to Harrisburg is a quick five hour ride that takes you through Amish country and battlefields of the American Civil War. Enjoy the countryside and relax with your thoughts instead of battling traffic.

The Pennsylvanian is a comfortable train that includes Coach and Business Class seating. Enjoy a Cafe Car, baggage service and free Wifi on board. Seating in business class will be a little more comfortable on the Pennsylvanian and you can enjoy complimentary beverages in this car. If you need the extra silence, try the Quiet Car to focus on that deadline.

What to do in Harrisburg, PA

Whether on business or traveling for pleasure, Harrisburg is a great city to visit. Old architecture and thoughtful city planning make this town walkable and easy to enjoy. Start by taking a stroll by the Susquehanna River to get to know the city a bit. Then explore the exquisitely adorned state capital and all it offers the history buff. Later, take a riverboat cruise and enjoy brunch as you see the sights of this beautiful city.

Philadelphia, PA

How to get to philadelphia, pa from pittsburgh.

The route from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia is around seven hours long. This is seven hours of enjoying lunch, playing a round of cards with family, reading a book or just mindlessly gazing at the scenery. This beats five hours in the car any day in my book! Start at the Pittsburgh Amtrak Station and ride to the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Enjoy the sights of quaint countryside towns like Bedford and Somerset where the views are so picturesque, they would have Norman Rockwell swooning!

The Pennsylvanian is a luxury train with Coach and Business Class seating that is comfortable and reclines for those dozing episodes passengers tend to get from relaxation. . There is free WiFi for everyone on the train to use. They have pretty much thought of everything!

What to do in Philadelphia

Brothers and sisters will show you their love in this city where America got its start. Besides the usual suspects like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, visit some of lesser known but just as interesting sights that this city has to offer. If you are looking for something both interesting and creepy, tour the Eastern State Penitentiary and maybe you’ll even catch a glimpse of Al Capone himself. See a real war hero when you step aboard the Battleship New Jersey. You can’t visit “The City of Brotherly Love” without visiting the Love Sculpture. Stroll around and take a selfie of this iconic landmark in this fun loving city.

Chicago, IL

How to get to chicago, il from pittsburgh.

The two hour difference between driving and train travel will be well worth it when going to Chicago from Pittsburgh. Sit back and relax as you see the world go by on this 9 and a half hour excursion. Traveling through sweet midwestern towns and famous university greens are on the docket when traversing this route.

The Capitol Limited is a luxurious Superliner that will change the way you travel. Why lose so much time driving or battling airport security when you could be enjoying the scenery or even sleeping. It really is a no brainer! Book a family bedroom with your children and never worry about their comfort or the comfort of other travelers. With beds, a bathroom and a sink, the trip is bound to be an adventure that your family will always remember.

If there are any drawbacks to the Capitol Limited the only one is that there is no Wifi, therefore a hot spot with data is a good idea to get work done or to stream a movie. However, the Sightseer Lounge is a great place to pass the time, see some scenery and grab a yummy bite to eat.

What to do in Chicago

When in Chicago you can maximize your time by staying near the “Miracle Mile”. You can walk to Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue and many other amazing Chicago attractions. Don’t forget the site of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition at the world famous Field Museum. For a great tour in history, take a boat tour on the Chicago River. The city views are spectacular and you will learn interesting tidbits about the city’s history that are fascinating.

Pittsburg is one of those cities that has an unexpected beauty and history that is exciting to explore. When you are finished touring around, do yourself a huge favor and take one of these recommended routes and discover a whole new world of travel.

Wendy Edwards

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Public transit.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit , the largest transit agency in southwestern Pennsylvania, provides public transportation and Access services throughout the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. PRT operates a total of 102 routes, including 98 bus, 3 light rail, and 2 inclines, with 84% of all bus routes traveling to Downtown Pittsburgh.

Click here for the Interactive System Map Click here for information on Fares and Passes Click  here  for Schedules, Maps, and Real-time Arrival Info Click  here  for Rider Information

ConnectCard A reusable plastic smart card makes paying your fares faster, easier, and more secure than paying with cash. Just tap your ConnectCard on the farebox when you ride.

You can get a ConnectCard at PRT’s Downtown Service, most Giant Eagle stores, and other select retailers. A ConnectCard can then be reloaded at ConnectCard machines in the T stations and select bus stops within the PRT’s service area. You can even use PRT’s Online ConnectCard Management system and set up your account online. Click  here to set up an account .

TrueTime TrueTime is PRT’s real-time information system. To learn more about how to use it, click here .

Route Changes PRT’s website details any route changes they are making. Details about the changes, including maps and scheduling via Trip Planner, are available via their website. Learn more about the active detours currently in place.

Free Fare T Zone Within Downtown Pittsburgh, PRT operates a free-fare T zone. The zone includes the following stations: First Avenue Station, Steel Plaza, Wood Street Station, and Gateway; North Side Station and Allegheny Station.

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Ten fixed-route public transportation agencies serve riders in the 10-county Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission region. Service is provided by bus, light rail, and incline, and most agencies provide commuter service into Downtown Pittsburgh.

Many regional transit agencies service regional park-n-ride facilities where motorists park their vehicles or commuters can be dropped off to board public transit vehicles or meet their carpool or vanpool group to travel to their destinations. The CommuteInfo website  has detailed information on each park-n-ride facility located in the region, including physical characteristics, the transit service offered at each facility, a map, and directions to the facility.

Passenger Rail

Amtrak, the nation’s publicly funded railroad service, provides intercity passenger rail service.  Two routes – the Pennsylvanian and the Capitol Limited – service the Pittsburgh area at Downtown’s Amtrak Station. Click here  for Amtrak information and schedules.

Each route provides one trip a day in each direction.  The Pennsylvanian, a part of the state-managed Keystone service, connects Pittsburgh and New York City.  The Capitol Limited, a part of Amtrak’s long route system, connects Washington and Chicago with a stop in Pittsburgh.

Based on the Amtrak website, Pennsylvanian stations available to handle checked bags and bicycles are Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Altoona, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Newark, and New York.  The bicycle charge is $20.00.

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Find train tickets to Pittsburgh

Good to know, top tips for finding pittsburgh train tickets.

• Some of the features of the train station in Pittsburgh include Quik-Trak kiosks, a fully staffed ticket office, as well as vending machines for passenger use. There are also restrooms and elevators inside of the station. Although there are no restaurants available inside of the station, when you walk out of the station and turn left, you'll be right in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh where there are several dining establishments that are within walking distance.
• For those travelers on trains to Pittsburgh that have accessibility issues or disabilities, there are several amenities they will find in the station to aid them in their travels. This includes features such as an accessible platform, waiting room, water fountain, and ticket office. There is a wheelchair lift available in the station to assist with boarding trains and there are wheelchairs available for use by passengers while they are in the station.
• When you travel on Amtrak on trains to Pittsburgh, you can take two carry-on bags and two personal items on the train. You can also check up to four bags on the train. Once you arrive at the station in Pittsburgh, there is staff available to help you with your baggage if you need it. If you would like to store your bags at the station, this service is available.
• If you have an interest in seeing some of the small-town life that exists in Pennsylvania, a couple of towns that you can visit on a day trip from Pittsburgh include Latrobe and Greensburg, which are stops on Amtrak's The Pennsylvanian route. The trip to Latrobe is less than 1h and the trip to Greensburg is about 15min less than that.
• Looking for cheap train tickets to Pittsburgh? 25% of our users found round-trip tickets to Pittsburgh for the following prices or less: From Harrisburg $86, from Philadelphia $112, from Washington, D.C. $146
• Pittsburgh's most searched train station on KAYAK is Pittsburgh. It is located in the city center.
• You will generally catch the best train deals if you travel to Pittsburgh in the afternoon.

FAQs when traveling to Pittsburgh by train

What is the most popular train station in pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is the most searched station in Pittsburgh by KAYAK users.

Which train companies travel to Pittsburgh?

Amtrak is the only train company serving Pittsburgh.

How long is the train journey to Pittsburgh from the closest popular cities?

Chicago to Pittsburgh - 9h 25m Newark to Pittsburgh - 8h 56m Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh - 7h 43m Philadelphia to Pittsburgh - 7h 23m Harrisburg to Pittsburgh - 5h 29m

What kind of public transportation options are available at the train station when I arrive on an Amtrak train to Pittsburgh?

There are nearly 20 public bus routes that make a stop at the train station that will connect you with a number of locations throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. There are also a number of suburban transit routes that make stops at the station and will take you to more distant locations outside of the city. The fare to ride local buses is around $2.50.

Is it possible to rent a car at the train station in Pittsburgh?

While there is no rental car counter inside the train station, there is a Hertz location that is less than 1 mile from the station that offers service to train customers. The location offers pick-up and drop-off service from the train station. They are open during normal business hours Monday through Friday, and they are also open during the morning hours on Saturday. This location will let you return your car to a different rental car location if you so desire.

What are some good choices for a hotel that is near the train station in Pittsburgh?

There are a couple of good choices that are just a short walk from the train station. These include the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown, The Even Hotels Pittsburgh Downtown, and The Omni William Penn Hotel, all of which are no more than 0.7 miles from the train station.

What types of amenities will I find on Amtrak to Pittsburgh?

When you purchase train tickets to Pittsburgh aboard Amtrak's The Pennsylvanian route, which offers service between New York City and Pittsburgh with several stops in between, you will find some amazing amenities. Some of the things you will find on this train include a café for dining, free Wi-Fi, as well as business class seating. The total travel time between New York City and Pittsburgh is around 9h. You also have the ability to bring bicycles and pets aboard this train.

Book train tickets to Pittsburgh (round-trip)

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Train Museum

The largest collection of antique American toy trains in the world is right here in Allegheny West! Privately owned, its displays and operating village layouts are open to the public on just two days a year – for visitors to the annual Allegheny West Christmas Tours.

Open Just Two Days Each Year

Visit a magical world, surrounded by thousands of colorful toy trains made between 1860 and 1939 by companies like Lionel, American Flyer and Ives – many of them rolling merrily through miniature towns and countryside, tunnels and bridges. This unique holiday destination has been the subject of books, magazines and entire television programs – and now you can experience it yourself.

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to step back in time, joining visitors of all ages as they revisit Christmas long ago – through the eyes of a child.

Train Tour tickets are $15 ($20 after November 30) and can be purchased only during the  Old Allegheny Victorian Christmas House Tour , either in person at 719 Brighton Ave or online. You are not required to purchase House Tour Tickets in order to purchase train tour tickets.

If you would like to be notified of upcoming Allegheny West events, including the next dates the Train Tour will be open, please sign-up  here  for our mailing lists.

Train Museum Hours

• Friday, December 9 : 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
• Saturday, December 10 : 12:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Visit the Train Museum

[← Back to Christmas Tour ]

Take This Fall Foliage Train Ride Near Pittsburgh For A One-Of-A-Kind Experience

Beth Price-Williams

A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.

More by this Author

Climb aboard a vintage Pullman car that will take you on a magical autumn journey through the Oil Creek Valley. This fall foliage train ride near Pittsburgh provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy unspoiled views of the fall foliage splashed across the Western Pennsylvania countryside.

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These 10 Charming Pumpkin Patches Near Pittsburgh Are Picture Perfect For A Fall Day

9 Unforgettable Tours Everyone In Pittsburgh Should Take At Least Once

The Santa Train Ride Near Pittsburgh Everyone Should Experience At Least Once

Create magical autumn memories aboard this fall foliage train ride near Pittsburgh. If you’re looking for a train ride a little closer to home, check out the Kiski Railroad Junction Fall Foliage excursions, which operate Fridays and Saturdays throughout October.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Find trains to Pittsburgh

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Pittsburgh trains arrive at Pittsburgh Union Station, which is located on the eastern edge of the downtown area and just a few minutes from the banks of the Allegheny River. You can easily walk to the downtown area in a few minutes, or take Bus 40, 44, P1 or P68. There are plenty of options for buses due to the central location of the train station and the popularity of public transit in the city center. Train passengers who wish to relax at their hotel immediately upon arrival have plenty of options to choose from within walking distance of the arrival station.

Can you leave luggage at Pittsburgh train stations?

After taking the train to Pittsburgh, you can take advantage of checked baggage service and storage at Pittsburgh Union Station. For travelers who finish a long train ride and simply want to get off the coach and begin exploring, this is a simple and convenient option. Although it does not come included with Pittsburgh train tickets, you can purchase checked luggage services and storage, so your belongings will be handled by the station staff and kept safe while you begin your adventures.

What are the popular stations in Pittsburgh?

The primary station for Pittsburgh trains is Pittsburgh Union Station, located on the eastern edge of the downtown Pittsburgh region and within walking distance of entertainment options and hotels. The station itself is located in a district known as the Golden Triangle, which makes up the downtown area and is named after the shape formed by the convergence of two large rivers within Pittsburgh—the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River.

What train lines operate through Pittsburgh train stations?

Both of the train lines that service Pittsburgh are operated by Amtrak, the leading passenger train travel company in the United States. A train to Pittsburgh will arrive either as part of the Capitol Limited line or the Pennsylvanian line. As you browse Pittsburgh train tickets, ensure that your journey utilizes one of these lines if you want to avoid mixed service and the inclusion of a bus coach. The Capitol Limited line operates between Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Illinois. It includes stops in Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio, and South Bend, Indiana—home to the University of Notre Dame. The Pennsylvanian line operates between New York City and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The stop in New York City is at the famous Pennsylvania Station, located in the heart of Manhattan underneath Madison Square Garden. This station uses the newly renovated Moynihan Train Hall, which is attached to the original Pennsylvania Station but offers far more amenities and comfort options. Other stops between New York City and Pittsburgh include Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Philadelphia.

What services are available on trains to and from Pittsburgh?

Depending on the length of your journey, you may want to take advantage of certain accommodations that are available on Pittsburgh-bound trains. The Pennsylvanian is designed for daily trips between Pittsburgh and New York City, without any bedroom cars that offer private rooms for travelers. The Pennsylvanian has limited food options but does include a cafe car and business seating for an upgraded experience. The Capitol Limited offers accommodations for longer periods of travel since it operates as far west as Chicago, Illinois, and as far east as Washington, D.C. This includes sleeper cars, dining options, and a cafe car. All trains operated by Amtrak offer luggage storage, restrooms in each car, and personal charging outlets at each seat.

How much is a train ticket to Pittsburgh?

The average price you’ll pay to travel by train to Pittsburgh will be determined by where you’re coming from. If you’re leaving from New York the lowest ticket price is usually about $132, from Chicago it’s about $168 and from Philadelphia it’s around $110.

What is the main train station in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is a popular station to arrive at. You’ll find many options from here to get to your destination. Some common major cities you can get to by train from Pittsburgh are New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

What train companies go to Pittsburgh?

Amtrak is a common choice made by travelers seeking to travel by train to Pittsburgh. More rail options may be available, depending on where you’re coming from.

How far in advance should I book a train to Pittsburgh?

Ride a one-way train to Pittsburgh for $55 on average this week. Overall, prices are generally stable for the next 3 months or so. We recommend booking when you can to ensure you have your desired date secured.

How far is the center of Pittsburgh from Pittsburgh station?

13.6 mi separate Pittsburgh station (the city’s most popular train station) from the center of Pittsburgh.

How far is Pittsburgh from Carnegie Science Center, David L Lawrence Convention Center and Pittsburgh Amtrak Station?

To get to Pittsburgh's popular Carnegie Science Center, David L Lawrence Convention Center, or Pittsburgh Amtrak Station from Pittsburgh, it is 1.3 mi, 0.1 mi, or 0.0 mi, respectively.

Popular train routes to Pittsburgh

Most frequently searched train routes to pittsburgh, along with the cheapest price and shortest travel time., start planning your trip to pittsburgh, get the latest pittsburgh flight insights.

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Train & Yacht Rock Revue at The Stage AE

Stage ae, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, train & yacht rock revue, tickets from $96.

Phenomenal hitmakers Train is going on a massive Summer Road Trip this 2024, and they’re set to showcase their plethora of pop rock staples across the U.S.! Are you ready to sing along to their quintessential hits that took over the airwaves since the late ‘90s?! If your answer is yes, then you are in for an excellent season! The Grammy Award-winning icons are taking their tour to over 40 major cities, including a much-awaited stop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! On Thursday, 11th July 2024, see Train light up the stage, along with their friends Yacht Rock Revue! These incredible performers will surely bring the house down at the premiere concert destination, Stage AE! During this evening, the venue will be power-packed with outstanding hits from their multi-platinum-selling albums! They’re one of the biggest bands to conquer the early 2000s and continue to dominate the music scene with their latest efforts! So hurry and score tickets to see Train and supporting act Yacht Rock Revue at Stage AE on Thursday, 11th July 2024!

Train & Yacht Rock Revue Tickets from $96

It’s summer’s most epic pop-rock tour, and it’s coming your way! Train’s Summer Road Trip 2024 covers over 40 dates, and it’s hitting all the right places! The monster outing also includes the presence of the remarkable Yacht Rock Revue. It's a showdown of early 2000s powerhouses, and they’re ready to light up the popular Pittsburgh music melting pot, Stage AE, with a bang! Expect iconic hits from Train’s 11-album repertoire as they cover unprecedented hits from 1998 all the way to 2022! Train has sold over ten million albums worldwide, while 14 of their hits have made it on the Billboard Hot 100. The band is known for releasing some of the biggest pop-rock anthems of the 2000s, including “Hey Soul Sister,” “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me),” “Drive By,” and more. Their exemplary work in music has earned them three Grammy Awards, an ASCAP Pop Music Award, and two Billboard Music Awards. Today, the band continues to release new music, the latest being their highly-acclaimed 2022 album, AM Gold, which spawned the hits “AM Gold” and “Cleopatra.”

Joining Train on this fantastic show is the supporting act, Yacht Rock Revue. The Atlanta-born sensation stemmed from the now defunct indie rock icon, Y-O-U. The septet is known for performing over 100 shows each year and selling out venues across the country. This 2024, the band is prepared to deliver their fantastic covers of various artists. In the past, Yacht Rock Revue has covered many beloved American hits, including songs from Crosby, Stills & Nash, Steely Dan, Bee Gees, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and America.

Aside from great music, fans can look forward to a great evening at Stage AE thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities, top-tier lights and sound, and excellent customer service. The venue is known for hosting Pittsburgh's most exciting concerts. Guests can also expect a great ambiance, great customer service, and easy accessibility.

Summer is indeed a great season to celebrate your love of music! So make it count by catching Train and Yacht Rock Revue to conquer Stage AE on Thursday, 11th July 2024! Access to the show is now available through the Get Tickets link!

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Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15212, US

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Loaded 2024 NFL QB Draft Class Is More Than Just Caleb Williams

Bo Nix, Michael Penix and Jayden Daniels’s paths to the pros are emblematic of the modern college signal-caller.

• Author: Conor Orr

Implanted under the NFL logo on certain Wilson footballs is a piece of tracking technology produced by a company called Zebra. About the size of a nickel, the chip is gunmetal in color and has an etched likeness of the firm’s namesake animal on the front, along with a tag number.

The league uses this technology for different purposes, including the powering of its advanced statistical arm, NextGenStats, which provides users with details about player speed, ball speed, route trajectory and yards a ball actually spends flying through the air. Zebra also sells individual chipped balls to a handful of teams, including the Bears, Rams, Packers, Vikings and Eagles. (The company says it has 12 total NFL clients but was only allowed to name five.)

The chip can track the ball’s spin rate; a higher number tends to be more desirable for a team that more regularly plays in terrible weather, yielding a tighter spiral that cuts through the air despite lake effect winds in Buffalo or a monsoon in Seattle. Because the technology is still in its relative infancy, though, any trends or knowledge accumulated by NFL teams with access to the data are kept quiet and considered a competitive advantage. 

“Teams don’t like telling us what they do with the data,” says Dominic Russo, the supervisor for Zebra’s client services.

Austin Reed is a draft hopeful quarterback from Western Kentucky whose status could be positively impacted by such technology. Reed is 24, having originally committed to Southern Illinois in 2018, then transferring to Division II West Florida one year later before joining the Hilltoppers in 2022. Like many collegiate quarterbacks, he has shuttled through the NCAA system with a handful of well-meaning coaches but was left to develop some of his technical quarterbacking skills privately . Most NCAA programs lack the resources to train quarterbacks in a hyper-specific manner, so their lifting routines, stretching routines, throwing routines and diet are analogous to those playing far different positions. Progress can plateau.

Reed had the chance to test his spin rate before his final year of college (with a different company, as a Zebra spokesman said it would not have tested a college underclassman) and had it registered in the mid-500 RPMs. After receiving some individual coaching in each of the last two offseasons and having his form diagnosed with a stop-motion camera, Reed learned that his grip was not maximizing his ability to spin the football properly. His pinky finger nudged inward a few centimeters, contributing to what’s called Waiter’s Wrist. A few tweaks to the rigidity of his wrist and his pre-snap stance upped his spin rate into the mid-600s.

“Spin rate is a really good indicator of proper mechanics,” says Reed’s trainer, Will Hewlett of QB Collective. “You want guys in the mid 600s, being able to spin it consistently.” 

Hewlett trained 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy . He says that Reed is this year’s version, meaning, a late-round quarterback who possesses high-end potential due to late-blossoming mechanics plus a vast amount of experience. Hewlett also trains the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, USC’s Caleb Williams. 

Watching Reed and Williams throw one day on a field in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the figurative distance between the two could not be greater. Williams stands to make more than $40 million. Reed—who’s no financial slouch, having struck an NIL deal at West Florida with a local fitness store called Running Wild—will likely have to compete for a roster spot in training camp. 

But how much better equipped is Williams to win football games than Reed?

Consider the state of modern college quarterbacking: 

• The technology, like Zebra’s, and private coaching, like Hewlett’s, is better and more accessible than ever. It has become standard practice for quarterbacks to work with their own coaches, even throughout a collegiate career in which they have a full-time staff at school. As soon as quarterbacks reach their early teens, they’re being put through slow-motion camera analysis to optimize their mechanics. As private training becomes almost a prerequisite, the knowledge base of position-specific trainers is expanding and refining, making it so, as Hewlett says, sophomores and juniors in high school can throw with his college and NFL quarterbacks and not look like they are interrupting the drills. 
• Because of the transfer portal and NIL money, quarterbacks are staying in school longer, transferring more and amassing a higher volume of reps, which allows them to build a larger Rolodex of on-field occurrences to draw on at the next level. They have to win over new coaches and players at a faster clip, similar to life they will experience in the NFL, and they are exposed to a wider variety of offensive schemes and play calling styles. 
• And, finally, at the NFL level, coordinators and head coaches are becoming quicker to adapt their own schemes to fit what a quarterback does well. Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith, both players who were seemingly headed to eternal backup purgatory, signed huge over the last two seasons due to friendly concepts that reenergized their careers. “[Coaches] are not being quite as rigid,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid says. “We’re all happy that guys are throwing more at the college level, so once they get into the league, you want to find some things you know they can do.”  

Now ask yourself: If you’ve missed out on the supposed generational quarterback at the top of the draft, how much are you really missing out? Sure, Patrick Mahomes was the No. 10 pick in 2017, but his counterpart in Super Bowl LVIII was Purdy, the last pick in ’22. In an effort to explain the phenomenon, Sports Illustrated met with Bo Nix of Oregon, Michael Penix of Washington and Jayden Daniels of LSU, along with trainers, NFL coaches and general managers in an attempt to patch together the burgeoning story of the modern college quarterback. Across the country, there are plenty of signal callers not named Caleb Williams who have mastered the elongated, serpentine route to the NFL, riding a tailwind of hard-earned experience, technology and complementary coaching, the full power of which we may finally start to realize at the next level. 

It’s fair for them to start wondering: Why not us? 

Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated

Michael Penix slides a cell phone across a steakhouse table, avoiding the remnants of an elite burger—medium well, add bacon, no veggies—he has just devoured. On his phone is a video of the Washington-Oregon game from 2022. Penix has already cued up the exact play: third-and-7, with a little more than three minutes to go, the Huskies trailing by a touchdown on their own 38-yard line. Penix called a play that Washington had run two times earlier in the game. He had never once—not even in practice—thrown the ball deep on the play. Against Oregon, he had twice thrown a quick out to the inside slot receiver. 

But this time, Penix noticed the cornerback guarding the wide receiver all the way to his left in a “bail” technique (a cornerback’s backside is facing the sideline, which helps them cover deep routes and keeps the wideout in front of them). As he took the snap, Penix noted how the cornerback’s shoulders squared towards the backfield, signifying a change in intention. Instantly, he knew he would have a short window of time to connect with the streaking receiver he’d never thrown to on the play before. 

The ball he threw passed low over the safety’s head like a city pigeon, forcing the defender to awkwardly torque his body and start trying—unsuccessfully—to prevent a touchdown.  

This moment is a great example of how Penix’s six-year college career with multiple stops—at Indiana before Washington—led to a point where he could read defenses naturally, despite having little background in football schematics coming out of high school. In the past, a quarterback with Penix’s athleticism and arm talent may have been able to simply crowd surf his way to the NFL without learning the subtleties of the game, and then suffer for it. 

Penix began his high school football career at Tampa Bay Technical High where he says his athleticism curbed the necessity for much of a playbook. Unlike many of his peers, he didn’t have a personal trainer (his dad used to make him do power cleans). He saw two different defensive coverages in four years. “Backyard football,” Penix says. “We had plays but I can count them on both hands. We didn’t study. We didn’t watch film in high school. We went out there and played. We didn’t have the resources to watch film.” 

With the Hoosiers, Penix compensated for that lack of knowledge by getting to know his receivers. The playbook was still spartan, but he began to piece together ideas based on what he knew about his best pass catchers. Four verticals? I’m going to this guy. Crossers? I’m looking somewhere else. 

Penix led Indiana to its highest AP poll ranking since the 1960s and was named the team’s MVP in 2020. In 13 games in his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons, he threw for 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a quarterback rating in the 140s. None of his wide receivers during that time were drafted. 

That experience was a valuable precursor to his time at Washington, where he learned how to watch film and begin diagnosing plays like the one against Oregon. “I learned that the film just shows you the tendencies,” he says. “Things that defenses do to give you a better chance. It’s a head start, really.”

The Huskies’ offense wasn’t nearly as run-dependent and the team around him was better: Three of Penix’s wide receivers, two of his tight ends, one of his running backs and both of his offensive tackles were invited to the 2024 scouting combine. (But he says with confidence, “I helped elevate their game, too.”)

Like someone who was dropped into another country and forced to learn a language, Penix came out of his new environment more well-rounded. Six seasons. Four offensive coordinators. Forty-nine games. One thousand, six hundred and eighty-five passing attempts. Call it a graduate football education. 

Bo Nix has a favorite NIV bible verse for adversity.  

Colossians 3:23 says: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, for we are working for the Lord, not human masters.” 

There is a difference between having a verse to call on, and needing one to develop. Nix uses this as a kind of personal ethos when the squeeze of Football, Inc. becomes too tight. When asked about the most difficult stretch of his college career, and hearing it through Nix’s Southern twang, one might think they are listening to an NCAA country song. “Was benched my junior year, then started playing good, beat LSU for the first time [in Death Valley since 1999], broke my ankle and transferred,” he says. “So, there’s a lot.” 

Nix turned 24 following the completion of his final year at Oregon, bookending a career that began at Auburn with a start against the Ducks’ Justin Herbert, who has four seasons of NFL experience. He talks about his quarterbacking path with perspective. 

Last season Nix threw for 45 touchdowns, three interceptions and a quarterback rating of 188.3, while breaking the NCAA single-season record for completion percentage (77.4). He leaves behind an archive of wild, theatrical plays, including a final-play, 26-yard touchdown to beat Herbert. 

Nix has been working in the elite quarterback camp circuits since his sophomore year of high school and has been with the training group QB Country for the past few offseasons, where he spends at least an hour a day looking at what private coach David Morris calls his “stroke.” Nix has every throw filmed from multiple angles and the speeds cataloged. The upshot of the yearslong process was that he completely reformed himself from a big “ripper,” who would lock his lead leg and foot during a throw. The change helped him develop an uncanny short-range accuracy, which could be seen in a 19.8 percentage point increase in his completion percentage between his first and last college seasons. Nix went from being a 5-star wunderkind known for his cannon, to the collegiate equivalent of Drew Brees. “I don’t know if there’s ever been another quarterback that made that kind of jump in accuracy,” says Morris, whose professional client roster includes Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Davis Mills and Daniel Jones. 

Nix got so good at identifying different coverages after six years in the NCAA that, he says, he can almost sense a Cover 0—a defense that removes deep safeties over the top of a defense, often by a rotation just before the snap—simply by observing a cornerback’s demeanor. How are they standing? Where are their eyes moving? Morris says that Nix has seen so many plays that he’s developed an almost superhuman ability to avoid chaos in the pocket while keeping the play timing down. During Nix’s pro day, Morris specifically scripted a bunch of awkward-looking movements to showcase Nix’s strange arsenal of dodges and jukes. 

But it’s hearing about Nix’s personal revelations that make his journey seem so valuable. Keep in mind that, during Nix’s final season at Oregon, he was almost six years older than the school’s incoming freshman class. Such age disparity produces plenty of, as Morris said, “come-to-Jesus moments where you question things.”  

“It was important for me to understand what someone’s background was,” Nix says. “They might be freshmen and have a completely different perspective than me. I didn’t talk to someone who gave me all the answers. I learned a lot myself. And I saw in myself other guys who had been there, transferred, moved and started from scratch.”

Nix had to learn elements of emotional intelligence that many adults don’t know. Chief among them: knowing when people don’t want you around. 

“They don’t necessarily want to hang out with me,” Nix says. “They want to do fun things. They want to have a blast. They don’t want to hang out with the old guy. That’s how I felt when I was their age. Experience campus. But when you’ve been in it like me, you want to hang out, get your work done, be mellow, be low key.” 

This process of connection would manifest itself in different ways. Nix, for example, almost exclusively listens to Christian worship music. He embraced the Ducks’ changing soundtrack because it produced a comfort in others.

“Some guys like rap music, R&B, some of it’s good and some of it I don’t necessarily care for,” Nix says. “But if it’s good for them and helps them get going, let’s do it. We can be on the same page with that.” 

It’s Nix’s belief that most natural born quarterbacks have some innate ability to care about the greater good and a curiosity about human dynamics. He started feeling that pull within himself in middle school, following his father, Patrick, a former Auburn quarterback and football coach, through eight different stops before the tandem worked together at Pinson Valley High School. Fitting in was a survival mechanism that he had time to hone through his college experience. Five seasons. Four offensive coordinators. Sixty-one games. One thousand, nine hundred and thirty-six passing attempts. One broken ankle. One public benching. Call it a lesson in humility and grit. 

Jayden Daniels sat back on the sofa and extended his hands as he tried to explain the virtual reality goggles. The tech was called Cognilize, and, as Daniels understood it, LSU was the only team in the country with access to it. The German-crafted specs looked like Tesla was making metal shop protective eyewear. Attached was a handheld controller. Most afternoons, he would stand inside the Tigers’ practice facility and disappear into a simulation, while another staffer plugged scenarios into an iPad. Inside the headset was a Tigers huddle. Daniels saw through the eyes of his digital avatar, and looked out into an exact replica of the stadium he’d be playing in that coming weekend. He saw his teammates. He saw the defense, shifting and aligning just like his opponents. He fielded the play, took a snap, starting a clock that gave him two seconds to make a read. Daniels always had the tech dialed up to the hardest setting. All that was missing was the pain rippling through his body when the virtual defender blind sided him.  

“Very realistic,” he says.  

At that moment, it’s impossible not to see it. Sitting next to Daniels, one cannot help but believe they are in the presence of someone who has already experienced a lifetime of football. The transition from college to the NFL is like hitting a brick wall at 160 miles per hour for some. For Daniels? It’s going to be one of those residential speed bumps installed by the HOA. His journey has produced someone who can walk coolly like an old Western sheriff, disarm like a skilled therapist and hang out like your high school lunch table.

Among the habits he developed on his own, out of necessity, over a collegiate career that spanned two schools (Arizona State being the first) that directly correlate with early success in the NFL: 

• Daniels regularly takes his offensive linemen out to dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
• He wakes up at 5 a.m. in season (6:45 now during the pre-draft process) each morning to take in an early film session before a set of pre-programmed meals, meetings, naps and body recovery sessions. 
• He learned the interpersonal skills it took to relate to a group of players at LSU who, he felt, were completely different from those at Arizona State—while also negotiating other drastic changes, like the weather and the intense fans and the inability to hop in a car and drive home to San Bernardino, Calif., when he needed comfort. “I was getting used to different people,” Daniels says. “The guys at LSU were intense. They had a lot of energy. They were raised differently. Out in the West Coast, everyone is cool and calm. There was a big difference.

“I had to grow more as a man. I was getting comfortable being uncomfortable. I was by myself. In the South, no one is going to drive out there to see me. Ticket prices are high. I had to figure out who I was, and I had more time to reflect out there.”  

• He developed an NFL-style collaboration process with LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock that streamlined play calling and highlighted his best throws: routes outside the numbers, in-cuts and deep shots.  
• He implemented a mechanical tweak to his throwing motion discovered by a stop motion camera, which identified Daniels leaning too far forward at the time of release. By fixing it, he could unlock a more violent, catapulting follow through. His passes no longer died in midair. 

Daniels was quick to recall the moment it all came together for him. The moment he knew the value of the path, of the tech, of the loneliness, of the studying, of the endless slog of Saturdays. Mississippi State. Second quarter. LSU is leading 10–0, and going for it on fourth-and-7. 

When Daniels was 18, he said he was just waddling to the line of scrimmage hoping to survive. Now he was diagnosing. He was instilling fear, not receiving it. Over the past half decade, football had changed the way he threw, thought, ate, slept and acted when he was around other people. After he underwent the technological throwing assessment a few years back, fixed his mechanics and felt his first perfect release, he said he knew what it was like to be Steph Curry during those logo three point attempts that seemed so perfect that he’d turn away from the basket, not needing any confirmation that the shot was good. 

Daniels sees man coverage and quickly internalizes the thought that he’s about to take a body shot from a Bulldogs defensive tackle. He plans to use his peripheral vision to track the progress of his impending pain and the rest of his sightline on his receiver, Malik Nabers, who will dominate man coverage in almost any situation. 

As he clapped his hands, received the snap and took two steps backward, as his right arm whipped skyward, we saw the culmination of a process—even if Daniels didn’t, having been smashed to the turf as Nabers hauled in a perfectly thrown ball in the Bulldogs’ end zone.

That process seems like the new normal to many NFL general managers. But there are a few who aren't convinced the path taken by Daniels so many of his cohorts is the KOMINGest (best?)

Says Packers GM Brian Gutekunst: “Certainly, the amount of time and games you’ve played in college does equate to success at times, and over my time in the league that's gone down a lot. Quarterbacks are coming out earlier and with less starts. Exposure to different schemes can be helpful, but knowing one scheme inside and out at a high level would be more important.” 

And Eliot Wolf, the new general manager of the Patriots: “I don’t know that there’s a benefit or a hindrance. Every person and every situation is different. There’s something to be said about a person who has grown and developed in the same scheme for four or five years . But, there’s something to be said for those who have had all that exposure, and had to deal with changing schemes and changing staffs.” 

The definitive proof may end up being in the class of 2024, in Reed, in Penix, in Nix, and in Daniels.

Here’s to science, the chipped balls and the cameras. Here’s to the pile of playbooks, all different team colors, piling up in the corner of the room. Here’s to embracing the car wash of discomfort the NCAA now shuttles them all through. Here’s to the people standing—literally and figuratively—behind the one prospect everyone blesses and anoints patiently waiting their turn, no one understanding what it took to get there.

Five seasons. Three offensive coordinators. Fifty-five games. One thousand, four hundred and thirty-eight passing attempts. Call it the new normal.

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