Amtrak vs driving

[JD001]

Planning a trip to Toronto this coming August, family wedding.. Renting a car as we will be travelling to North Bay and back to Toronto over a a number of days..

Was thinking of travelling to NY following the wedding.. Unsure if we should drive or take the train? Keep the rental from Toronto to NY, however, struggling to find any info on a one-way trip on the rental car sites..

It has been a few years since I last used Amtrak - West Coast trip from Seattle to LA, it was a nice trip..

My wife is keen on the train, so most likley a train journey, anyone experienced this journey?

[Spuds]

Are you talking about taking the train all the way from Toronto to NYC, then flying out of NYC?

It looks like there are ways to do a one way rental across the border, but there are fees and I think you would need to switch cars to a US registered vehicle at someplace near the border, probably in Buffalo. It seems like something that is arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Train ride is going to be long. I think it's about 8 hours by car at ~70mph, and I'm fairly certain Amtrak doesn't go that fast. I've taken the commuter train into NYC (from the north) a bunch of times and the Hudson Valley is nice to look at. Passes a couple of interesting Hudson River features. Not sure about the western NY leg. I know it goes along the Erie Canal for a bit. Once in the city it is easier than dealing with a car IMO.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Are you talking about taking the train all the way from Toronto to NYC, then flying out of NYC?

It looks like there are ways to do a one way rental across the border, but there are fees and I think you would need to switch cars to a US registered vehicle at someplace near the border, probably in Buffalo. It seems like something that is arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Train ride is going to be long. I think it's about 8 hours by car at ~70mph, and I'm fairly certain Amtrak doesn't go that fast. I've taken the commuter train into NYC (from the north) a bunch of times and the Hudson Valley is nice to look at. Passes a couple of interesting Hudson River features. Not sure about the western NY leg. I know it goes along the Erie Canal for a bit. Once in the city it is easier than dealing with a car IMO.

Yep, thinking of spending a few days in NY before heading home. As for driving, was thinking of using the car to a drop off point and then public transport during our stay in NY.

Since starting this thread, I am warming to the idea that train takes the strain. My wife is already sold on the train, she hates long distance car journeys.. It is a long journey, just over 12hrs, 08.20 start, NY for 21.30ish..

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by JD001

Yep, thinking of spending a few days in NY before heading home. As for driving, was thinking of using the car to a drop off point and then public transport during our stay in NY.

Since starting this thread, I am warming to the idea that train takes the strain. My wife is already sold on the train, she hates long distance car journeys.. It is a long journey, just over 12hrs, 08.20 start, NY for 21.30ish..

Yeah the tradeoff with the train is that you are limited if you wanted to stop somewhere along the way. Definitely would use public transportation or just walk in Manhattan at least, assuming that's where you are aiming for.