Flight vs Train: When to Choose What
On routes under 500 miles, trains often win on total time and cost. Here is the math, plus when to break the rule.
For trips under about 500 miles, trains are often faster door-to-door than flying — once you factor in TSA, gate time, and getting to/from airports.
A New York to Washington DC trip on Amtrak is 3 hours center-to-center. The flight is 1h 15m in the air, but add 1h security buffer, 45m to get to JFK, and 45m to get from DCA into DC and you're at 3h 45m — slower than the train, and usually more expensive.
The flip happens around 500 miles. Boston to DC works either way; Boston to Atlanta, fly.
When to break the rule: - Very early or very late departures favor flights (trains run less frequently overnight) - Loyalty programs — if you need status, the flight earns it - Comfort — premium train cabins are often nicer than economy flights for the price
EzFly will eventually surface rail options alongside flights for short-haul routes. For now, we recommend Amtrak.com or Trainline for the rail leg.