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Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?

Maidstone, United...
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Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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Hi everyone, I am going to a conference in Baltimore in May 2017, and I am considering staying a couple of days longer (it ends on a Thursday) and heading to Washington DC as I would love to visit the Smithsonian. I have had a look at transport sites and it looks like it can be done in a couple of hours by Amtrak, not too expensively. I will probably have to come back to Baltimore to fly home to the UK though (will find out if I can do a return from a different city, not sure on the rules my sponsor has, as I am not paying for it...!). I am thinking maybe go Thursday eve to Washington then come back to Baltimore on the Sunday to get my flight (in the evening).

Has anyone done this trip, is it worth doing, and is it OK for a woman alone (I have never been to the States before!)? Thanks in advance for any advice.,,,

Israel
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1. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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It's OK for a woman alone.

Amtrak sounds like a reasonable Way to go.

No need to return to Baltimore prior to your return flight. If your departure us from BWI (Thorogood Marshall), you can easily get there from Washington DC.

Centerville, Ohio
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2. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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Yes, make the arrangements and enjoy.

Maryland
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for Las Vegas, Washington DC, County Donegal, Western Ireland
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3. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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Use the commuter MARC train, it's much cheaper and no need to buy tickets in advance. Sunday service is very limited so Amtrak might make sense for your return.

https://mta.maryland.gov/marc-train

Edited: 7 years ago
Maidstone, United...
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7 posts
41 reviews
11 helpful votes
4. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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Thanks, will have a look at that now...

York, Pennsylvania
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5. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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MARC has trains coming right to the Camden Yards station, which is right across the street from the convention center. They also have a station at the airport (which is almost 12 miles outside the city limits) as well as Washington DC. And why shouldn't a woman travel alone? Women have the right to do anything a man can, we were all created equal.

Oahu, Hawaii
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6. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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Justin, from your name and your comment I'm going to assume you are a man and as such might not have realized that the OP was probably wondering whether it would be _safe_ for a woman to travel alone, not whether she has the right to.

There are many situations where a man will feel perfectly safe traveling alone but a woman will not and I can understand the OP's concern about the situation.

Shmaggle, it's been a few years since I traveled around DC as a single woman (or at all) but I never felt particularly unsafe, even riding the train in the evening. I generally stuck to the well-traveled tourist areas and had a quite enjoyable time visiting the different sites.

Newlyn, United...
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7. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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Hi Shmaggle. I am also going to Baltimore for a conference a week or so after you (early June). I think you have a couple of options. It looks as though the MARC light rail would be good. I think it takes about an hour from Baltimore to DC and is relatively cheap. Probably much cheaper than Amtrak. Where are you staying in Baltimore? You could do a couple of 'day' trips from Baltimore to DC rather than switching hotels etc.

There looks like there is quite a lot to seen in Baltimore as well. We are gonna travel to DC for a day before we head to NYC after the conference. I am sure its safe. From all o the different posts I have read. I think its no different than being in London or any other major city in the world. You just need to keep you wits about you.

Maryland, USA
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8. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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The MARC is not "light rail", it's a commuter train and not to be confused with the light rail system we have in downtown Baltimore.

Maryland
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for Las Vegas, Washington DC, County Donegal, Western Ireland
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9. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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"MARC has trains coming right to the Camden Yards station, which is right across the street from the convention center. They also have a station at the airport (which is almost 12 miles outside the city limits) as well as Washington DC."

You left out the main train station in the city. Penn Station. Camden Line MARC trains are fine if their limited schedule works. Just a few trains in the morning and afternoon for commuters. Nothing at night, nothing on weekends.

The Penn Line is often the better option for going to/from DC.

Washington DC...
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10. Re: Baltimore to Washington DC...easy to do by train?
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DC area is safe for women travelling alone.. no worries there. Check out the ICC Commuter bus.. it goes from BWI to a couple of different metro stops in Maryland and then you can take the Red Line into DC. It's only $5. Pick it up right outside the airport.

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