Amtrak's Latest Sale Has Tickets As Low As $20 — When to Book

Amtrak is ushering in the start of the warmer season by offering 30 percent off fares as part of its summer flash sale.

The rail company is putting coach and Acela business class seats on sale across the country when purchased by May 16 for travel from June 1 through Aug. 30, Amtrak shared with Travel + Leisure. The sale is available on the company’s “flex” fares.

“This Summer Travel Flash Sale provides customers with a unique opportunity to book an affordable trip now that can be enjoyed during the summer months,” Amtrak executive vice president and chief commercial officer Eliot Hamlisch said in a statement shared with T+L. “Whether you’re a current customer or joining us for the first time, Amtrak will make your journey far more convenient and relaxing than navigating through traffic on crowded highways and busy airports.”

There are no blackout dates during the sale, but it is not valid for travel on the Adirondack, Capitol Corridor, Empire Service, Ethan Allen, Keystone, Maple Leaf, Pacific Surfliner, or Pennsylvanian lines, or on markets between Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Amtrak said availability may be limited and may also not be available during busy travel times.

As part of the sale, tickets between Baltimore and Philadelphia start at just $21 each way — or as low as $53 each way in Acela business class — while tickets between Boston and New York start as low as $39 each way. 

On the West Coast, travel between Los Angeles and Sacramento starts as low as $60 each way, while travel between Portland and Seattle starts as low as $20 each way.

The sale comes as Amtrak is expanding service between St. Paul, MN, and Chicago this month with a new Borealis train, which will represent a second daily option to travel between the two major cities. It also comes as the company is planning on bringing back and expanding its popular seasonal Berkshire Flyer train between New York City and the Berkshires.

Last year, Amtrak changed its fare structure, introducing two new fare options of “value” and “flex” and eliminating the previous options of “saver,” “value,” and “flexible” fares.