The 4 Best Ways to Get Between New York and Hartford Without a Car
If you’re trying to travel between New York City and Hartford, Connecticut car-free, you have several options. I’ve done them all.
I’ve been living car-free for six years and spend a lot of time navigating the quirks of U.S. transportation. I’ve also taken this route about a dozen times, as my partner has family in the Hartford area.
Here are the options.
1) The Most Frequent Option: Metro-North to New Haven, Then Amtrak’s Hartford Line
I end up choosing this because it’s what I always choose. It’s not the fastest and it’s not a one-seat ride, but it’s the best combitation of reliability, price, and comfort.
Step 1: Take a Metro North train to New Haven from Grand Central Terminal (or Harlem-125th, if you live closer to uptwon.
Step 2: Transfer to a Hartford Line Amtrak or CT Rail train.
This train goes to Hartford all the way to either Springfield (the CT Rail trains) or continues all the way to Greenfield, MA (the Amtrak trains.)
Let’s talk about why it’s my favorite.
It’s Almost Always On-Time and Has High Frequency
The New York to New Haven train is probably the best commuter train in the country. It’s almost always on-time. The New Haven to Springfield train is pretty good too, with good frequency throughout the day. You can count on being able to use this option any time of day. Since both trains come with good frequency, you can usually plan your trip to keep your transfer time in New Haven to 15-30 minutes.
The Price is Fixed and Affrodable
I wouldn’t say it’s “cheap,” especially with Metro-North fares increasing, but it’s a decent price I can count on.
- Metro-North ticket: $19.25 (off-peak) to $26 (peak) as of most recent update.
- Amtrak or CT Rail ticket to Hartford: $8.75
If you travel on a “peak” train in commuting direction and hours to/from NYC, it’s an extra $6.75, but besides that, it’s the same price no matter when you buy it or what day it is. Unlike Amtrak’s northeast regional, you don’t have to worry about prices spiking or trains selling out. They’re commuter trains.
You Get the Comfort of Trains
Trains are just more comfortable than buses. They’re more spacious and less bumpy. They have bathrooms.
With these trains, you won’t have the full cafe car experience that you get on longer Amtrak’s, but New York to Hartford is not a long ride, and you can refuel in New Haven if you need to. New Haven Union has food.
As for the New Haven to Hartford leg, I wrote a whole blog post about it, so head there with questions.
The Transfer is The Major Downside, So the Overall Travel Time is Slow
Sometimes the transfer in New Haven is short, only a few minutes. Sometimes I’ve waited 40 minutes on weekends.
Also, the Metro-North has over a dozen stops, so it’s not a fast train.
The total trip take around 3.5–4 hours, depending on the timing of the trains.
At least New Haven is a real station with food, coffee, bathrooms, and a waiting room.
You Can Get Off Before or After Hartford
If you’re going to the Hartford area, one of the other stops may be closer. You could get off in Berlin, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks, or continue on to Springfield.
We often get off at Windsor Locks, because my partner’s family lives in Granby.
No Traffic, East Side Access
I like avoiding traffic, and I like the option to get on at either Grand Central or Harlem-125th. I live near a 6 train, so this is much easier than getting to Port Authority or Penn Station for me.
Yes, it’s slow, but these train routes both have good on-time performance.
The Fastest (But Often Expensive) Option: Direct Amtrak Service
Yes, Amtrak offers direct service between NYC and Hartford, via the Northeast Regional or the Vermonter.
The upside to this one is obvious. You don’t have to transfer, you get all the comfort of an Amtrak ride (which is nicer than Metro-North), and it’s the fastest by a lot.
If you book in advance, you can get this for around $36. But you have to book in advance to get that price.
It leaves from Penn Station.
Amtrak’s Dynamic Pricing Means It Can Get Expensive
If you’re looking last-minute, you’ll see these cost $100+. Wild.
That’s because Amtrak, with pressure to maximize revenue and with limited train sets, have adopted the dynamic pricing model of the airlines.
2-3 Routes Per Day
The frequency on this route isn’t great, either. You have many more Hartford Line trains from New Haven as you do Northeast Regional or the once-a-day Vermonter train that go from New York through Hartford.
I love the Vermonter train, and take it frequently to Vermont, but it doesn’t have good on-time performance.
Still, if you catch a good fare, this is by far the fastest way, around 2 hours and 30 minutes, give or take.
3) The Bus Option: I Prefer Peter Pan
Buses do connect NYC and Hartford. You have the option to take a Peter Pan, Greyhound or a Flix Bus.
Peter Pan runs direct buses from Port Authority to Hartford Union Station. These are usually around $35–$40 one-way. Peter Pan runs these every few hours during the day, so you have options.
The trip can take around 2.5 hours but is often closer to 3 or 3 and a half. Buses are vulnerable to the whims of traffic.
Peter Pan, Greyhound, and Flix all have direct bus options between New York and Hartford. Peter Pan is the best of these bus options. It’s more reliable, more professional, and slightly more comfortable than Greyhound or Flix. Usually the price is comparable.
For more in each of these you can check my guide to the Peter Pan Bus, my guide for the Greyhound Bus, or my guide to the Flix Bus.
A Greyhound or Flix may be a few bucks less, but if you’re going for the cheapest way, go with the next option.
4) Metro-North + CT Transit 950 Express Bus (Best Price)
If you need the cheapest way, you can rely on this option coming in at $25.25 (off peak).
You take the Metro North to New Haven. We’ve covered this already. If you’re choosing this option, you’re probably already going for the most budget option, so plan your trip to be off-peak.
Then, instead of transferring to the CT Rail or Amtrak to Hartford, you take the 950 CT Transit express bus. It’s $6. If you’re not a regular user, you have to pay in Cash.
Commuter Schedule, So Check in Advance
This is a weekday only bus. It doesn’t run on weekends. Second, there’s no service in the late morning. The good news is it runs both directions in the morning and the evening. But if you miss the 7:25am one in either direction, it doesn’t run til after noon again. You can see the schedule of the Hartford to New Haven express bus on CT Transit’s website.
The Bus is Comfy, But It’s a Bus
It has carpet seats, foot rests, and space for your luggage. There’s no bathroom, which is fine because it’s not a long route.
It Has Other Stops in Hartford and New Haven
I took this for one specific reason. I was somewhere else in Hartford. To get to Union Station, I would’ve had to walk 30 minutes or take a bus to the station. But the 950 bus about a 20 minute walk. So I did that. That’s a specific benefit, but in my case it worked out.
This is definitely the slowest option. You have the transfer and also a bus. But it’s the cheapest and it’s a fixed price.
Flying Makes No Sense
Between getting to JFK or LaGuardia, going through TSA, boarding, flying, and dealing with airport logistics will eat up more time than any train or bus.
Why Take Transit Instead of Driving
If you’re deciding between public transit and renting a car (or driving your own), here are some points to consider:
No Stress Driving in NYC or Along I-95 or I-91
This route includes some of the most miserable traffic in the Northeast. Whether it’s getting out of New York or crawling into Hartford, there’s a good chance you’ll get stuck somewhere.
Transit lets you relax, read, nap, or scroll.
Usually Cheaper
When you factor in gas, tolls, rental fees, and parking, it almost always comes out more expensive than a train or bus ticket, especially if you’re traveling solo.
Better for the Planet
Public transit has a much lower environmental impact per passenger than driving. And choosing it supports more investment in car-free travel.
More Car-Free Travel Tips
This post is part of my ongoing mission to prove that you don’t need a car to get around the U.S., even if the system makes it hard sometimes.
For a more personal look at this, check out my article living without a car.
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