The United States' national rail service doesn't get anywhere near the government funding that roads and airports get, yet it still regularly offers a list of standard discounts for a variety of passenger categories and service types that can save you anywhere from 10% to 60% off train fares. You just have to know they exist first!
We've found so many Amtrak discounts that we're segmenting them by type and by region. You're likely to find discounts for most popular routes with two gaping exceptions: There aren't many discounts for the east-to-west cross-country routes, and there aren't many discounts specifically for Auto Train services, which tote vehicles as well as passengers.
Amtrak once offered Weekly Specials, on sale between Tuesday and Friday each week. These are deeply discounted fares (often up to 80% off) for any train in the country. Weekly Specials are a grab bag of brief sales, but budget travelers can still get lucky. Right now though, Amtrak doesn't offer them. The main Amtrak discounts currently come from pre-determined ticket categories.
That said, Amtrak could always restart spot sales like its Weekly Specials in the future, so sign up for its free mailing list in case discounts begin to be promoted through emails once again.
Amtrak is usually strict about not allowing passengers to combine discounts, so make sure you pick the deal that gets the you most savings.
Finding Amtrak's low early-purchase fares
You also need to understand that just like airfare, Amtrak's fares rise closer to the date of departure. Still, Amtrak's last-minute fares don't tend to get quite as outrageous as last-minute airline fares do.
The lowest standard Amtrak fares are typically found at least 2 weeks (and preferably longer) before departure.
Traveling in the winter, such as January through March, can also be good for low fares.
Finding coupons online for Amtrak
Third-party websites that collect discount codes can be hit or miss, as we all know. But we have found some honest-to-goodness valid discount offers for temporary sales listed at CouponCabin.com, Coupons.com, RetailMeNot.com, and SimplyCodes.com.
Sometimes, the discounts you'll find at those sites are merely rehashes of the discounts that we list below, or they may be so vaguely phrased that you're not even sure what the deal is, but occasionally, you may find word of a ticket sale on regional service. We've found passing deals for 25–30% off regional routes that truly checked out, so checking these sites can be worth a shot.
Amtrak Night Owl fares
It's a longstanding budget travel hack to book tickets that leave at odd hours. Amtrak has enshrined that tried-and-true tactic with a name and a list of set prices, and it's one of the most useful and predictable ways to save money: its Night Owl discounts.
On select trains that travel from 7pm–7am between Washington, New York City, Boston, and stops in between, Amtrak regularly sells discounted set fares as low as $10 (Philly–Baltimore BWI), $15 (NYC–Philadelphia), $20 (NYC–Baltimore), or just $25 (NYC–Washington). NightOwl fares are a great way to get to BWI airport for a reasonable price.
No discount code is required—if a train service has Night Owl seats available, the booking engine will automatically show them to you.
Itineraries that partly travel on a segment of the Night Owl route will not be automatically granted the discount. So if your travel plans involve this rail corridor, you may find savings if you book your ticket in two segments: the segment that's valid for a Night Owl fare and a ticket for a connecting train that isn't part of the program.
Amtrak Share Fares
If you're traveling with a group of 3 to 8 people and you can book your tickets at least 2 days ahead of departure, Amtrak will offer you Share Fares, which offer an increasing discount rate for every additional person you have on the same reservation.
The discount math works like this: The first two passengers pay full adult fare (or the lowest available fare they can find). Add more people, and the group discount kicks in. For 3 passengers, it's 15% off all tickets, Groups of 4 get 25% off all tickets, 5 get 37% off, 6 get 47% off, 7 get 54% off, and groups of 8 get 60% off all tickets on their reservation.
If your group has 9 people or more in it, there's no continued discount—but just book your tickets in groups of 3–8, and you can still get the discount savings.
The Share Fare discount is widely available, even for Acela Business Class, but not for upgrades. Excluded routes: Amtrak Hartford Line, Capitol Corridor, Hiawatha, Canadian section of the Maple Leaf, Canadian section of the Adirondack, Canadian section of Cascades, Pacific Surfliner, Valley Flyer, and 7000-8999 Thruways.
This one is not always available because it's subject to availability, but when you can get it, it's a vital discount option.
The Share Fare discount code is V291.
Amtrak also offers discounts for groups of 15 or more, but you have to call the rail service directly at 800/872-1477 to arrange those.
Amtrak senior discount
If you're aged 65 or older, you're automatically eligible for a 10% discount on most rail services. Get it by simply selecting "senior" as your ticket type.
No discount code is required because the ticketing system requires your date of birth.
And if you're on a cross-border train operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, the age to qualify for that 10% discount is goes down to 60 years old.
The discount won't work on non-Acela business class, First class, or sleeping accommodations, but if you want those, you can still pay the standard, non-discounted upcharge to get them. The discount also won't work on some Amtrak Thruway connecting services.
Amtrak warns that valid proof of age may be required when buying your ticket or on board the train, but many passengers report their IDs were never checked.
The Downeaster service between Boston and Portland, Maine, grants 50% discounts to passengers aged 65 or older. You'll select "senior" as your passenger type or use promo code V543.
Amtrak student discount code
Students aged 17–24 are eligible for a 15% discount off the full adult fare as long as they buy their tickets at least a day ahead.
The discount works for Coach and Business class seats on Acela services, but not for upgrades to Acela First class, non-Acela Business class, and sleeping cars. (You can sleep in a standard seat, right?)
There are some route exclusions. The student discount is not available on the Missouri river runner, Hiawatha service, Wolverine, Blue Water, Pere Marquette, Lincoln service, Illini, Saluki, Illinois Zephyr, Carl Sandburg, Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquins, Capitol Corridor, Keystone, Pennsylvanian, and 7000-8999 thruway series. The discount can also sell out for some services if you're too late to book.
Just as with the senior discount, we often hear that Amtrak's on-board train conductors don't always verify student eligibility with in-person ID checks.
Obtain the deal by booking with discount code V814.
In Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the Midwest student discount is 15% and the discount code is V307.
Amtrak children's discount
Kids aged 2–12 may discount their Amtrak tickets by 50% off the usual adult fare as long as at least one person aged 18 or over is accompanying them. The ability to book a "child" ticket will become available if you select at least one "adult" ticket first. No promotional code is required.
One infant under the age of 2 may ride for free with each passenger who pays an adult fare. Infants ride for free on the lap of an adult. Additional, non-lap infants must ride at the child fare.
Kids 13 and older as well as unaccompanied minors (who are only permitted at age 12 or above) are required to pay the full adult fare on Amtrak.
The children's discount won't work on non-Acela business class, First class, or sleeping accommodations, but if you want those, you can still pay the standard, non-discounted upcharge to get them. The discount also won't work on some Amtrak Thruway connecting services.
Amtrak discount for passengers with disabilities
Some Amtrak routes offer 10% off for passengers who can present documentation that shows proof of disability. The discount can often be extended to a traveling companion as well.
In California, that 10% discount can be bumped up to 15%. Book those tickets here or try discount code V577.
The Downeaster service between Boston and Portland, Maine, grants 50% discounts to passengers with disabilities.
Amtrak discount for military personnel, veterans & government workers
Holders of valid active-duty United States Armed Forces identification cards, active-duty U.S. military personnel, their spouses, and their dependents may receive a 10% discount on the lowest available Amtrak fare on most services. (Uniformed military personnel are also permitted to cut the other people in the ticket line, if you have the stomach to do that.)
Veterans must have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, or have been a commissioned officer in NOAA Corps, U.S. Public Health Service, or U.S. Merchant Marine.
To obtain Amtrak's military discount, select "Military" in the Fare Finder as you begin your ticket search.
Federal government employees are entitled to a tiny 5% discount in the Northeast Corridor, but you can't book those yourself. They're only accessible through each federal employee’s travel management company or corporate booking tool.
Amtrak AAA discounts
Amtrak got rid of its 10% discount for AAA members. However, it does sell Amtrak Vacations packages through AAA offices, but only for $50 off vacations of 5 nights of more—not very generous.
Special Amtrak discounts for New York State
For travel on the Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express and Maple Leaf services throughout New York State and to Montréal, Amtrak offers a 15% discount off Coach seats.
There are catches: To qualify, you must book at least 5 days ahead of travel, and there is a heap of blackout dates, especially around holiday weekends and high-traffic periods. You're also not allowed to upgrade your seat, and busy trains may not have availability in this discounted category.
To obtain this one, enter promotional code V639.
Special West Coast Amtrak discounts
For California travel, the discount rate for seniors (book here or use promo code V282), veterans (book here or here), and active-duty military (book here or use promo code V780) is increased from 10% to 15% off.
Also for California, students are 15% off, which is the same rate offered nationally, but you'll book here or use the discount code V353.
For trips around San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight, or the San Joaquin trains, you can get 20% off through the SLO Car Free program by signing up here.
On California Corridor trains in the Bay Area, the senior discount starts early at age 62, is valid for an increased discount rate of 15% off, and requires the use of promotion code V282 on its booking page.
Finally, if you're a regular traveler on Amtrak, don't leave free travel on table—sign up for Amtrak Guest Rewards. It's free, and it earns you points (the starting rate is 2 points for every $1 spent) that you can redeem for free train tickets. The redemption rate these days isn't scintillating (Chicago to Seattle: about 6,000 points), and we're not going to advise you to open up a credit card just to reap a signup points bonus. Most people who find much value from the program tend to travel on Amtrak more than a casual vacationers does.
