Taking Amtrak Adirondack from NYC to Montreal and Back

February 19, 2015, February 22,2015

In the winter, Amtrak offered a fantastic deal - a $90 round trip from NYC to Montreal. I seized this opportunity to explore Montreal. Two key things to consider for Amtrak Adirondack to Montreal: 1) Limited flexibility - there's only one daily train departing from Penn Station at 8:15 AM, and 2) A lengthy travel time - Amtrak's website mentions a journey duration of 10 hours and 56 minutes. If these aspects don't deter you, you can enjoy an affordable trip to Montreal, just as I did.

Adirondack 69 (New York, NY to Montreal, QC)

The scheduled train departure was at 8:15 AM on Thursday from Penn Station, and I arrived around 7:30. I prefer early arrivals to account for unforeseen circumstances like traffic or queues.

At Penn Station, there was a small counter labeled "Canada" with a red maple leaf symbol where documents were verified before lining up for departure. After this check, I received a Canadian Border Crossing pass, which I had to present to the Amtrak gate agent before boarding the train. (Note: This pass is different from your ticket, which is checked after departure.)

Before boarding, I purchased food for lunch and dinner, as the on-train dining options are pricey and limited in selection.

8:00 AM

I boarded the Adirondack #68.

The Adirondack train, although somewhat dated, provided comfortable seating with ample legroom. It was an advantage to travel off-season; my car was only half full, allowing me to occupy two seats. To enjoy views of the Hudson River, choose a window seat on the left side of the train. For views of Lake Champlain, opt for the right side.

Wi-Fi signal was not reliable. There were electric outlets along the side wall, I was able to charge my laptop at my seat.

8:16 AM

Train left Penn Station on time, commencing my 11-hour journey. The train travelled along the east bank of the Hudson River.

10:46 AM

The train arrived at the Albany-Rensselaer Station and stopped here for about 20 minutes. Passengers were able to step outside of the train to stretch their legs.

11:16 AM

The train resumed its journey, with approximately 8 more hours until Montreal.

1:15 PM

We were given customs declaration forms to complete, three hours before the Canadian border crossing.

4:00 PM

The train reached Rouses Point, the final U.S. stop before Canada.

I spotted a United States border marker.

4:11 PM

The train reached the Canadian border checkpoint, where Canada Border Services agents boarded to check passports, ask questions, and collect customs declaration forms.

4:53 PM

The train left the checkpoint. For the next 2 hours, the landscape was mostly covered in snow, with occasional glimpses of houses. As the evening set in, it gradually became dark outside.

7:07 PM

The train finally arrived at Central Station (Gare Centrale) in Montreal, concluding the 11-hour journey.

The train ride from NYC to Montreal was lengthy yet comfortable, with frequent stops and slowdowns. If the train maintained full speed throughout with no stop, the journey could likely be completed in about 6 hours.

Adirondack 68 (Montreal, QC to New York, NY)

After an enjoyable three days in Montreal, it was time to return to New York. There's only one Amtrak train per day from Montreal to NYC, departing at 10:20 AM. I arrived at Central Station (Gare Centrale) at 8:35 AM to allow ample time for any potential delays and breakfast. Most restaurants were closed at that hour, so I had breakfast at the McDonald's in the train station.

The departure process in Montreal was simpler than at Penn Station. I only needed to show my passport to the gate agent before boarding. Perhaps due to it being a Sunday, there were more passengers on the train. I sat on the left side to enjoy views of Lake Champlain.

10:20 AM

The train left Central Station, marking the start of my 11-hour journey to NYC.

12:05 PM

The train stopped just before Rouses Point station, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents boarded to check passports, ask questions, and collect customs declaration forms.

12:56 PM

The train resumed its journey, with about 8 hours remaining until Penn Station.

5:53 PM

Our train arrived at Albany-Rensselaer Station and stopped here for about 20 minutes. Passengers were able to step outside of the train to stretch their legs.

9:00 PM

After approximately 11 hours of travel, we finally arrived at Penn Station.

The train ride from Montreal to NYC closely mirrored the journey from NYC to Montreal, with frequent stops and slowdowns. Would I take this train again? Absolutely! Compared to bus or plane travel, it's the most affordable and comfortable way to travel between NYC and Montreal.