Capitol Limited — Schedules, Fares & Stops

The Capitol Limited connects Washington, DC and Chicago, IL over a 764-mile route operated by Amtrak, calling at 14 stations across 7 states.

Quick Facts

Operator: Amtrak
Service type: Long-Distance
Endpoints: Washington ↔ Chicago
Distance: 764 mi
Frequency: Daily
Stations: 14
States served: 7 (DC, MD, WV, PA, OH, IN, IL)
Typical fare range: $85 – $435

Route guide

The Capitol Limited is a long-distance service operated by Amtrak. Trains run Daily over 764 miles of mainline track between Washington Union Station and Chicago Union Station, calling at 14 intermediate and terminal stations across 7 states. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

What to watch for: Potomac River and the Harpers Ferry water gap; the long Sand Patch Grade through the Allegheny ridge.

History & service notes

A revival of the Baltimore & Ohio name dating to 1923 — the original Capitol Limited was the B&O’s flagship train, the first all-Pullman air-conditioned train in the world. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

Equipment

Typical consist on the Capitol Limited includes superliner sleepers, coaches, Sightseer Lounge, dining car. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.

Stops along the route

Stations are listed in geographical order from Washington to Chicago. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.

Sample fares & travel times

Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.

From	To	Distance	Time	Fare
Washington	Rockville	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Rockville	Harpers Ferry	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Harpers Ferry	Martinsburg	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Martinsburg	Cumberland	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Cumberland	Pittsburgh	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Pittsburgh	Alliance	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Alliance	Cleveland	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Cleveland	Sandusky	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Sandusky	Toledo	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Toledo	Elkhart	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Elkhart	South Bend	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
South Bend	Hammond	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Hammond	Chicago	59 mi	1h 21m	$38 – $194
Rockville	Chicago	705 mi	14h 16m	$81 – $415
Washington	Harpers Ferry	118 mi	2h 32m	$42 – $214
Harpers Ferry	Chicago	646 mi	13h 5m	$77 – $395
Washington	Martinsburg	176 mi	3h 41m	$46 – $234
Martinsburg	Chicago	588 mi	11h 56m	$73 – $375

Connections & transfers

Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From Washington, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Chicago. The corridor passes through cities including Washington, Rockville, and Chicago, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.

Trip planning tip. The Capitol Limited's lowest fares typically appear when booked 14 days or more in advance, and on midweek departures. Same-day "walk-up" fares are usually closer to the upper end of the range shown. Saver and Value buckets sell out first.