Historic American Cities by Rail — Self-Launched
8 days · United States (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.)
G Adventures charges £2,950
No-markup version: ~£1,085 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, do-it-yourself version of G Adventures' 8-day "Historic American Cities by Rail" National Geographic Journeys trip from Boston to Washington D.C. You'll follow the same route — colonial Boston and the Freedom Trail, Bushwick street art in Brooklyn, revolutionary Philadelphia, and the monuments of the National Mall — but using Amtrak Northeast Regional trains, hostel/shared rooms, and self-booked walking tours and photo walks. Expect to pay roughly a third of the packaged price while keeping all the same highlights. Costs are approximate, per person, in GBP, and assume a shared dorm or budget twin room and self-catering plus casual eating.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Boston
Boston
Fly into Boston Logan (BOS) and get to your hostel in the downtown/South End area — the cheapest route is the free Silver Line SL1 bus to South Station, then a short walk or T ride. Check into a dorm or private twin at a hostel such as HI Boston or a budget chain hotel near Boston Common. Spend the evening getting your bearings: wander Boston Common and the Public Garden, pick up groceries for breakfasts, and buy an MBTA Charlie Card (£1.50-ish per subway ride). Note that US entry now requires either a visa or ESTA (£17–20) — apply online before you fly.
🚌Silver Line SL1 bus free from airport; MBTA subway ~£2/ride
🛏Hostel dorm or budget twin (HI Boston or similar), £45–60/night
- →Silver Line SL1 bus from airport
- →Boston Common and Public Garden evening stroll
- →Buy MBTA Charlie Card
Freedom Trail with a costumed guide
Boston
Replicate the included Freedom Trail tour by booking a costumed interpreter walk through GetYourGuide or directly with a local guide outfit (the Freedom Trail Foundation runs official 90-minute walks for around £15–18). The 2.5-mile red-brick route passes the Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's House and the USS Constitution — the same sites as the packaged trip. Afterwards, self-explore: free entry to Boston Common, and you can catch a Red Sox game at Fenway if tickets are cheap (standing room ~£20). Eat lunch at Quincy Market stalls.
🚌Walking; MBTA for Fenway
🛏Hostel dorm or budget twin, £45–60/night
- →Freedom Trail guided walking tour (book via GetYourGuide/direct)
- →Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
- →Optional Fenway Park visit or game
Train to New York + Bushwick photo walk
New York City
Morning Amtrak Northeast Regional from Boston South Station to New York Penn Station is the budget-friendly option — book 2–4 weeks ahead for fares from around £28–45 (about 4h15). Check into a hostel in Brooklyn or Manhattan (HI New York on the Upper West Side, or a Bushwick/Williamsburg hostel for the street-art vibe). In the afternoon, replicate the included NYC photo walk by joining an Airbnb Experience or GetYourGuide street-photography walk in Bushwick (~£35–45) or simply self-guide with a printed map of the Bushwick Collective murals and grab a beer at a local brewery (Bushwick has German brewing heritage).
🚌Amtrak Northeast Regional ~£35; MTA subway £2.20/ride
🛏Brooklyn or Manhattan hostel dorm, £50–65/night
- →Amtrak Northeast Regional Boston–New York
- →Bushwick Collective street art self-guided or booked photo walk
- →Local brewery stop
Free day in New York
New York City
Use a free day exactly as the tour intends. Best budget moves: walk the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise (free), Staten Island Ferry round trip for Statue of Liberty views (free), Central Park and the High Line (free), and the free Staten Island and NY Public Library stops. Pay-for-entry highlights if you want them: Statue of Liberty grounds from £18, 9/11 Memorial Museum from £24, Empire State Building from £32. Catch a Broadway show via the TKTS discount booth or TodayTix rush tickets, or enjoy a free evening at Washington Square Park.
🚌MTA subway ~£5 total
🛏Brooklyn or Manhattan hostel dorm, £50–65/night
- →Brooklyn Bridge walk
- →Staten Island Ferry (free harbour views)
- →Central Park and High Line
- →Optional 9/11 Memorial, Empire State Building, Broadway show
Train to Philadelphia — Liberty Bell & Independence Hall
Philadelphia
Take the Amtrak Northeast Regional or the cheaper NJ Transit/SEPTA combo from New York to Philadelphia (Amtrak ~£22–35, about 1h30). Drop bags at a hostel (Apple Hostels is right in Old City) or budget hotel. Afternoon: see the Liberty Bell (free) and book the free timed ticket for Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed. Wander Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited street in the US, and grab a cheesesteak at Reading Terminal Market — the cheapest and best-tasting history lesson in town.
🚌Amtrak or NJ Transit+SEPTA ~£22–35
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, £45–55/night
- →Amtrak/NJ Transit to Philadelphia
- →Liberty Bell Center (free)
- →Independence Hall timed tour (free ticket)
- →Elfreth's Alley and Reading Terminal Market
Train to Washington D.C. + National Mall night walk
Washington D.C.
Ride the Amtrak Northeast Regional from Philadelphia to Washington Union Station (~£30–40, about 1h45; if you book early it can be under £25). Check into a hostel or budget hotel near Dupont Circle or Chinatown. In the evening, do the tour's guided National Mall walk yourself — all monuments are free and open 24 hours, and they're best after dark. Route the Lincoln Memorial and reflecting pool, the Vietnam Veterans, Korean War and WWII memorials, and the Washington Monument. Download a free National Park Service app or audio guide for context.
🚌Amtrak ~£30–40; Metro ~£2.50/ride
🛏Dupont Circle/Chinatown hostel dorm or budget hotel, £50–60/night
- →Amtrak Philadelphia–Washington D.C.
- →Self-guided National Mall monuments walk after dark
- →NPS app audio guide
Museums, White House and Capital sights
Washington D.C.
The packaged trip includes an insider National Geographic HQ tour — travellers can't replicate insider access, but you can visit the National Geographic Museum (ticketed, ~£12–15) or book any public lectures listed. Spend the day on the free Smithsonian museums: the National Museum of American History, Air and Space, and the National Gallery of Art are all free. Reserve a free timed ticket for the White House visitor centre and see the exterior; the Washington Monument observation deck is free with a timed ticket (book online). Arlington National Cemetery is free via Metro. Many hostels run free walking tours in the morning worth joining.
🚌Metro day pass ~£7
🛏Dupont Circle/Chinatown hostel dorm or budget hotel, £50–60/night
- →Smithsonian museums (free)
- →White House Visitor Center (free, reservation)
- →Washington Monument timed ticket
- →Optional National Geographic Museum
Depart Washington D.C.
Washington D.C.
Check out and head to the airport. Washington Dulles (IAD) is reached via the Silver Line Metro plus Washington Flyer bus (~£8–10), or Reagan National (DCA) is on the Metro Yellow/Blue line (~£2.50). If you have time, one last free walk along the Mall or brunch in Georgetown before you fly.
🚌Metro to airport ~£3–10
🛏—
- →Metro to Dulles or Reagan National
- →Optional Georgetown stroll
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,085 | £2,950 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,865 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,085
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Historic American Cities by Rail — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,085 per person for 8 days in United States (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,085 — a saving of roughly £1,865 (63%) per person.
How long is the United States (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through United States (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, budget trip through United States (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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