Unaccompanied Minors

• Unaccompanied minor travel is permitted only on Amtrak trains. Travel is not permitted on Thruway motorcoach service, or on any other connecting services.
• Tickets for unaccompanied minors may not be purchased online.
• The number of unaccompanied minors that can be booked per train is limited. 
• Tickets are available for purchase up to 2 hours prior to the train’s departure.
• Both boarding and arrival stations must be staffed. (Note: some staffed stations do not allow for unaccompanied minors.)
• All travel must take place on the same day with the scheduled departure time no earlier than 5:30 am and the scheduled arrival time no later than 9:30 pm. Overnight travel is not allowed.
• Transfers of any kind are not permitted.
• All travel must be within the United States. Unaccompanied minors may not cross the US-Canadian border.
• For each unaccompanied minor traveling alone, the adult (at least 18 years old) bringing the child to the departure station must complete and sign a release form. Both the adult and the minor must be at the boarding station at least 60 minutes before the train's departure time.
• The child must be interviewed by station personnel to determine if the child is capable of traveling alone.
• The child must wear an Amtrak issued wristband for the duration of travel. The adult must remain at the station until the train has departed.
• At the arrival station, the adult picking up the child must check-in with station personnel prior to the train's expected arrival time. The adult must display valid current identification meeting the Amtrak ID policies.
• Children traveling alone are not entitled to a children's discount; full adult fares are charged and no additional discounts are permitted.
• Because there are not at least two staffed stations along several routes, unaccompanied minors may not travel between any stations on the Downeaster (Boston, MA - Portland, ME), Heartland Flyer (Oklahoma City, OK - Fort Worth, TX) and Pere Marquette (Chicago, IL - Grand Rapids, MI).
• Unaccompanied minors on Amtrak Cascades trains and some connecting buses within Washington state pay the standard fare.

Children 16 and over may travel without restriction.

*Exception: A minor who is 16 or 17, who is a parent to children of any age, may bring those children without restriction. The 16- or 17-year-old must bring proof that he or she is the parent of the children.

If a group of children are traveling, and some are 16-17, some are 13-15, and some are under 13:

• The 16-17 year olds may travel without restriction.
• The 13-15 year olds must travel as unaccompanied minors because no one is 18 or over. The Unaccompanied Minor Policy applies.
• The children under 13 may not travel because no one is 18 or over. The Unaccompanied Minor Policy applies.