USA cross-country by train with Amtrak
 

The view from the diner as the California Zephyr rolls through Colorado canyons.  You'd be crazy to fly!

See the journey in pictures

Buy Amtrak train tickets

USA coast to coast from $236

You'll see nothing of America at 35,000 feet, come down to Earth and see world class scenery from an Amtrak train across the United States.  You can travel cross-country from as little as $236 (£188 or €220) if you book well in advance, one of the world's great travel bargains.  The USA has an excellent rail network for visitors, it may only be a skeleton network by European standards but it'll take you to almost all the towns & cities a visitor wants to see, in comfort at affordable prices.  It'll take you to many of the U.S. national parks, too.  Long-distance trains in the USA are operated by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, www.amtrak.com.  This page explains what you need to know to plan and book a memorable cross-country trip by train.

small bullet point  Train service in the USA, at a glance

small bullet point  How to buy Amtrak tickets

small bullet point  Cross-country by train via Chicago

small bullet point  Cross-country by train via New Orleans

small bullet point  New York to Florida

small bullet point  Boston - New York - Washington DC

small bullet point  New York to Montreal & Toronto

small bullet point  Other Amtrak routes

small bullet point  What are Amtrak trains like?

small bullet point  Amtrak's USA Railpass

small bullet point  Alaska Railroad

small bullet point  Holidays, vacations & tours by train

small bullet point  Hotels & accommodation in the USA

small bullet point  Flights to the USA

small bullet point  Europe to the USA by Queen Mary 2

Train service in the USA, at a glance  See detailed map

This route map shows where Amtrak trains run.  Each of the very long-distance transcontinental routes shown in blue has one daily train, except for New York to Florida with 2 trains a day and the Sunset Limited (New Orleans-San Antonio-Los Angeles) which runs 3 times a week.  Important short distance routes (for example, Washington-New York-Boston or Los Angeles-San Diego) have regular intercity services and are shown in red.  It's easy to check Amtrak train times at www.amtrak.com, just use their online booking system.  Click here for the official large-scale Amtrak route map.

Amtrak cross-country train route map

Useful country information

Train operator in USA:

Amtrak, see www.amtrak.com for US train times, fares & online booking.

Trans-Atlantic sea travel:

 

See the Queen Mary 2 page.

USA rail pass:

 

Amtrak USA rail pass

Flights to USA:

Flights to USA      Travel to the USA by sea on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

Time zones:

New York:  GMT-5  Chicago:  GMT-6  Los Angeles:  GMT-8  Clocks go forward 1 hour from 2nd Sunday in March to 1st Sunday in November.

Currency:

 

£1 = approx $1.25  Check current exchange rates

Dialling code

 

+1

Tourist information:

Each State has a tourist agency, see www.interstaterestareas.com/state-tourism-offices.   Recommended guidebooks

Hotels:

Scan multiple hotel providers to find cheapest hotel rates   Backpacker hostels in USA

Page last updated:

5 February 2024


Cross-country by train

 

Across the United States by train...

Coast to coast, 3,397 miles from New York to San Francisco in 3 days by train, a journey of a lifetime for as little as $236.  This video gives a taste of what you miss when you fly, it shows the scenery in Colorado's canyons from Amtrak's 'California Zephyr', perhaps the most scenic of their routes across the States.  A chance to chill out & experience America at ground level, yet it costs no more than a flight.  Coast to coast by train, in pictures

6-minute video of a journey on the California Zephyr.

The 3,000 mile journey across the United States by train is one of the world's greatest travel experiences.  It's easy, comfortable, safe, and an affordable alternative to flying.  Free route guides are available on board each train, telling you what to look out for from the window, and the scenery on many routes is world class. 

In a nutshell

Which is the best cross-country train route?

 

Cross-country westbound 2024

 1. Take a train to Chicago

Lake Shore

Limited

 Lake Shore

Limited

Capitol

Limited

Cardinal

(Wed, Fri, Sun)

 Train number:

49

 449

29

51

 New York (Moynihan Train Hall, Penn Station) depart

 15:40 day 1

 

 

06:45 day 1

 Boston (South station) depart

|

 12:50 day 1

 

|

 Washington DC (Union Station) depart

|

 |

 16:05 day 1

10:59 day 1

 Chicago (Union Station) arrive

 10:12 day 2

 10:12 day 2

 08:45 day 2

10:00 day 2

--------------  change trains in Chicago & take whichever onward train you want ------------

 2. Take a Superliner train from Chicago

Empire

Builder

 California

Zephyr

 Southwest

Chief

Texas

Eagle

 Train number:

7

 5

3

21

 Chicago (Union Station) depart

 15:05 day 2

 14:00 day 2

 14:50 day 2

 13:55 day 2

 Minneapolis/St Paul arrive

 22:56 day 2

 |

 |

|

 Portland arrive

 11:17 day 4

 |

 |

|

 Seattle arrive

 11:29 day 4

 |

 |

 |

 Dallas arrive

 

 |

 |

 11:30 day 3

 San Antonio arrive

 

 |

 |

 21:55 day 3

 Omaha arrive

 

 22:55 day 2

 |

 |

 Denver arrive

 

 07:15 day 3

 |

 |

 Salt Lake City arrive

 

 23:05 day 3

 |

 |

 Sacramento arrive

 

 14:13 day 4

 |

 |

 Emeryville (for Oakland & San Francisco) arrive by train

 

 16:10 day 4

 |

 |

 San Francisco Transbay Terminal arrive by Amtrak bus*

 

 17:00 day 4*

 |

 |

 Kansas City arrive

 

 

 22:00 day 2

 |

 Albuquerque arrive

 

 

 15:19 day 3

 |

 Flagstaff (for Grand Canyon) arrive

 

 

 20:32 day 3

 |

 Los Angeles arrive

 

 

 08:00 day 4

 05:35 day 5 **

* The California Zephyr terminates in Emeryville and an Amtrak Thruway bus transfers passengers across the Bay Bridge to the Temporary Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco.  Tickets can be booked through to (and luggage checked through to) San Francisco Transbay Terminal as if it was a rail station.

** The Chicago-Los Angles portion only runs 3 times a week, departing Chicago on Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays. Daily Chicago-San Antonio.

Use these times as a guide, always check current times & fares at www.amtrak.com as they change from time to time.

Cross-country eastbound 2024

 1. Take a Superliner train to Chicago.

Empire

Builder

California

Zephyr

 Southwest

Chief

Texas

Eagle

 Train number:

8/28

 6

4

22

 Los Angeles depart

 

 

 17:55 day 1

 22:00 day 0 ***

 Flagstaff (for Grand Canyon) depart

 

 

 04:20 day 2

 |

 Albuquerque depart

 

 

 11:48 day 2

 |

 Kansas City depart

 

 

 07:28 day 3

 |

 San Francisco Transbay Terminal depart by Amtrak bus*

 

   07:50 day 1 *

 |

 |

 Emeryville (for Oakland & San Francisco) depart by train

 

 09:10 day 1

 |

 |

 Sacramento depart

 

 11:09 day 1

 |

 |

 Salt Lake City depart

 

 03:30 day 2

 |

 |

 Denver depart

 

 19:10 day 2

 |

 |

 Omaha depart

 

 05:14 day 3

 |

 |

 San Antonio depart

 

 |

 |

 07:00 day 2

 Dallas depart

 

 |

 |

 15:40 day 2

 Seattle depart

 16:55 day 1

 |

 |

 |

 Portland depart

 16:45 day 1

 |

 |

 |

 Minneapolis/St Paul depart

 08:50 day 3

 |

 |

 |

 Chicago (Union Station) arrive

 16:45 day 3

 14:50 day 3

 14:50 day 3

 13:42 day 3

-----------  change trains in Chicago & take whichever onward train you want  -----------

 2. Take a train east from Chicago.

Capitol

Limited

Lake Shore

Limited

Lake Shore

Limited

Cardinal

(Tue, Thur, Sat)

 Train number:

30

 448

48

50

 Chicago (Union Station) depart

 18:40 day 3

 21:30 day 3

 21:30 day 3

 17:55 day 3

 Washington DC arrive

 13:05 day 4

 |

 |

18:44 day 4

 Boston arrive

 

 20:32 day 4

 |

 |

 New York (Moynihan Train Hall, Penn Station) arrive

 

 

 18:42 day 4

 22:23 day 4

* The California Zephyr starts in Emeryville.  An Amtrak Thruway bus links the Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco with Emeryville across the Bay Bridge.  Tickets can be booked through from (and luggage checked in at) the Amtrak station at San Francisco Transbay Terminal as if it was a rail station.

*** The Los Angles to Chicago portion only runs 3 times a week, leaving LA on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays.  Daily San Antonio-Chicago.

Use these times as a guide, always check current times & fares at www.amtrak.com as they change from time to time.

Facilities on each train

Cardinal:

 

New York & Washington DC - Chicago via Indianapolis, 3 times a week. (one night).  Amfleet reclining seats, Viewliner sleeping-car.  A slower train than the Lake Shore Limited, and it only runs 3 times a week.  No full diner, only a cafe car.  But a useful alternative through great scenery if the Lake Shore is full.

Capitol Limited:

 

Washington DC - Chicago daily (764 miles, one night).  Superliner train with reclining seats, observation-lounge-cafe car & sleeping-cars.  The dining-car was discontinued from June 2018, sleeper passengers get a cold tray meal served in their compartment, other passengers can use the cafe-lounge car.

California Zephyr:

 

Chicago-San Francisco daily (2,438 miles, two nights).  Superliner train with reclining seats, sightseer lounge car, sleeping-cars & dining-car.  This train is one of the great train rides of the world, and if you are planning a coast-to-coast trip, this is the best route to take.  It climbs through the Rockies between Denver & Salt Lake City, and through the Sierra Nevada between Reno and the Bay Area.  Illustrated account of a journey on the California Zephyr.

Empire Builder:

 

Chicago - Seattle/Portland (2,206 miles Chicago-Seattle, two nights).  Superliner train with reclining seats, sightseer lounge car, sleeping-cars & dining-car.  This train winds its way past Glacier National Park and through the mountains of Washington state.

Lake Shore Limited:   

 

New York - Chicago daily (959 miles, one night), with through cars Boston - Chicago daily.  Amfleet reclining seats, Viewliner sleeping-cars, Amfleet lounge-café.  This train takes the scenic route up the Hudson River out of New York, with the train tracks running right alongside the river, past Storm King Mountain and West Point Military Academy.  Try and get a seat on the left-hand side of the train out of New York, right-hand side heading to New York.  The Boston-Chicago & New York-Chicago sections are coupled together between Albany & Chicago.  Illustrated account of a journey on the Lake Shore Limited.  The dining-car was discontinued in June 2018, sleeper passengers now get a cold tray meal served in their compartment, other passengers can use the cafe-lounge car.

Southwest Chief:

 

Chicago - Los Angeles (2,256 miles, two nights).  Superliner train with reclining seats, sightseer lounge car, sleeping-cars & dining-car.  This train mostly travels via the Santa Fe railroad, once used by the famous Chicago-Los Angeles 'Super Chief', the film stars' favourite.  It will take you through Apache Canyon and right through Navajo Indian country, with a live commentary from an Indian guide over the train's public address for the relevant section of line.  The train serves Flagstaff which is one hour by connecting bus from the Grand Canyon, with day tours available, and Williams, for the Grand Canyon Railway.

Texas Eagle:

 

Runs daily Chicago - Dallas - San Antonio, but only three times a week between Chicago & Los Angeles (westbound from Chicago on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, eastbound from LA on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays).  Superliner train with reclining seats & sleeping-cars between Chicago & San Antonio or LA, with sightseer lounge car & dining-car available between San Antonio & LA when the Chicago-LA through coaches are attached to the Sunset Limited.  2,728 miles Chicago-LA.

What are the trains like?

How much does it cost?

 Cheapest one-way fares:

In a

reclining seat

In a roomette

two people

In a roomette

one person

In a bedroom

two people

In a bedroom

one person

 New York - Los Angeles/San Francisco/Seattle

$236

$1146

$914

$2027

$1795

 New York - Chicago

$90

$537

$415

$1137

$555

 Chicago - Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle

$146

$723

$544

$1309

$1130

3,000 miles coast-to-coast overland for as little at $236 has to be one of the world's greatest travel bargains!  Railpass options.

Amtrak fares are dynamic, so you'll see various prices on various dates, book ahead for the cheapest prices - these are the cheapest examples I have found.

Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.  Children 2-12 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare, children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per adult).

There's a 10% discount for seniors over 65 on some fares.  The discount applies to the base fare but not to saver fares, flexible fares, roomette/bedroom charges.

If you choose to travel in a sleeper, the premium fare column on the Amtrak website will show the total cost for all passengers travelling in a roomette or bedroom.  This is calculated as a basic fare for each passenger plus one charge covering the whole roomette or bedroom.  The roomette or bedroom cost is the same whether it's occupied by one person or two.  So a sleeper is a lot better value if there are two of you!  The two people price in the table above is the total you pay for two people sharing a roomette or bedroom.

Tip:  You can save 10% on the basic travel fare (but not on accommodation supplements) by becoming a member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, which at the time of writing costs $35 for an individual or $50 for a family.  It can pay for itself on one coast to coast trip.  See www.narprail.org for full details and online sign-up.

Can I stop off on the way?

  Amtrak self-servive ticket machine  
 

Amtrak's Quik-Trak self-service ticket machines:  You simply pass the barcode on your booking printout under the machine's scanner, confirm the journey and print your tickets.  However, Amtrak has now introduced e-tickets, and with these you can go straight to the train.

 

Luggage

How to buy tickets

Let Amtrak Vacations arrange your trip

  Amtrak Vacations cross-country train trips
 

Railbookers tours of the USA by train

Let Railbookers arrange your trip

Escorted tours with Great Rail Journeys

Using a USA railpass

See it in pictures: Cross-country by train

View from the train, as the California Zephyr snakes along the Colorado canyons Amtrak's California Zephyr, arrived 10 minutes early at Emeryville

The view from the train as the California Zephyr snakes along those Colorado canyons.

The California Zephyr arrived in Emeryville after its 2,438-mile run from Chicago, 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

Back to top


Cross-country via New Orleans

This is the Southern cross-country route, a whole different flavour from the routes via Chicago.  Coast to coast via New Orleans takes 4 nights, making it slower than the more usual transcontinental route via Chicago, as you need to spend a night in New Orleans - but a stopover down south is hardly a burden!  For a taste of the deep south, this is the way to go.

Cross-country via New Orleans, westbound

 

Cross-country via New Orleans, eastbound

 1. Take the Crescent to New Orleans, daily 

Crescent

 1. Sunset Limited.  Runs Wed, Fri, Sun only

Sunset

Limited

 New York (Penn Station) depart

 14:15 day 1

 Los Angeles depart

22:00 day 1

 Washington DC depart

 18:30 day 1

 El Paso depart

15:35 day 2

 Atlanta arrive/depart

 08:43 day 2

 San Antonio depart

06:25 day 2

 New Orleans arrive

 21:02 day 2

 Houston depart

12:10 day 3

-----  change trains & stay overnight in New Orleans  ----

 New Orleans arrive

21:40 day 3

 2. Sunset Limited.  Runs Mon, Wed, Sat only

Sunset

Limited

-------  change trains & stay overnight in New Orleans ------

 New Orleans depart

 09:00 day 3

 2. Take the Crescent, runs daily

Crescent

 Houston arrive

 18:18 day 3

 New Orleans depart

09:15 day 4

 San Antonio arrive

 00:05 day 4

 Atlanta arrive/depart

23:29 day 4

 El Paso arrive

 13:25 day 4

 Washington DC arrive

13:47 day 5

 Los Angeles arrive

 05:35 day 5

 New York (Penn Station) arrive

18:01  day 5

The Crescent:

 

New York-New Orleans daily (1,377 miles, one night).  Amfleet reclining seats, Viewliner sleeping-cars, Amfleet lounge-café.  Sleeper passengers get a tray meal served in their compartment, other passengers can use the cafe-lounge car.

The Sunset Limited:    

 

Runs 3 times a week.  New Orleans - Los Angeles 1,995 miles, 2 nights.  Superliner train with reclining seats, sightseer lounge car, sleeping-cars & dining-car.

How much does it cost?

 Cheapest one-way fares:

In a

reclining seat

In a roomette

two people

In a roomette

one person

In a bedroom

two people

In a bedroom

one person

 New York - New Orleans

$139

$774

$603

$1146

$975

 New Orleans - Los Angeles

$138

$609

$436

$1660

$1487

Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.  Children 2-12 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare, children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per adult).

Amtrak fares vary dynamically, so you'll see various fares on various dates, book ahead for the cheapest prices - these are just typical examples, assuming you book ahead.

There's a 10% discount for seniors over 65 on some fares.  The discount applies to the base fare but not to saver fares, flexible fares, roomette/bedroom charges.

If you choose to travel in a sleeper, the premium fare column on the Amtrak website will show the total cost for all passengers travelling in a roomette or bedroom.  This is calculated as a basic fare for each passenger plus one charge covering the whole roomette or bedroom.  The roomette or bedroom cost is the same whether it's occupied by one person or two.  So a sleeper is a lot better value if there are two of you!  The two people price in the table above is the total you pay for two people sharing a roomette or bedroom.

Tip:  You can save 10% on the basic travel fare (but not on accommodation supplements) by becoming a member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, which at the time of writing costs $35 for an individual or $50 for a family.  It can pay for itself on one coast to coast trip.  See www.narprail.org for full details and online sign-up.

Luggage arrangements Railpass options.   Can I stop off?

How to buy tickets

Using a USA railpass

Back to top


New York to Florida

Introducing Amtrak's Silver Service from New York & Washington DC to Orlando, Tampa & Miami.

 New York ► Florida

 

 Florida ► New York 

 Runs every day

Silver

Star

Silver

Meteor

 Runs every day

Silver

Meteor

Silver

Star

 Train number:

91

97

 Train number

98

92

 New York

depart (day 1)

11:02

15:15

 Miami

depart (day 1)

 08:10

11:40

 Washington DC

depart (day 1)

15:04

19:24

 Ft Lauderdale

depart (day 1)

 08:50

12:18

 Jacksonville

arrive (day2)

07:06

09:24

 Tampa

depart (day 1)

|

17:20

 Orlando

arrive (day 2)

10:33

13:04

 Orlando

depart (day 1)

 13:56

19:25

 Tampa

arrive (day 2)

12:55

|

 Jacksonville

depart

 17:11

23:04

 Ft Lauderdale

arrive (day 2)

17:57

18:06

 Washington DC

arrive (day 2)

 07:25

15:04

 Miami

arrive (day 2)

18:35

18:59

 New York

arrive (day 2)

 11:18

19:10

Facilities on board

Silver Meteor:  Amfleet reclining seatsViewliner sleeping-car, Amfleet cafe car.

Silver Star:  Amfleet reclining seatsViewliner sleeping-car, Amfleet cafe car.

Luggage arrangements.

How much does it cost?

 Example one-way fares:

In a

reclining seat

In a roomette

two people

In a roomette

one person

In a bedroom

two people

In a bedroom

one person

 New York - Miami

$130

$504

$346

$783

$625

Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.  Children 2-12 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare, children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per adult).

If you choose to travel in a sleeper, the premium fare column on the Amtrak website will show the total cost for all passengers travelling in a roomette or bedroom.  This is calculated as a basic fare for each passenger plus one charge covering the whole roomette or bedroom.  The roomette or bedroom cost is the same whether it's occupied by one person or two.  So a sleeper is a lot better value if there are two of you!  The two people price in the table above is the total you pay for two people sharing a roomette or bedroom.

How to buy tickets

Using a USA railpass

Back to top


Boston - New York - Washington

A fast and frequent inter-city service links Boston, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC.  There are two types of train: Acela Express 150mph high-speed trains with 1st class & business class (premium fares apply) and regular trains with coach class and (in most cases) business class.  There are also services from Boston to Portland (Maine) and from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. See www.amtrak.com for times, fares and online booking, or try Omio.com.

How long does it take?

How much does it cost?

 Normal one-way fare:

Coach class:

Business class:

First class:

 New York - Washington DC (normal train)

From $49

From $95

-

 New York - Washington DC (Acela Express)

-

From $125

From $190

 New York - Boston (normal train)

From $49

From $95

-

 New York - Boston (Acela Express)

-

From $125

From $190

Fares vary like air fares, with cheaper prices available the further ahead you book.  Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.  Children 2-12 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare (except on Acela Express where there is no discount for children on weekdays), children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per adult).

Luggage on Washington-New York-Boston trains:  These trains don't have checked baggage, you simply take your luggage with you onto the train and put it on the racks just as you would on any European train.  You can take 2 items up to 23Kg each, plus two smaller personal bags each up to 11Kg - pretty generous, see www.amtrak.com/baggage-policy.

How to buy tickets

Acela Express

Acela Express is Amtrak's very own high-speed train, reaching 150 mph on certain sections of upgraded line.  It has first class & business class, there's no economy coach class.  Premium fares apply, with no discounts for children on weekdays.

Amtrak's high-speed Acela Express train   Business class seats on Amtrak's Acela Express

Acela Express, Amtrak's 150mph business train.

 

Business class on an Acela Express.

Northeast Regional trains

Cheaper but slower than Acela Express, with coach class & business class between Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington DC.

Amtrak trains:  Seats in an Amfleet car Amtrak Northeast Regional train at Boston

Coach class seats in an Amfleet car as used on  Northeast Regional trains.

Northeast Regional train composed of Amfleet cars about to leave Boston South for New York & Washington DC.

The cafe counter   Cafe car on the Maple Leaf

Amfleet cafe car.

 

Amfleet cafe car.

Back to top


Other Amtrak routes

New York - Niagara Falls

New York - Toronto, Montreal (Canada)

Chicago - Memphis - New Orleans

Intercity trains in California

Seattle - Portland - Oakland (San Francisco) - Los Angeles

Portland - Seattle - Vancouver

Luggage on trains without checked baggage:  Some of these trains don't have checked baggage, you simply take your luggage with you onto the train and put it on the racks just as you would on any European train.  Generous limits apply - 2 items each up to 23Kg, plus two smaller personal bags each up to 11Kg, see www.amtrak.com/baggage-policy.

Back to top


What are Amtrak trains like?

Short distance trains come in various types, all with comfortable air-conditioned seating and often with a café car.  On the Boston-New York-Washington DC route, there is now the premium fare, 150mph Acela Express high speed train, based on French TGV technology, but running on conventional tracks.

small bullet point  Long distance trains east of Chicago or New Orleans

small bullet point  Long distance trains west of Chicago or New Orleans

(1)  Long distance trains in the east

Long-distance trains east of Chicago (such as the New York-Chicago Lake Shore Limited, the New York to Florida Silver Star & Silver Meteor or the New York to New Orleans Crescent, but not the Washington to Chicago Capitol Limited) have Viewliner sleeping-cars, Amfleet reclining seat cars and an Amfleet cafe/lounge car serving snacks and drinks.  If you have paid for a sleeper, meals are included in the fare.

Amfleet reclining seats

These distinctive stainless-steel coaches have comfortable reclining seats with loads of legroom, drop-down tables & 120v power sockets for laptops & mobiles.  Drinking water is available in each coach.  Unlike in Europe, your reservation does not secure a specific seat in a specific coach, you can sit where you like once on board.  An attendant looks after each seats car, and will place a 'seat ticket' above your seat to indicate that the seat is taken.

Amtrak trains:  Amfleet coaches on the New York to Chicago 'Lake Shore Limited' Amtrak trains:  Reclining seats on the New York to Chicago 'Lake Shore Limited'

Amfleet cars.  This is the New York to Chicago Lake Shore Limited at its service stop in Albany, after a scenic run down the Hudson river valley.  It'll reach Chicago's impressive Union Station next morning.

Reclining seats on long-distance Amfleet cars.  There's loads of legroom, 120v power sockets for laptops & mobiles, drop-down tables.

Dining cars, cafe cars & flexible dining

Most long-distance trains have a cafe/lounge car serving hot & cold drinks and snacks, with an area with seats & tables for socialising.  The cafe/lounge car can be used by both sleeper and seats passengers.

Traditional dining-cars on all the 1-night long-distance trains east of Chicago were discontinued in 2018-2019.

Amtrak now offers sleeper passengers what it calls Flexible Dining on these trains.  Sleeper passengers are served pre-packed reheated or microwaved meals delivered to their sleeper compartments, or meals can be served in the table area of the cafe/lounge car.  The New York-Florida Silver Star and Silver Meteor retain dining-cars of the new Viewliner II type with an impressive double row of windows, but only to serve the pre-packaged Flexible Dining meals to sleeper passengers.

Latest update:  In March 2023 full dining has been reinstated on the Silver Star between New York and Florida.

Amtrak flexible dining meal Amtrak Viewliner dining car

Flexible dining:  Meal served to sleeper passengers.  Photos courtesy of www.brian-coffee-spot.com.

Viewliner II dining car, now used to heat & serve pre-prepared flexible dining meals rather than to cook fresh food.

The cafe counter   Cafe car on the Maple Leaf

Amfleet cafe car sales counter.

 

Amfleet cafe car table area.

Viewliner sleeping-cars

Long-distance trains in the East have Viewliner sleeping cars.  The distinctive double row of windows on these cars makes them light & airy during the day, and gives both upper & lower berths a window for star-gazing at night.  Travelling by Amtrak sleeper is a real treat.  All sleeper passengers get complimentary meals in the dining car,  and a 'coffee station' provides complimentary tea/coffee & fruit juice in the morning.  You return from dinner in the diner to find you bed made up for the night by the sleeper attendant.  A hot shower is available at the end of the corridor if you're travelling in a roomette, or en suite if you are travelling in a bedroom.  All necessary bedding, soap and towels are provided.  However, sleeper travel isn't cheap.  In Europe you can pay a small supplement for a berth in a shared couchette or sleeper compartment.  In the US, you have to pay for the whole room whether there are two of you or just one.  To give you a rough idea, some sample sleeper supplements are shown in the fares section above.  Viewliner sleeping-cars have:

Viewliner roomette (daytime mode). Amtrak Viewliner sleeping-car on the New York to Chicago 'Lake Shore Limited'

Viewliner Roomette, in day mode.  This photo shows the size of the room.  Two comfy seats.

Viewliner sleeping-car with its distinctive double row of windows.  Light & airy, even the upper berths get a window!

Amtrak Viewliner bedroom, in daytime mode Amtrak Viewliner Roomette, showing sink and toilet   Amtrak Viewliner roomette, showing upper & lower berths

Viewliner Bedroom in day mode. Sofa, armchair, sink, shower & toilet. Much bigger than a roomette, twice the price.

Viewliner Roomette showing the toilet lid open  & the drop-down sink folded out.  All of life's necessities in a very small space!

 

Viewliner Roomette in night-time mode. The door to the central corridor is on the right.

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(2)  Long distance trains in the west

Long-distance trains between Chicago & Los Angeles/San Francisco/Seattle/Portland, also the New Orleans-Los Angeles Sunset Limited, Seattle-Los Angeles Coast Starlight and Washington DC-Chicago Capitol Limited use impressive double-deck Superliner cars.  Superliner trains have coach class reclining seats, sleeping-cars, a dining car & an observation-lounge car.  A route guide is available free on these trains, telling you want to look out for along the way.  Watch a video guide to Amtrak Superliner trains.

Superliner reclining seats

Coach class reclining seats are spacious with lots of legroom, comparable with business class on an airliner.  Don't worry if you can't afford a sleeper, these seats recline to about 40 degrees, and are quite easy to sleep in, in fact if there is any train in the world where I wouldn't much mind not having a sleeper, Amtrak trains are the ones I'd choose.  There are 120v power sockets for laptops & mobiles at each seat, and drinking water is available in each coach.  Unlike in Europe, your reservation does not secure a specific seat in a specific coach, you can sit where you like once on board.  An attendant looks after each seats car, and will place a 'seat ticket' above your seat to indicate that the seat is taken.  You can either bring a blanket or buy an Amtrak blanket from the lounge car.  Panorama photo of Superliner coach class.

Amtrak Superliner train Amtrak Superliner trains:  reclining seats

Superliner cars.  Even in coach class these double-deck cars are spacious and comfortable.  This is the California Zephyr from Chicago to Oakland (San Francisco), at a station stop at Galesburg.

Superliner coach class reclining seats on the upper deck, showing just how much legroom & recline you get!  There are 110v power sockets at every seat.  See Panorama photo.

Superliner Sightseer Lounge car

On the upper deck is an observation lounge with armchairs & tables and huge windows for sightseeing.  On the lower deck is a cafe selling drinks & snacks.  All passengers can use the lounge car, whether they are travelling in coach class or in the sleepers.  You end up spending most of your day here, watching America unfold in front of you!   Seats are available on a first-come, first served basis, but it's not usually too difficult to find a seat or two free.  However, they do fill up for the most scenic sections of the journey!  See panorama of a Superliner lounge car.

Inside the Superliner lounge    Inside the Superliner lounge

Superliner Sightseer lounge car.  Pictured above, passengers on the edge of their seats as Amtrak's California Zephyr crosses the Mississippi river and enters America's Wild West. Panorama photo of a Superliner lounge car.

Superliner lounge downstairs cafe    Inside the Superliner lounge

Downstairs is a cafe counter and tables.

Superliner dining car

Trains west of Chicago retain a proper dining-car with freshly-cooked food.  During the pandemic, the dining-car was only open to sleeper passengers, but in 2023 coach seat passengers were allowed to use the diner again on most routes.  The dining-car serves breakfast, lunch & dinner.  All the tables in a Superliner dining-car are on the top deck for great views while you eat - the kitchens are downstairs.

Meals are included in the fare if you have a sleeper, although drinks are extra.  In the sleepers, the dining-car manager comes down the train asking each passenger which sitting for lunch or dinner they'd like, and issuing table reservations.  An announcement is made at the start of each sitting. 

Note that couples and singles don't get a whole 4-seater restaurant table to themselves, you'll normally be seated with other passengers. This is a great chance to meet people, even if you're travelling solo.  Panorama photo of Superliner dining-car.

What's the food like?  The food is surprisingly good:  The Angus Steak Burger is great for lunch, for dinner the herb-roast chicken & rice is good and the garlic butter marinated New York Strip Steak is excellent.  A beer costs around $6, a half bottle of very good Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot costs around $15.  For breakfast next morning a freshly-cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon & potatoes hits the spot.  There is also a children's menu.  Credit cards are accepted.  You can find sample menus on the Amtrak website www.amtrak.com, click 'plan' then look for 'meal & dining options'.

Since 2018, sleeper passengers on the Lake Shore Limited  (NYC-Chicago) & Capitol Limited (Washington-Chicago) get a pre-packed meal either served in their compartment or eaten in a lounge area.

Amtrak Superliner trains:  reclining seats Amtrak Superliner lounge car

The garlic-marinated New York steak.

Superliner dining-car set for lunch.

Superliner sleeping-cars

Travelling by Amtrak sleeper is a real treat.  All sleeper passengers get complimentary breakfast, lunch & dinner in the dining car,  and each sleeping-car has a 'coffee station' with complimentary tea/coffee and fruit juice available in the morning.  You return from dinner in the diner to find you bed made up for the night by the sleeper attendant.  All necessary bedding, soap and towels are provided.  Superliner sleeping-cars are double-deck, with 10 very compact 2-berth roomettes and 4 larger 2-berth bedrooms on the upper deck, whilst the lower deck has another 4 roomettes, 1 family bedroom & 1 special accessible bedroom.  The bedrooms have a private shower & toilet, for roomette passengers there are toilets on both upper and lower decks, and a hot shower on the lower deck.  The gangways to the adjacent cars are on the upper deck.  However, sleeper travel isn't cheap.  In Europe you can pay a small supplement for a berth in a shared couchette or sleeper compartment.  In the US, you have to pay for the whole room whether there are two of you or just one.  To give you a rough idea, some sample sleeper supplements are shown in the fares section above.  Superliner sleeping-cars offer:

Amtrak Superliner sleeper   Amtrak Superliner bedroom   Amtrak Superliner bedroom en suite shower & toilet

Superliner sleeping-car.

 

Superliner Bedroom.

 

...with shower & WC.

Amtrak Superliner roomette   Amtrak Superliner family bedroom

Superliner Roomette. The photo shows its size, just big enough for two comfy seats facing each other.  At night, the seats pull together to form the lower berth, which takes up most of the room, the upper berth folds out from the wall above the window.  Washrooms, toilet & a hot shower are just along the corridor.  See panorama photo.

 

Family Bedroom, in daytime mode. It takes up the full width of the car at one end of the lower deck, and has a sofa and jump seat that becomes 2 adult & 2 child berths at night.  Toilets & a shower are nearby.

Video guide: Riding a Superliner train

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The Grand Canyon connection

There are two main ways to reach the Grand Canyon as part of a cross-country train trip, after you get off Amtrak's Chief at Flagstaff Arizona.  The first is to use a bus between Flagstaff and the South Rim of the Canyon, journey time 1 hour 45 minutes each way.  The other is to take a connecting Amtrak Thruway bus to the nearby town of Williams and use the historic Grand Canyon Railway to the Canyon, journey time 2 hours Williams to the South Rim.

Option 1, Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon by bus

Option 2, Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railway

 Williams ► Grand Canyon

 

 Grand Canyon ► Williams

 Train runs daily

 

 Train runs daily

 

 Williams, AZ depart (downtown station)

09:30

 Grand Canyon (South Rim station) depart

15:30

 Grand Canyon (South Rim station) arrive

11:45

 Williams, AZ (downtown station) arrive

17:45

 Fares

 Return fare, per person

Coach

class

First

class

Observation

dome

Luxury

parlour

 Williams to Grand Canyon & back:

$49

$140

$170

$190

The fare includes entry to the Wild West show at Williams station in the hour before departure, and some Wild West entertainment on board!

Grand Central Railway train from the Grand Canyon to Williams View of the Grand Canyon, easily reached by train!

Grand Canyon railway station, with the afternoon Grand Central Railway train to Williams boarding passengers.

The Grand Canyon.  This is the view from the south rim, just 3 minutes walk from the station.

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USA rail passes

One of the best ways to see America is with an Amtrak USA rail pass, but be aware of its limitations before you invest in one.

Reservations, upgrades & quotas

How to buy an Amtrak Railpass

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Tours by train across America

  Amtrak Vacations cross-country train trips

Amtrak Vacations, www.amtrakvacations.com

Amtrak Vacations is Amtrak's official partner.  They can put a package together to your own specification, from anywhere to anywhere, with private sleeping accommodations on the train, stopovers at cities or national parks, hotels & transfers.  They'll also do ticket-only bookings for cross-country Amtrak journeys, and you may get more help and advice if you book through them as they specialise in Amtrak's long-haul routes.

Click here for Amtrak Vacations' cross-country packages

Lines are open 09:00-22:00 Monday-Friday & 09:00-17:30 Saturday, Eastern Time (5 hours behind the UK).

US flag  In the U.S. call 866-816-5892 toll-free or visit www.amtrakvacations.com.

US flag  From Canada call 866-816-5892 toll-free or visit www.amtrakvacations.com.

UK flag  From the UK call 020 3327 3500 or visit www.amtrakvacations.co.uk.

Australian flag  From Australia 0011-1-978-816-7506, or visit www.amtrakvacations.com.

Railbookers

  Railbookers tours of the USA by train

Train travel specialist Railbookers have offices in the UK, USA & Australia.  They can arrange a tour by train across the United States on Amtrak, starting any date you like, to your own specification with hotels and train reservations all made for you, hassle-free.  They know what they're doing, and take good care of their clients, and I have no hesitation in recommending them.

UK flag  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

US flag  US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com.

Canadian flag  Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com.

Australian flag  Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

New Zealand flag  New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

Escorted coast-to-coast tour with www.greatrail.com, 01904 527 120

If you want to go coast-to-coast across the United States or Canada by train, but would rather do this as part of an all-inclusive organised tour with other travellers and a guide, UK-based company Great Rail Journeys (www.greatrail.com) offers 5-star rail-based holidays from about £2,500 per person.  They also offer rail-based holidays to other countries.  Check the holiday details online, then call 01904 527120 to book or use their online booking form.  Seat61 gets some commission to help support the site if you book your holiday through this link and phone number.

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Guidebooks

To get the most from a visit to the USA, you'll need a good guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  I personally prefer the layout of the Lonely Planet, but others prefer the Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and historical background.Amazon logo  You won't regret buying one of these..!  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.  For a specific guide to train travel around the States,  buy a copy of John Pitt's USA by Rail, or see www.usa-by-rail.com, or try Jim Loomis's All Aboard.

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Lonely Planet USA - buy online at Amazon.co.uk   USA by rail - buy online at Amazon.co.uk   Lonely Planet USA - buy online at Amazon.co.uk   Rough Guide to USA - buy online at Amazon.co.uk

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website, from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

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Hotels in the USA

New York:  The Algonquin is New York's oldest operating hotel, opened in 1902, and a designated New York City Historic Landmark.  Perfectly located in mid-town Manhattan, a block or two from Times Square one way and Grand Central the other, with a lovely wood-panelled lobby and even its own hotel cat, which you may find wandering the corridors or sitting on the reception desk.  To check prices & book, click here.  For the Algonquin's history see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin_Hotel.

Washington DC:  Phoenix Park Hotel.  A great choice, directly across the road from Union Station so handy for arrivals and departures by train, with an excellent Irish Pub doing great food & Irish beer on the premises, and just 2 minutes walk from the capitol.  From around $154 for a double.

Los Angeles:  Hotel Queen Mary (closed for refurbishment in mid-2022, but reopened in April 2023).  This has got to be of the most fascinating places to stay, anywhere.  If you go to Los Angeles, consider making the Hotel Queen Mary your base to explore the Los Angeles - Hollywood - Disneyland area.  The original Queen Mary of 1936 has been permanently moored at Long Beach in California since the late 1960s, some 25 miles from Los Angeles Union Station (about a $90 taxi ride), and it's undoubtedly the most wonderful place to stay in LA.  The hotel consists of most of the original first class cabins on board the Queen Mary, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars available on board, too.  Hotel guests can more or less wander the ship at will, and even sign up for ghost hunts at night on board (and yes, from my own experience there is something going on aboard that beautiful ship!).  Wood panelled art deco interiors have been preserved, although a few modern items have been installed such as televisions, and (as we worked out from a historic deck plan) in some cases two of the Queen Mary's original cabins have been knocked into one hotel suite by turning one of the en suite bathrooms into a connecting corridor.  She is one of the most atmospheric places I have ever stayed.

Hotel Queen Mary, Long Beach, California   A hotel room (cabin!) on Hotel Queen Mary

The Queen Mary at Long Beach, California.

 

Cabin 401 in Hotel Queen Mary

Find hotels at Booking.comMy favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place.  I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more.  Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip.  I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels in the USA: www.hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in many places across the States at rock-bottom prices.

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Flights to the USA

1)  Check flight prices at Opodo, www.opodo.com

2)  Use Skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines...

skyscanner generic 728x90

3)  Lounge passes

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think, see www.loungepass.com.  I have found that having lounge access with complimentary tea, coffee, food and wine makes all the difference to an economy flight.

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Travel insurance & other tips

 

Staysure travel insurance

 

Columbus Direct logo

Always take out travel insurance

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

UK flag  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

UK flag  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

US flag  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

 

Maya.net logo

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility listMaya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

 

Curve card

Curve card

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

 

Express VPN

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explainedExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

 

Anker Powerrbank

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.

 


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