The Ultimate Guide to Amtrak Routes [Regional & Long-Distance]

Updated: July 16, 2024, 10:15am CDT

Edited by:

The Ultimate Guide to Amtrak Routes [Regional & Long-Distance]

Amtrak Trains
Amtrak Routes and Schedules
Final Thoughts

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Amtrak is the national passenger rail service company that operates trains throughout the U.S. Offering both a mix of local and long-distance services, Amtrak serves both major cities and rural towns that otherwise don’t have any other public transit. While Amtrak doesn’t operate in every state, most do see some type of Amtrak service, and it’s helpful to know what trains offer what amenities and the general schedule of when you can expect departures.

In this guide, we’re going to explore each Amtrak route, the rough departure and arrival times, the major cities and highlights en route, and the popular amenities on board.

Amtrak Trains

There are essentially 2 types of trains that Amtrak operates — regional/commuter trains and long-distance trains, each with their benefits and services.

Regional Trains

Regional trains are those trains that tend to serve major cities in high-traffic areas of the country. Traditionally, these trains do not overnight along the way and offer multiple frequencies daily.

Some examples of regional trains include:

Northeast Regional, operating from Roanoke and Norfolk north to Boston
Acela, operating from Washington, D.C. to Boston
Perre Marquette, operating from Chicago to Grand Rapids
Pacific Surfliner, operating from San Diego to San Luis Obispo

These trains tend to offer coach class seating, business class (or first class on Acela), a café car, and reserved seating.

Bottom Line: Regional trains tend to have a coach class and premium seating and run between major cities, usually within a specific area of the country.

Amtrak Northeast Regional Business Class — Amtrak Northeast Regional business class is configured in a 2×2 formation.

Long-Distance Trains

These services operate overnight between major cities and traditionally only operate once a day.

Some examples of long-distance trains include:

Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle
Silver Meteor from Washington, D.C. to Miami
Southwest Chief from Los Angeles to Chicago
Texas Eagle from Los Angeles to San Antonio to Chicago

These trains are usually equipped with coach class, sleeping cars, an observation car, a dining car, and checked baggage.

Bottom Line: Long-distance trains run between cities on opposite ends of the country, and usually feature coach class seats, sleeping compartments, and onboard dining.

Amtrak Bedroom Bunk — On long-distance trains, you can book a bedroom or roomette cabin for a restful night of sleep.

Amtrak Routes and Schedules

Please note that the times shown below can be approximate, as train times often change. Route information and schedules are provided courtesy of Amtrak. Some services may currently be suspended or modified due to COVID-19.

Our noted highlights detail prominent landmarks en route — some may even be viewable from your seat window! We’ve also included Amtrak route guides for most long-distance trains.

Hot Tip: View our detailed guide for a full list of Amtrak station lounges, including locations, hours, and a map.

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Regional Trains
Acela
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	Washington, D.C.
Total Transit Time	7 hours (timetable)
Highlights	Old Swedes Church, Chesapeake Bay, Susquehanna River, Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel, Philadelphia Zoo, Washington Monument, and U.S. Capitol
Major Cities en Route	Baltimore, MD Wilmington, DE Philadelphia, PA Trenton, NJ Newark, NJ
Lounges en Route	South Station Metropolitan Lounge New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge Washington, D.C. Union Station ClubAcela (soon to be Metropolitan Lounge after renovation)
Services Offered	Coach class Business class First class Café service Amtrak Quiet Car Wi-Fi available
Adirondack
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	Montréal, QC
Total Transit Time	10 hours (timetable)
Highlights	East bank of Hudson River, Palisades, West Point, and west bank of Lake Champlain
Major Cities en Route	Albany-Rensselaer, NY Saratoga Springs, NY Westport, NY
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coaches Café service Wi-Fi available
Amtrak Cascades
Origin City	Vancouver, BC
Current Origin City	Bellingham, WA
Current End City (Vice Versa)	Eugene-Springfield, OR
Total Transit Time	10 hours 25 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Olympic Sculpture Park (featuring a 46-foot sculpture of a head by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa), Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, Salish Sea, Port Susan, Skagit Bay, Bellingham Bay, and the Strait of Georgia; wildlife sightings include great blue herons, seals, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and sometimes orca whales
Major Cities en Route	Seattle, WA Tacoma, WA Vancouver, WA Portland, OR Oregon City, OR Salem, OR Albany, OR Eugene-Springfield, OR
Lounges en Route	Portland Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Café service Wi-Fi on board Checked baggage service Coach class Business class Trainside checked bicycles
Amtrak Hartford Line
Origin City	Springfield, MA
End City (Vice Versa)	New Haven, CT
Total Transit Time	1 hour 24 minutes
Highlights	Scenic New England rolling hills from New Haven through Hartford and into Springfield
Major Cities en Route	Hartford, CT Windsor Locks, CT
Lounges en Route	No lounges along the route
Services Offered	Coach class seat Carry-on bicycle
Capitol Corridor
Origin City	Auburn, CA
End City (Vice Versa)	San Jose, CA
Total Transit Time	3 hours 15 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Industrial bays and waterways, rolling hills and valleys near Sacramento, and El Dorado foothills
Major Cities en Route	Sacramento, CA Berkeley, CA Emeryville, CA (San Francisco) Oakland, CA Santa Clara, CA
Lounges en Route	No lounges along the route
Services Offered	Wi-Fi on board Café service Coach class Trainside checked bicycle
Downeaster
Origin City	Brunswick, ME
End City (Vice Versa)	Boston, MA
Total Transit Time	3 hours 25 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Rugged coastline of Maine, historic colonial cities, beaches, and Merrimack River Bridge
Major Cities en Route	Portland, ME
Lounges en Route	No lounges along the route
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Lounge Wi-Fi available Checked bicycles
Empire Service
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	Niagara Falls, NY
Total Transit Time	7 hours 20 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Hudson Valley, areas of Upstate New York along the Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes, and industrialized landscapes near Albany
Major Cities en Route	Albany-Rensselaer, NY Syracuse, NY Rochester, NY Buffalo, NY Niagara Falls, NY Niagara, NY
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Sleeping cars Flexible dining service: available exclusively for sleeping car passengers Café service Checked baggage at select stations
Note: Empire Service trains operating west/north of Albany offer sandwiches, snacks, and beverages. Some trains offer Quiet Cars, business class, sleeping cars, and dining service.
Ethan Allen Express
Origin City	Rutland, VT
End City (Vice Versa)	New York, NY
Total Transit Time	5 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Vermont’s historic architecture, farms, and villages, Hudson River Valley, Green Mountains, spring skiing, summer wildflowers, and fabulous fall foliage
Major Cities en Route	Albany-Rensselaer, NY
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Wi-Fi available
Heartland Flyer
Origin City	Oklahoma City, OK
End City (Vice Versa)	Fort Worth, TX
Total Transit Time	4 hours 14 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Arbuckle Mountains and Stockyard National Historic District
Major Cities en Route	No major cities along the route
Lounges en Route	No lounges along the route
Services Offered	Coach class Café service
Hiawatha
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Milwaukee, WI
Total Transit Time	1 hour 29 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Boutiques of the Magnificent Mile, notable architecture of the Milwaukee Art Museum, and Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Major Cities en Route	Glenview, IL Sturtevant, WI Milwaukee Airport Rail Station, WI
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Amtrak Quiet Car Checked baggage Wi-Fi available Checked bicycles
Illinois Service
Lincoln Service
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	St. Louis, MO
Total Transit Time	5 hours 25 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Chicago Loop, Willis Tower, Humiston-Riverside Park, Illinois State University, Old State Capitol Building, Scottrade Center, Busch Stadium, and Gateway Arch
Major Cities en Route	Springfield, IL
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Wi-Fi available Checked baggage Checked bicycles
Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Quincy, IL
Major Cities en Route	Galesburg, IL
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Carbondale, IL
Total Transit Time	5 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Burlington Square Park, DuPage Children’s Museum, farming towns and lush greenery, DuPage River, Bureau Valley countryside, historical architectures, Villa Kathrine, Kankakee River, Black Dog Smoke & Ale House, and Gateway Arch
Major Cities en Route	Champaign-Urbana, IL Centralia, IL
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge St. Louis Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Wi-Fi available Checked bicycles
Keystone Service
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	Harrisburg, PA
Total Transit Time	3 hours 50 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	The ambiance of Pennsylvania Dutch Country and colonial historic views and architecture
Major Cities en Route	Philadelphia, PA Lancaster, PA
Lounges en Route	Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Amtrak Quiet Car Wi-Fi available
Note: All trains are unreserved for local travel between Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and intermediate points. Travel to or from other points requires reservations. All connecting trains require reservations.
Maple Leaf
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	Toronto, ON
Total Transit Time	12 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Hudson River Valley, Mohawk Valley, New York’s wine country, and gorges of the Finger Lakes region near Niagara Falls
Major Cities en Route	Syracuse, NY Buffalo-Depew, NY Erie, PA Cleveland, OH Toledo, OH
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Wi-Fi available
Michigan Service
Wolverine Service
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Pontiac, MI
Total Transit Time	6 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Kellogg Company, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Lake Michigan and Huron River
Major Cities en Route	Kalamazoo, MI Grand Rapids, MI Battle Creek, MI Jackson, MI Detroit, MI
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Wi-Fi available Amtrak Quiet Car (Monday to Friday only)
Blue Water
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Port Huron, MI
Total Transit Time	7 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Shores of East Michigan through Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, East Lansing, and historic Port Huron
Major Cities en Route	Kalamazoo, MI Grand Rapids, MI Battle Creek, MI East Lansing, MI
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Wi-Fi available Amtrak Quiet Car (Monday to Friday only)
Pere Marquette
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Grand Rapids, MI
Total Transit Time	5 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Beaches and Dutch heritage sites (including a 250-year-old Dutch windmill), Lake Huron, famous cities of Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and East Lansing, Port Huron, and Veldheer Tulip Gardens
Major Cities en Route	St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, MI Holland, MI
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Wi-Fi available
Missouri River Runner
Origin City	Kirkwood, MO
End City (Vice Versa)	Kansas City, MO
Total Transit Time	5 hours 40 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Gateway Arch, Missouri River, Kansas City Union Station, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City, Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial, Missouri State Museum, Lewis and Clark Monument, Jefferson Landing Historic Site and the Cole County Historical Society Museum, and Kirkwood Station
Major Cities en Route	Jefferson City, MO
Lounges en Route	St. Louis Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Wi-Fi available
Pacific Surfliner
Origin City	San Luis Obispo, CA
End City (Vice Versa)	San Diego, CA
Total Transit Time	5 hours 45 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	California Coast between Oxnard and San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Funk Zone featuring the Urban Wine Trail, Seaside Park, Ventura County Fairgrounds & Event Center, Mission San Buenaventura, Surf Beach, and Island Brewing Company; wildlife sightings include endangered snowy plovers and great white sharks
Major Cities en Route	Santa Barbara, CA Los Angeles, CA
Lounges en Route	Los Angeles Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Checked baggage Wi-Fi available
Pennsylvanian
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	Pittsburgh, PA
Total Transit Time	9 hours 20 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Horseshoe Curve, Gallitzin Tunnel, Conemaugh River through South Fork, Susquehanna over the Rockville Bridge, Juniata River through Newport, Millerstown, Thompsontown, Port Royal, Mifflintown, Hawstone, Lewistown, Mt. Union, Huntingdon, Spruce Creek, Tyrone, and Altoona (the sprawling railroad yards are on the left and downtown on the right).
Major Cities en Route	Philadelphia, PA Lancaster, PA Harrisburg, PA Altoona, PA Johnstown, PA
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class service Café service Checked baggage Wi-Fi available
San Joaquin
Origin City	Bakersfield, CA
End City (Vice Versa)	Oakland, CA
Total Transit Time	6 hours 15 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	San Joaquin Valley, coastal mountain ranges, Yosemite’s El Capitan, and Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Death Valley National Parks
Major Cities en Route	Sacramento, CA Stockton, CA Merced, CA Fresno, CA
Lounges en Route	No lounges along the route
Services Offered	Café service Free Wi-Fi Checked baggage
Valley Flyer
Origin City	Greenfield, MA
End City (Vice Versa)	New Haven, CT
Total Transit Time	2 hours 48 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Connecticut River, Hills of New Haven, through Springfield, and valleys of Northampton and Greenfield
Major Cities en Route	Springfield, MA
Lounges en Route	No lounges along the route
Services Offered	Coach class Wi-Fi available

Hot Tip: View our guides on the best ways to book cheap Amtrak tickets (advance bookings, rail passes, and promo codes), as well as our tips on how to earn Amtrak Guest Rewards elite status.

Amtrak Business Class Rear View — Most Amtrak trains feature a spacious coach class seating in a 2×2 format.

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Long-Distance Trains
Auto Train
Origin City	Lorton, VA
End City	Sanford, FL
Total Transit Time	17 hours 29 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Lake Monroe, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Orlando International Airport (MCO), Savannah River, Francis Marion National Forest, and Potomac River
Major Cities en Route	No major cities along the route
Lounges en Route	No lounges along the route
Services Offered	Coach class Private rooms Traditional dining for private room passengers Café service for coach passengers Wi-Fi available
California Zephyr
Origin	Chicago, IL
End City	Emeryville, CA
Total Transit Time	2 days 3 hours 20 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Great Plains, Rocky Mountain, Colorado River, Ruby Canyon, Wasatch Mountains, Great Salt Lake, Toano Range, Goshute Valley, the northern edge of the Ruby Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Donner Lake, Donner Pass, and Moffat Tunnel California Zephyr Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Burlington, IA Omaha, NE Denver, CO Glenwood Springs, CO Salt Lake City, UT Reno, NV Sacramento, CA Emeryville, CA (San Francisco)
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Private rooms Dining service Café service Checked baggage Checked bicycles
Capitol Limited
Origin City	Washington, D.C.
End City	Chicago, IL
Total Transit Time	18 hours (timetable)
Highlights	Allegheny Mountains, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. museums, Jefferson Rock, Potomac River, Belle Boyd House, Willis Tower, Chicago Loop, Lake Erie, Cedar Point, Allegany Museum, and Viaduct Junction Capitol Limited Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Harpers Ferry, WV Cumberland, MD Pittsburgh, PA Cleveland, OH Toledo, OH Waterloo, IN South Bend, IN
Lounges en Route	Union Station ClubAcela (soon to be Metropolitan Lounge after renovation) Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Private rooms Flexible dining service: available exclusively for private room passengers Café service Checked baggage Onboard bicycle racks
Cardinal
Origin City	New York, NY
End City	Chicago, IL
Total Transit Time	1 day 2 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Chicago Union Station, Willis Tower, Hinton Historic District, Wilson Park, The Greenbrier, Potomac River, and the Pentagon Cardinal Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Newark, NJ Philadelphia, PA Baltimore, MD Washington, D.C. Charlottesville, VA White Sulphur Springs, WV Charleston, WV Cincinnati, OH Indianapolis, IN
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge Union Station ClubAcela (soon to be Metropolitan Lounge after renovation) Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Private rooms Flexible dining service: available exclusively for private room passengers Café service Checked baggage Wi-Fi available Onboard bicycle racks
Carolinian / Piedmont
Origin City	New York, NY
End City	Charlotte, NC
Total Transit Time	13 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. museums, Old Town Alexandria, Fredericksburg City Dock Park, downtown Raleigh, Boylan Bridge (view of Raleigh skyline), and downtown Greensboro
Major Cities en Route	Newark, NJ Philadelphia, PA Baltimore, MD Washington, D.C. Richmond, VA Jacksonville Raleigh, NC
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge Union Station ClubAcela (soon to be Metropolitan Lounge after renovation)
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Checked baggage Wi-Fi available Onboard bicycle racks
City of New Orleans
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City	New Orleans, LA
Total Transit Time	19 hours (timetable)
Highlights	Beale Street, Great Lakes, Lower Mississippi Delta region (with African and Caribbean architectural influences), Piney Woods, floral cities of Brookhaven and McComb, exotic swamps of the bayou, marshland, cypress trees and waterways, Pass-Manchac waterway, and Lake Pontchartrain; wildlife sightings include alligators and pelicans City of New Orleans Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Champaign-Urbana, IL Centralia, IL Carbondale, IL Memphis, TN Jackson, MS Hammond, LA
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge Magnolia Room
Services Offered	Coach class Private rooms Flexible dining service: available exclusively for private room passengers Café service Checked baggage Onboard bicycle racks
Coast Starlight
Origin City	Seattle, WA
End City (Vice Versa)	Los Angeles, CA
Total Transit Time	1 day 11 hours (timetable)
Highlights	Santa Ynez Mountains, Pacific Ocean, Vandenberg Air Force Base, America’s breadbasket, and Salinas Valley Coast Starlight Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Tacoma, WA Portland, OR Eugene-Springfield, OR Sacramento, CA San Francisco, CA Santa Barbara, CA
Lounges en Route	Los Angeles Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Private rooms Dining service Café service Checked baggage Onboard bicycle racks
Crescent
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	New Orleans, LA
Total Transit Time	1 day 6 hours (timetable)
Highlights	Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains, Coosa River, historical landmarks like Sloss Furnaces, small towns like Tuscaloosa and Laurel, Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Schuylkill River Trail, Lake Lanier, Midtown Atlanta, Regions Field, Lake Pontchartrain, and Mercedes-Benz Superdome Crescent Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Washington, D.C. Charlottesville, VA Greensboro, NC Charlottesville, NC Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge Union Station ClubAcela (soon to be Metropolitan Lounge after renovation)
Services Offered	Coach class Sleeping cars Flexible dining service: available exclusively for sleeping car passengers Café service Checked baggage at select stations Wi-Fi available Onboard bicycle racks
Empire Builder
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Seattle, WA
Total Transit Time	1 day 22 hours (timetable)
Highlights	North Dakota Plains, Big Sky Country, Glacier National Park, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, and Beacon Rock Empire Builder Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Milwaukee, WI St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN Fargo, ND Minot, ND Havre, MT Whitefish, MT Spokane, WA Portland, OR
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Private rooms Dining service Café service Checked baggage Checked bicycles
Lake Shore Limited
Origin City	Boston, MA
End City (Vice Versa)	Chicago, IL
Total Transit Time	19 hours (timetable)
Highlights	Hudson River, Bannerman’s Island, West Point Military Academy, and National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart Lake Shore Limited Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Syracuse, NY Buffalo-Depew, NY Erie, PA Cleveland, OH Toledo, OH
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge South Station Metropolitan Lounge New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Private rooms Flexible dining service between New York, Albany, and Chicago Café service Checked baggage Wi-Fi available Checked bicycles
Northeast Regional
Origin City	Boston, MA
End City (Vice Versa)	Virginia Beach, VA
Total Transit Time	12 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Art Museum of Philadelphia, Schuylkill River, Blue Ridge Mountains, Hotel Roanoke, and the Appalachian Trail
Major Cities en Route	New York, NY Charlottesville, VA Roanoke, VA Richmond, VA Newport News, VA Norfolk, VA
Lounges en Route	South Station Metropolitan Lounge New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge Union Station ClubAcela (soon to be Metropolitan Lounge after renovation)
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Sleeping cars Flexible dining service Café service Amtrak Quiet Car Checked baggage Wi-Fi available
Silver Service
Silver Meteor and Silver Star
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	Miami, FL
Total Transit Time	1 day 3 hours 30 minutes (timetable)
Palmetto
Origin City	New York, NY
End City (Vice Versa)	Savannah, GA
Total Transit Time	16 hours 10 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Northeast cityscapes, the Deep South’s antebellum homes and Civil War sites, Florida’s beaches, coastal mangroves, modern metroplexes, Delaware Children’s Museum, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. museums, Old Town Alexandria, Edgar Allan Poe Museum, Virginia State Capitol, James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Silver Service Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Philadelphia, PA New York, NY Washington, D.C. Richmond, VA Charlottesville, VA Charleston, SC Savannah, GA Jacksonville, FL Orlando, FL Tampa, FL St. Petersburg-Pinellas, FL Fort Myers, FL
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge Union Station ClubAcela (soon to be Metropolitan Lounge after renovation)
Services Offered	Coach class Business class service Private rooms Flexible dining service: available exclusively for private room passengers Café service Checked baggage Wi-Fi available
Southwest Chief
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Los Angeles, CA
Total Transit Time	1 day 18 hours (timetable)
Highlights	Desert landscape on Route 66, Bill Williams Mountain Range, Grand Canyon National Park, Pikes Peak, and the Rockies; wildlife sightings include bighorn sheep, bears, and elk Southwest Chief Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	St. Louis, MO Kansas City, MO Topeka, KS Dodge City, KS Raton, NM Lamy, NM (Santa Fe) Albuquerque, NM Flagstaff, AZ
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge Los Angeles Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Private rooms Dining service Café service Checked baggage
Sunset Limited
Origin City	New Orleans, LA
End City (Vice Versa)	Los Angeles, CA
Total Transit Time	2 days (timetable)
Highlights	Bayou Country, Mississippi River, Huey P. Long Bridge, Sesquicentennial Park, Tranquility Park, Historic Sunset Station, San Antonio Riverwalk, downtown Tucson, Iron Horse Park, California mountains, Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park Sunset Limited Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	Houston, TX San Antonio, TX Tucson, AZ Maricopa, AZ Palm Springs, CA
Lounges en Route	Los Angeles Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Private rooms Dining service Café service Checked baggage
Texas Eagle
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	San Antonio, TX
Total Transit Time	1 day 8 hours 25 minutes (timetable)
Origin City	Chicago, IL
End City (Vice Versa)	Los Angeles, CA
Total Transit Time	2 days 17 hours 20 minutes
Highlights	Chicago Loop, Willis Tower, Gateway Arch, Mississippi River, Ozark Mountains, Arkansas River, downtown Dallas, Dallas Convention Center, John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza, Iron Horse Park, Riverwalk, and the Alamo Texas Eagle Route Guide
Major Cities en Route	St. Louis, MO Little Rock, AR Dallas, TX Fort Worth, TX Austin, TX San Antonio, TX Palm Springs, CA
Lounges en Route	Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge St. Louis Lounge Los Angeles Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
Services Offered	Coach class Sleeping cars Traditional Dining Service: Café service in the Sightseer Lounge Checked baggage
Vermonter
Origin City	Washington, D.C.
End City (Vice Versa)	St. Albans, VT (Jay Peak)
Total Transit Time	13 hours 45 minutes (timetable)
Highlights	Aldis Hill Park, Cross Vermont Trail, Connecticut River, downtown Brattleboro, Holyoke Heritage State Park, Schuylkill River Trail, Delaware History Museum, and U.S. Capitol
Major Cities en Route	Essex JCT, VT Springfield, MA New York, NY
Lounges en Route	New York Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia 30th Street Station Metropolitan Lounge Union Station ClubAcela (soon to be Metropolitan Lounge after renovation)
Services Offered	Coach class Business class Café service Amtrak Quiet Car Wi-Fi available

Final Thoughts

Amtrak operates a number of routes to and from major cities throughout the U.S., and if you get the chance, it’s certainly a nice way to watch the scenery go by. In some markets, you’ll have access to long-distance trains, while in other areas you’ll be riding on commuter-type trains that run between major cities in a specific region. No matter which train you choose, riding Amtrak is certainly an experience you should try at least once in your life.

Featured Image Credit: James Larounis. All images credited to James Larounis unless otherwise noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Amtrak cheaper than flying?

Not necessarily. Amtrak can certainly be cheap, but in many cases, the prices are similar to flying, and flying takes a considerably shorter amount of time. While the train may be cheaper, it will take you far longer to get to your destination.

What is the most scenic Amtrak route?

Some critics note that the California Zephyr is the most scenic route, running from Emeryville, CA to Chicago, IL, though other notable routes include the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, and Texas Eagle.

Are Amtrak sleeper cars worth it?

Almost certainly sleeping car rooms are worth it, especially on multi-night trips. These compartments turn into 2 beds and allow for a restful night of sleep, which is especially nice if you’re en route for multiple nights.

What is the difference between a roomette and a bedroom on Amtrak?

In addition to having the 2 standard beds, a bedroom features an in-room shower and toilet, larger bottom bed, separate chair, sink, and more space to move around.

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About James Larounis

James (Jamie) started The Forward Cabin blog to educate readers about points, miles, and loyalty programs. He’s spoken at Princeton University and The New York Times Travel Show and has been quoted in dozens of travel publications.

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