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

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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.

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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