In the United States, the mode of transportation is to choose from a car, bus, subway, ferry, train, and plane. There are some people who are afraid of heights, so land transportation is a better choice. If you are traveling a long distance and don’t want to drive, the best way is the train travel USA.The train is a modern transportation facility that is located in many cities in the United States. Whether you live in New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago and other densely populated cities, there are convenient train stations. This blog will recommend you 10 routes for travel by train in USA.
The 10 recommend train travel in USA as follow:
5. Adirondack
7. Maple Leaf
8. Alaska Railroad’s Coastal Classic
9. Cardinal
10. Sunset Limited
Train Background in USA
Before World War II, train travel across USA were the preferred mode of transportation. After WWII, trains dropped out of mass transportation for two main reasons. One was the popularity of commercial flying, which reduced costs dramatically. The second is that General Eisenhower admired the Germans for their highways, and his presidency after World War II prompted USA to have well-developed interstate highways. It made driving across America convenient and enjoyable. American railroads are now primarily used for freight purposes. Passenger transportation, especially on long-distance routes, is entirely in the hands of Amtrak, a half-government, half-civilian company.
About Amtrack Train Company
Amtrak runs through the center of the USA from the East to the West. It passes through more than 500 cities in the United States. Although you can’t get to your destination as fast as you can fly, you can get to the heart of each city and enjoy the breathtaking views of America’s mountains and valleys.
The train offers clean, comfortable, and spacious seating. Like business class sized seats on an airplane. Dining car compartments in the dining area, free WiFi and space for sleepers and showers. Perfect for a solo traveler who want to travel by train USA. You don’t have to take a road trip to make up the numbers, and you might even make some new friends along the way.
Amtrak routes
- West Coast, from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada;
- The East Coast has a lot of trains and is very dense;
- East and West coasts do not have a transcontinental railroad, but use Chicago as a transit center.
Amtrak Multi-pass and Rail pass
Amtrak Rail Passes are available in a variety of days and stops. So you can arrange a travel across USA by train that suits you best. Amtrak offers more than 30 train routes with more than 500 destinations throughout the U.S.. Also, include parts of Canada, and the pass gives riders the freedom to mix and match. The pass is available in three purchase modes:
15-day trip (8 trip segments)
30-day trip (12 segments)
45-day trip (18 segments)
A segment is defined as “a segment of a trip that Amtrak recognizes as a journey. Regardless of distance, when you board and depart from a mode of transportation (train, bus, ferry, or other approved trip).”
10 Train Travel USA Classic Sightseeing Routes
1. Coast Starlight
Route: round trip between Los Angeles and Seattle
Duration: 35 hours (one way)
The Coast Starlight is one of the nation’s long-distance train network lines. It is recognized as the train route with the most spectacular scenery along the way. The route connects major West Coast cities such as Portland, Eugene, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, and Santa Barbara. It starts at Union Station in Seattle and Los Angeles and travels from Los Angeles to Seattle in 2 days, 1 night, and 35 hours. From sunny beaches to snow-topped peaks, you’ll be able to see the changing seasons on this train line that runs the length of the west coast of the Pacific Ocean.
The Coast Starlight features double-decker Superline cars. The upper level features seating, sleeping berths, a food service dining car, and a panoramic observation car with scenic views. Passengers in the regular cars also enjoy spacious, comfortable seating, ample legroom, and Just-for-You seating. As well as Just-for-You Quick Order service, Regular Car passengers can select lunch and dinner from a menu and have their meals delivered to their seats.
Route Highlights:Klamath Falls, Oregon. Grab your bikes, skateboards and fishing gear and explore one of the nation’s premier outdoor adventure destinations. Experience world-class rafting, bird watching, golfing and hiking around Klamath Falls, Oregon and Dunsmuir, California. View Crater Lake and enjoy traveling as the train whizzes past the Cascades at 5,000 feet above sea level.
2. California Zephyr
Route: Between Chicago and San Francisco (Emeryville)
Time: 51 hours and 20 minutes (one way)
The California Zephyr is one of the most famous sightseeing trains in North America. It runs daily between San Francisco and Chicago. The train’s most distinctive feature is the sensational Observation Car. Named for the oversized windows and swivel seats on both sides.
You’ll find this true as you travel over the heart of the Rockies. And continue west through the snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains. Scenic highlights include the Rockies, Sierra Nevada, Moffat Tunnel, Gore Ridge, Colorado, Byers and Glenwood Canyons, Winter Park, Truckee River, Donner Lake, San Pablo Bay, and Carquinez Strait.
The scenery along the way is ever-changing, with coasts, forests, snow-capped mountains, ranches, canyons. The 52-hour drive combines the best of America’s west coast and central landscapes. Speed past the golden waves of wheat. Climb the majestic Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada and feel the power of the roaring Colorado River. Cross the Continental Divide, pass through tunnels and canyons, and be dazzled by the vibrant colors of the Utah Desert.
Route Highlight: Chicago, Illinois. From Grant Park’s magnificent Buckingham Fountain to iconic museums and skyscrapers. You’ll experience why Chicago was once known as the “Paris of the Prairies. Shop till you drop on the Magnificent Mile. Or cheer on your home team from the comfort of the famous Wrigley Field. From hot dogs to deep dish pizza, cultural flair to comedy, whatever your favorite, Chicago has it all.
3. Empire Builder
Route: between Chicago and Seattle/Portland
Time: 46 hours (one way)
The Empire Builder is a long-distance passenger intercity train. It operates in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest of the United States. The train departs from Chicago Union Station and splits into two branches via Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The two major cities on the Pacific Northwest coast. The train is Amtrak’s highest-volume long-distance intercity train.
Experience the wondrous magnificence of the American West. Departing from Chicago, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Mississippi and witness the glittering skyline of Minneapolis and St. Paul at night. Wake up the next morning as you traverse the North Dakota plains and cross the spectacular Gassman Gulley trestle bridge. Skimming over Missouri, you’ll enter Montana, the Pale State, and pass through the popular attraction, National Glacier Park. Upon arrival in Spokane, you can continue on to Seattle. Or follow the Columbia River Valley to Portland for spectacular views of Mount Hood and Beacon Rock.
The scenery along the way is bright. With mountains, forests and wild plains. The timetable has been carefully timed. The aim is to ensure that you pass through Glacier National Park in the middle of the day.
Route Highlights: Chicago, Illinois From Grant Park’s magnificent Buckingham Fountain to iconic museums and skyscrapers. Shop the Magnificent Mile or cheer on your home team at the famous Wrigley Field. Savor everything from hot dogs to deep-dish pizza, and enjoy everything from culture to comedy.
4. Southwest Chief
Route: between Chicago and Los Angeles
Time: 40 hours each way
The Super Chief ran between Chicago and Los Angeles from the 1930s to the 1970s. It was the first train to have all luxury sleepers. Nicknamed the “Train of the Stars” because of the celebrities who traveled on it. The Super Chief was renamed the Southwest Chief after Amtrak took over. But it still follows this winding route through the storybook Wild West and Albuquerque.
Savor the breathtaking landscapes of the American West as you explore between Chicago and Los Angeles. Ride on the Amtrak Southwest Chieftain and see wilderness, sand, earthy yellows, reds, and feel the strong Mexican vibe along the way. The Amtrak Southwest Chieftain takes you through the vast state of Mississippi. Traveling through eight states, spanning wheat fields and farms, church and pueblo villages, mountains and deserts. As the train passes through curving canyon passes that are only a few feet wider than the body of the car. You’ll be treated to spectacular scenery and pristine landscapes that you can’t even see on the interstate.
Route highlight: viewing the magnificent Grand Canyon. Arrive at a station just steps from the south end of Grand Canyon and catch a highway bus to the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, AZ. You’ll see cowboys, musicians, and mock 1900s-style train robberies on this century-old railroad line.
5. Adirondack
Route: Round trip Montreal-Albany-New York
Duration: 10 hours each way
For a temporary escape from the crowds of the big city! The train leaves New York in the morning. Travels north along the beautiful Hudson River Valley, passing through charming small towns and offering idyllic views. If you are traveling in the fall, you can also enjoy the red maple forests and vineyards. The train will arrive at dinner time in Montreal, Canada. A very French-style city that allows you to not have to travel across the ocean. As if you came to Europe on vacation, enjoying the beautiful scenery and food at a leisurely pace. This route allows you to escape the crowds of the big city for a while!
Southbound, you can board the train at any stop along the route. And by the time you arrive in downtown Manhattan, you’ll still have time to have dinner and enjoy the nightlife of New York City. Which has many convenient connections to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.
Route Highlights: New York, the city that never sleeps. Invites you to catch a show, stroll through the urban oasis of the High Line Park on the viaduct. Or take a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge. Take a bike ride through Central Park, or climb to the top of the Empire State Building for a breathtaking view of the city. Take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, and explore your roots at Ellis Island. Admire the magnificent art and architecture of Guggenheim or stargaze at the Hayden Planetarium.
6. Amtrak Cascades
Route: Between Eugene, OR and Vancouver, Canada
Time: 10 hours each way
Riding the Amtrak Cascades train is the best way to experience the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Be amidst the natural wonders of majestic mountains, blue bays, spectacular waterfalls and volcanoes. Explore rainforests and alpine meadows, lava fields and tulip fields.
The Falls from Eugene, Oregon to Vancouver, Canada is a magical train that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the world, through lush mountains and forests, and just in time to enjoy a beautiful sunrise as it enters Seattle, especially on a clear day, sitting on this side of the Pacific Ocean, with its sweeping views of the bay and the majestic Olympic Mountains! A word of caution though, as the Falls is a cross-border train, those traveling to Canada should remember to check out beforehand.
Spacious reclining seats, laptop outlets and bike racks are readily available on these stylish European-style trains. Relax in the Bistro car and savor fresh local cuisine, wine, microbrewed beer and Seattle’s famous coffee.
Route Highlights:VancouverExplore the neighborhoods of Gastown, Chinatown and Granville Island’s best and brightest, climb the steep slopes of Grouse Mountain or experience the thrill of swinging high above the Capilano River on a 230-foot suspension bridge. Head to Stanley Park and linger all day among the gardens, beaches and many attractions. At sunset, watch a seaplane land in Coal Harbour against the beauty of the Coastal Range.
7. Maple Leaf
Route: Round trip from Toronto to New York
Time: 12 hours and 30 minutes
The Maple Leaf, a train line between New York and Toronto, Canada, will cross the U.S.-Canada border via the scenic Hudson Valley, New York State’s wine region, the breathtaking Finger Lakes, and the spectacular Niagara Falls. The Maple Leaf train will cross the U.S.-Canada border.
Grab your passport and explore the vibrant cosmopolitan cities of New York and Toronto. Don’t forget to pack your appetite for wings in Buffalo and poutine on Parliament Street. Honor the majesty of Niagara Falls and the perseverance of the Negroes who ran to freedom via the Underground Railroad. The history, heroes, food and culture of two great nations come together in one journey.
8.Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic
Route: round-trip Anchorage and Seward
Duration: 4 hours
This route passes through the state’s largest city, Anchorage. It gives you a good idea of the downtown, residential and commercial areas. Almost all of the 50-mile stretch between Anchorage and Old Portage Station abuts the shoreline of Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm. Here you will marvel at the ever-changing landscape while watching beluga whales, bald eagles, Dall sheep, and have the opportunity to witness one of the largest tides in the world.
The tour will also take you over the Kenai Mountains, a section filled with glaciers, waterfalls, scenic canyons and rivers. Last but not least is the town of Seward. Which sits on the shores of Resurrection Bay and is surrounded by Kenai Fjords National Park and the Chugach National Forest. Day trips, kayaking, fishing, hiking and the Alaska SeaLife Center are just a few of the things that make Seward a must-see summer destination.
Route Highlight: The train idles in Seward for a day before returning to Anchorage each evening. This schedule allows for a day trip from Anchorage, with time to enjoy a day trip to Kenai Fjords National Park. If you have the time, a better option is to spend a night or two in Seward to really experience all that this popular beach town has to offer. Alaska gets a lot of sunshine from mid-May to mid-September, so there’s a lot of wildlife out and about and the land is full of business at this time of year, making it perfect for taking in all the sights aboard the Alaska Coastal Classic.
9. Cardinal
Route: Between New York and Chicago
Time: 26 hours 30 minutes (departs 3 days a week)
This line is one of the most scenic railroad lines in the eastern United States. After boarding the Cardinal from Penn Station in New York. You’ll first travel through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore to Washington. It will go through some neighborhoods and a few sections of tunnels that feel old. It was pitch black all around as the train went through the tunnels, which had a few simple lights hanging on the dark walls. Listening to the sound of the train moving forward is like stepping back in time to the early days of tunneling and building railroads.
You’ll see rolling countryside. The Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The Shenandoah Valley, and the wild rapids of West Virginia, all of which you’ll only see from the train. The train heads west, following the banks of the mighty Ohio River from the quaint towns of Ashland and Maysville to the city skyline of Cincinnati. From there the journey continues on to Indianapolis and then west to Chicago.
Route highlights: Explore the heart of the eastern United States. Tracing historic sites through the streets of major cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore. Seek inspiration from the beauty of Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains. And explore Jefferson’s Charlottesville architecture and the winegrowing and winemaking industry. Drive through West Virginia’s New River Gorge, take a steamboat ride in Cincy, and experience the thrill of speeding cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
10. Sunset Limited
Route: Round trip between New Orleans and Los Angeles
Duration: 48 hours each way (departs 3 days a week)
A two-day rail journey. The Sunset takes you from exotic New Orleans to sunny Los Angeles on a route. That not only runs east to west, but also serves as Amtrak’s southernmost railroad spur.
Climb aboard the Sunset Limited, lean back comfortably. Watch the idyllic scenery of the bayou, the Mexican border, the desert Southwest, and the rolling hills of California pass by out the window. There are three trains a week in each direction, with more frequent schedules and departures for westbound trains. You can also transfer to other Amtrak trains, including the Texas Eagle, Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquins.
You can get off at Alpine, Texa to visit Big Bend National Park. Tucson to visit Cactus National Park. Or Maricopa, Arizona, which will take you to the resorts and hot springs of Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Itinerary highlights: You can’t come to California without stopping in Tinseltown. Shopping at the star-studded stores on Rodeo Drive, or checking out the people at Malibu Beach. For family fun, head to the historic Santa Monica Pier or the entertainment mecca of Disneyland. If you’re looking for a cultural experience, the J. Paul Getty Museum has a world-renowned collection of artifacts that are not to be missed.
Tips for train travel USA
- Trains can be late or early. If your arrival time is at night and you want to pick up your car near the train station. Then you must think carefully, because the train may be late, so you can not pick up the car.
- Some routes are also prone to broken trains. If they are broken, cars are sent to pick up and drop off guests. So don’t take the train to catch a plane.
- The frequency of the train is small. Some routes are once a day, or once every three days, so please plan ahead.
- Checked Baggage – Not every line or car supports checked baggage. Write your own name and address on the box to prevent loss. It must be checked 45 minutes before the train departs. If you are changing trains, make sure you have at least 2 hours to change trains.
- You can download the official Amtrak app to see if the train is late. Get on the train with eTicket, book your ticket, and get information about each stop.
FAQ
Train travel in the US can often be more cost-effective compared to flying. For instance, Amtrak fares for certain routes range from approximately $76 to $94 for a round trip. While airfare averages about $216 to $282. Additionally, train travel can be a more economical choice. Due to the ability to carry more luggage without incurring extra fees, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious travelers.
The most beautiful train ride in the United States offers a breathtaking journey through diverse landscapes, captivating vistas, and awe-inspiring natural wonders. Such as the Coast Starlight, which traverses the stunning West Coast from Seattle to Los Angeles, showcasing majestic mountains, lush forests, and picturesque coastline.
The cost of traveling cross-country by train can start as low as $197 if booked well in advance. Additionally, Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass, priced at $299, allows for a 30-day exploration with 10 stops, presenting a remarkable opportunity to tour the country by train.
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