The best Amtrak train routes in the USA

Train travel in the USA isn’t as popular or well-established as in many other parts of the world. But there are some beautiful long-distance train rides to explore. Here are the best Amtrak train routes in the USA.

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What’s it like to travel by train in the USA?

Train travel in the USA can be a bit more challenging than some other parts of the world. However, there are still plenty of great routes to choose from in my best Amtrak train routes in the USA. My favourites are some of the long-distance train routes, where you can sleep on the train overnight and eat meals in the restaurant carriage. There are also some options for shorter train rides, especially on the East Coast where you can easily get the train between different cities.

The trains are comfortable for an overnight trip. You can choose to have an airline-style seat, or pay extra to have your own room. In the rooms, your seat will convert into bunk beds for the night, so you can get a good night’s sleep. The food is also reasonable on the overnight trains – it’s not amazing, but I found it was ok enough. You can always bring plenty of snacks on board with you, as there aren’t any luggage limits like you get on planes.

Amtrak trains in the USA do have a reputation for running late, and this is often the case. To fully enjoy USA train travel, I’d recommend being relaxed about your journey. Don’t book anything for too soon after you’re meant to arrive. That way, even if your train is delayed, you won’t be stressing about missing a connection or activity.

My favourite part of train travel in the USA is just being able to sit back and enjoy the views. It’s easier than driving yourself – you can take photos, listen to music, eat snacks, and play games. And then go to sleep and wake up in a brand new state with new experiences waiting for you.

Read more about what it’s like to travel by train in the USA in my blog here.

If you’d like to read more about train travel in the USA, I’d recommend checking out this great guide (affiliate). It gives some great details about the Amtrak train routes in the USA. Keep reading for my favourite Amtrak routes in the USA.

1. Denver, Colorado to San Francisco on the California Zephyr

One of the best Amtrak train routes in the USA is from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco. It’s on the Amtrak train route called the California Zephyr. This train goes through some of the best scenery in the USA. It takes around 36 hours to travel this distance, so you’ll get an overnight on the train as well.

The train starts further East in the USA, but I’d recommend getting on at Denver, Colorado as this is where the best scenery starts. Once you get out of the city, the amazing expanse of Western USA just opens up. you travel through the red rocks and canyons of Colorado, and get glimpses of Monument Valley in the distance.

The train keeps going through the Utah desert, and through the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. The views are so varied, and just amazing.

The train ends in San Francisco. This is a great city to continue your trip in the USA, so I’d recommend staying in San Francisco for a few days after your trip. Read more about the top things to do in San Francisco here.

Check out the Amtrak website to get an idea of prices for this trip.

2. San Francisco to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight

Another of the best Amtrak train routes in the USA is from San Francisco to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight. This train ride gives you amazing coastal views of the pacific ocean and California coast.

This train route takes about 10 hours, so it’s up to you if you want the cheaper airline-style seat, or whether you’d rather have your own private roomette for the journey. Make sure you sit on the right hand side of the train, so you’ll get the coastal views out to sea.

My favourite part of this train route was when the train track ran directly next to the coast. There was nothing in between the train and the sea. You could look over beautiful beaches and just admire the scenery.

Los Angeles is a great city to spend a few days after this train trip – read more about Los Angeles here. There’s also the town of Santa Barbara, which is a stop on the way down. If you want, you can stop off in Santa Barbara for a few days before continuing down to Los Angeles. Read more about beautiful Santa Barbara here.

3. New York to Washington DC on the Acela

Over on the East Coast of the USA, the train from New York to Washington DC connects two great American cities. It’s a great alternative to flying between the two cities as you explore the East coast of the USA.

It’s a relatively short train ride, compared to a lot of the other Amtrak routes in the USA. It only takes about 3.5 hours, so it’s easy to do in a day and still have plenty of time to explore Washington DC when you arrive.

4. Albuquerque to Los Angeles on the Southwest Chief

The last of my best Amtrak train routes in the USA is the route from Albuquerque to Los Angeles on the Southwest Chief. This is another long train route, so there’s plenty of time to look out the window and enjoy the views. You can also use the time to try some of the food in the restaurant car, including trying some of the local Californian wines that are sold.

The main reason this train route is on my list of the best train routes is because it goes through Flagstaff in Arizona. This is the nearest train stop to the Grand Canyon. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is one of the top sights in the USA, so I’d definitely recommend stopping off for a few days before continuing your train journey to Los Angeles. You can also explore some of the other amazing national parks in Arizona, such as Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Then hop back on the train to continue admiring the scenery as you travel to Los Angeles.

Enjoy the best Amtrak train routes in the USA! Remember to check out this great guide to train routes in the USA (affiliate). Read more about what it’s like to travel in the USA by train in my blog here. The USA has so many amazing destinations. Read about the top experiences in California, with favourite spots like San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, and Los Angeles. The North West USA also has some great experiences, with Seattle and the Olympic Mountains some of my favourites.