Is there a train that takes you around the United States?
From New York City to the California coast; from Florida beaches to the Sierra Nevada; and from the Windy City to heart of the Big Easy. Amtrak offers countless itineraries to over 500 destinations from coast to coast.
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Amtrak and VIA Rail's most famed train routes traverse the US—and Canada—to transport travelers through vast, varied landscapes, small towns, bustling metropolises, jaw-dropping scenery, national parks, and the most exciting stopping points. A train trip across North America means something different to everyone.
While not nearly as expensive, taking an Amtrak train across the US is also largely the domain of rail enthusiasts as it takes multiple days and costs significantly more than flying. In countries like Japan, South Korea and much of Europe, the opposite is true as the train is simply a way to travel larger distances.
The Amtrak Sleeping Car fleet consists of two types of cars: Superliner and Viewliner. The primary difference: a Superliner features two levels of private accommodations per car and Viewliner features a single level. For your trip, the type of car will depend on the route you select.
While trains are primarily used today in the U.S. as a means of commuting to and from work, luxury train travel experiences are still in motion on trains like America's Trains Southern Comfort line, featuring lavish sleeping cars, and the Napa Valley Wine Train offering food-and-wine day experiences.
Trains consume less energy and produce less harmful pollutants than either car or air travel. Hopping on an Amtrak train will save you gas and daily wear and tear on your car. It also reduces the ever-increasing traffic congestion on the roads and in the skies.
Ticket Options and Travel TimeKeep in mind that bringing a vehicle—which is required for all passengers—is an additional charge. The nonstop trip takes just over 17 hours, slightly longer than the time it would take to drive the 850 miles without stopping (and without traffic). The train departs daily.
To be safe, when you board Amtrak you'll want to have an accepted form of identification, which includes a drivers license or a passport. Other ID's that will work include a Student ID, Military ID, Job Core ID or other government issued ID.
You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.
HOW SAFE ARE TRAINS? Trains are statistically much safer than driving. In 2020, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics recorded 40,867 total deaths from travel, including in planes, in cars on highways and on trains.
Longer Trip TimesIt's typically faster to travel by plane than by train, especially when your destination is across the country. A three-hour flight might be two nights on a train.
Plane travel is safest, reports Ian Savage, of the Dept. of Economics & Transportation Center at Norwestern University, in the Huff Post Live video clip above. Trains are three times more dangerous than flying but safer than traveling by car (which is 40 times more risky than flying), according to Savage.
Treating yourself to a month in the States? It's set to be a trip of a lifetime but only if you put aside enough money for your budget: Low budget: US$3200 per person. Mid-range budget: US$8500 per person.
he Texas Eagle is the longest train route in the United States operated by Amtrak. Alone, the train navigates 1,306 miles daily between Chicago, Illinois to San Antonio, Texas; but three days a week, it operates with the Sunset Limited—a train route that runs between New Orleans, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California.
The train was priced from $2,000 to $10,000 per trip one way and included meals, entertainment, and hotel stays. The train operated under contract with Amtrak and used both Amtrak locomotives and crews. It typically ran on freight only routes that had not seen passenger service in more than 50 years.
Sleeper trains are a unique experience that turn your travel time into an activity in itself, without having to waste a minute of your daytime schedule. It's a strange blend of efficiency mixed with a sense of childlike wonderment – it's a gimmick, but it's fun.