Amtrak still runs a network of overnight and multi-day trains that cross regions, climates and time zones. Their schedules read like geography lessons, with some trips lasting well over two days. Here are twelve of the long-distance routes, each with the detail that sets it apart.
Help yourself and the planet: The Cool Down makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet, with smart, simple changes to save more and waste less in your everyday life.
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
1. Texas Eagle: The Longest Through Run
On the Texas Eagle, through cars cover 2,728 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles in 65 hours 45 minutes. The Wikipedia table of long-distance routes lists it among the longest trips Amtrak offers.
Passengers on that stretch spend close to three days aboard. The journey rewards travelers who treat the train itself as the destination rather than a way to save time. Anyone planning the trip should weigh the schedule carefully, since a sleeper room and meals become part of the cost of the experience rather than extras.
2. California Zephyr: Chicago to the Bay
The Zephyr runs 2,438 miles from Chicago to Emeryville, California, in 51 hours 55 minutes, according to the Wikipedia list of long-distance Amtrak routes.
The schedule gives riders more than two full days of scenery between the Midwest and the Pacific coast. Emeryville serves as the gateway to the San Francisco Bay area for those on board. Travelers who want to see the mountains and plains without driving will find few alternatives, and the long schedule gives plenty of time to take in the changing views.
3. Empire Builder: Seattle by Way of Chicago
The Seattle section of the Empire Builder covers 2,206 miles from Chicago in 45 hours 43 minutes, per the Wikipedia list of long-distance routes.
The wording points to a train that serves more than one destination, since the route has a Seattle section. Travelers heading to the Pacific Northwest get a lengthy but direct rail option. The long timetable is part of the draw for rail enthusiasts, who often plan their vacations around the scenery and the chance to spend several hours in a dining or lounge car.
4. Auto Train: Cars Ride Along
The car-carrying Auto Train runs 855 miles between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, in about 17 hours, according to Wikipedia’s list of long-distance routes.
Passengers bring their own vehicles, which avoids a long drive down the East Coast. It is an unusual service in the Amtrak lineup, built around the idea of arriving with a car. For drivers headed south, the appeal is simple: no long highway hours and no need to rent a car at the destination, since the family vehicle arrives on the same train.
5. Crescent: Over the Lake
The New York-New Orleans Crescent crosses Lake Pontchartrain on the longest train bridge in the United States, according to AmtrakGuide.
The water crossing near the end of the trip is a memorable moment for riders. The route links the Northeast with the Gulf Coast, passing many cities along the way. Since the bridge is a feature of the schedule rather than a stop, passengers need only look out the window at the right moment, and many riders plan the trip around it.
6. Silver Meteor: A Name From 1939
The New York-Miami Silver Meteor has run since 1939 and appeared in the opening of White Christmas, as AmtrakGuide points out.
Few trains can claim both a long operating history and a role in a classic film. The route gives riders a way to travel between the Northeast and Florida without flying. Passengers who know that history often pick the route for the nostalgia as much as the convenience, and the film connection makes it a talking point on the platform.
7. Sunset Limited: America’s Oldest Name
The New Orleans-Los Angeles Sunset Limited is billed as America’s oldest named train still in operation, according to AmtrakGuide.
The claim gives the route a place in railroad history alongside its practical role. It links the Gulf Coast to southern California across a wide stretch of the country. Heritage of that kind matters to riders who value the long story behind a train name, though the present-day schedule and equipment are what shape the actual trip.
8. Coast Starlight: Crater Lake and Wine Country
The Seattle-Los Angeles Coast Starlight passes near Crater Lake and California wine country, AmtrakGuide notes.
The mix of mountains, lakes and vineyards makes the train a favorite for scenery. It travels the length of the West Coast, so riders see several landscapes in one trip. Many riders choose the route specifically for the scenery, and the long daytime stretches give travelers a good reason to stay in the observation or lounge areas.
9. Cardinal: Three Days a Week
The Cardinal runs three times a week between Chicago and New York, following the Ohio River, according to Travels With Kev.
The thrice-weekly schedule makes planning more important than for the daily trains. Following the river gives the route a scenic character that sets it apart from other Eastern services. Travelers who want to ride should check the days of operation before booking, because a missed departure means waiting until the next scheduled run later in the week.
10. City of New Orleans: Made Famous in Song
The train made famous by Steve Goodman’s song runs daily between Chicago and New Orleans via Memphis, per Travels With Kev.
Its daily schedule makes it more flexible than some other long-distance routes. The song gave the City of New Orleans a cultural profile that few trains can match. The song gave the route a lasting place in popular memory, and the daily schedule means a traveler can usually find a departure that fits an itinerary without much trouble.
11. Lake Shore Limited: One Train, Two Cities
The Lake Shore Limited runs in two sections, to New York and Boston, which split at Albany, according to Travels With Kev.
Riders heading to Boston and New York share the early part of the trip before the cars separate. That arrangement lets a single service reach two major Northeast cities. Anyone boarding should confirm which section holds their seat, because a mistake could send a passenger toward the wrong city once the cars are separated at the station.
12. Palmetto: Daytime, Cafe Only
The daily New York-Savannah Palmetto is a daytime run with no sleeper or dining car, just a cafe, as Travels With Kev explains.
Riders should plan on bringing their own meals or buying snacks, since there is no full dining service. The lack of a sleeper reflects the day schedule of the route. Passengers planning a longer ride should bring meals along, and the daytime timetable means no overnight accommodations are included, which keeps the trip simpler for some.
Help yourself and the planet: Get The Cool Down →
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
More from Morning Overview
- Tropical Storm Rachel is dumping up to 12 inches on four Mexican states on its way to major hurricane strength
- The FTC says Lens.com doubled the price shoppers saw in Google ads
- Common allergy, bladder and sleep pills tied to sharply higher dementia odds
- NOAA now gives this winter a 75% chance of the strongest El Nino since 1950
