If you’re looking for a scenic Amtrak trip, you can choose from many different trains and landscapes across America. There are stunning journeys through mountains, deserts and valleys, plus travel along oceans, lakes and rivers.
The most scenic Amtrak routes are somewhat subjective, as your preference for scenery plays a role in what will ultimately be the most enjoyable trip for you. However, there are some clear winners if you want to take an epic rail vacation (see the top three on this list).
Note that rankings were selected based on rider feedback and our knowledge and experience with regional and long-distance routes.
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10. Empire Service
Trains on the Empire Service route travel along New York’s Hudson River multiple times each day. There are beautiful views of the water, Hudson Highlands and the Catskills (both part of the Appalachian Mountains). Another great feature of this route is that day trips are easily doable, including from Albany and New York City, which are at each end of the Hudson River Valley. Other popular stops are Rochester, Syracuse and Niagara Falls.
9. Lake Shore Limited
The Lake Shore Limited is a long-distance route that travels through rolling hills in Western Massachusetts (via a Boston departure or arrival). You also have the option to start or end the trip in New York City to travel through the Hudson River Valley. Both segments have wonderful views of fall foliage in October, and you’ll see the Chicago skyline on westbound trips and the Erie Canal when traveling eastbound during the summer.
8. Adirondack
Like the Empire Service and Lake Shore Limited, Amtrak’s Adirondack route travels through the scenic Hudson River Valley, but uniquely continues on to the shores of Lake Champlain. There are distant views of mountains, hours of water scenery and the option to travel to Montreal (passport required). New York City is at one end of the route and is a popular place to start this trip, especially with connections to other Amtrak trains (view the list).
7. Cascades
The Amtrak Cascades provides amazing views of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia on the journey between Vancouver and cities in Washington and Oregon. Highlights include views of Puget Sound, Salish Sea, Chuckanut Bay, Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Mountains. You’ll need a passport to travel to and from Canada. View all the best stops on Cascades to learn about things to see and do along the route.
6. Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief is the route to ride for unique desert landscapes and views of Old West towns. Trains travel between Chicago and Los Angeles via New Mexico, where you’ll travel through Raton Pass, Apache Canyon and along part of Route 66 and the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. For the best scenery and a shorter trip, travel between Kansas City and California, and consider a stop in Flagstaff to travel to the Grand Canyon (view top attractions along the Southwest Chief route to learn more).
5. Cardinal
One of Amtrak’s hidden gems, the Cardinal route connects Chicago with East Coast cities via West Virginia. You’ll travel through the beautiful New River Gorge (pictured above); the best direction of travel is east (departures from Chicago and other Midwest cities) or travel west in the summer to see the most scenery in the Appalachian Mountains. If you want to visit the New River Gorge National Park, book your ticket to Charleston, West Virginia and rent a car.
4. Pacific Surfliner
A California route, the Pacific Surfliner has stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Trains travel next to beaches and the coastline for miles — so close that you can see sunbathers and surfers on the beaches. You can easily take a day trip or weekend trip, making this route a great option if you have limited time. The end-of-the-line stations are San Diego and San Luis Obispo in the Central Coast (view all the best stops on the Pacific Surfliner to learn more).
3. Empire Builder
The Empire Builder showcases diverse landscapes across the United States. You’ll see farms, forests, prairies and rivers in the Midwest (including the Mississippi River), and travel through the Montana Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. You can choose to start or end the trip in Portland to travel through the Columbia River Gorge or in Seattle for views of Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. Be sure to travel eastbound to see the Rocky Mountains in daylight and consider getting off the train to visit Glacier National Park.
2. Coast Starlight
A long-distance route on the West Coast, the Coast Starlight has two days of stunning scenery and many great stops for sightseeing. There are views of the Pacific Ocean in California and the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington State. Northbound travel from Southern California is recommended followed by southbound trips in the summer. Los Angeles and Seattle are the two end-of-the-line stations, but you can also start or end the trip at the Van Nuys Station (VNC) near the Hollywood Burbank Airport for easy access to the Coast Starlight.
1. California Zephyr
The California Zephyr is frequently named the most scenic Amtrak route in America by rail passengers. The western half of the route between Denver and California is a bucket-list experience as trains travel in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, along the Colorado River, in Ruby Canyon and through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. You can start or end the trip in Sacramento or Emeryville (both are near airports). Chicago is at the other end of the route, or start/end in Denver for a shorter journey.
More Information
- Most scenic East Coast Amtrak routes
- Most scenic West CoastAmtrak routes
- Amtrak’s 15 long-distance routes and the places they go
- Best long-distance trains to ride in each month of the year
Top photo by Steve Wilson/Wikimedia Commons (Southwest Chief)
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