10 best stops on the California Zephyr route

The California Zephyr is one of America’s most scenic train journeys, stretching from Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area through the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. Along the way are memorable stops where you can explore mountain towns, historic cities, hot springs, and outdoor adventures. Below are the best stops on the California Zephyr to consider for overnight stays, sightseeing, or adding unique experiences to your rail trip.

Note that you will need to buy separate one-way tickets for each leg of your trip, use the multi-city ticket option if you choose to get off and back on the train. We also may make a small commission if you book a hotel through the links below.

This website is reader supported and not affiliated with Amtrak. We may earn a small commission from links on this page.

Chicago – Best for iconic city experiences

Chicago River Skyline — *Photo by Picken/Flickr.com*

Chicago is either the start or end point of the California Zephyr route, depending on your direction of travel. The city if full of great food, live music, and festivals, plus there are stand-out attractions including the Art-Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, and the Willis Tower Skydeck for sweeping skyline views. Don’t miss Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza while you’re in town (hot dogs and steaks are other local specialties).

Top tours: Chicago Architecture River Cruise, City Minibus Tour, Chicago Favorites Food & Walking Tour

Things to do near the station: Walk to Skydeck Chicago, Color Factory, and the water taxi, which has seasonal service to the Magnificent Mile and The Chicago Riverwalk.

Where to stay: Stay at a hotel near the riverwalk for easy sightseeing. The Hilton Garden Inn, Canopy by Hilton and JW Marriott Chicago are also less than a 10-minute walk from the train station and near Willis Tower.

Transportation: Lyft and Uber are fast ways to get around the city. If your trip is in the spring, summer or fall, you can also hop on the water taxi near Union Station for a ride to the Riverwalk and the Magnificent Mile. For local trains, the closest CTA station is Quincy (see map).

Omaha – Best for railroad fans

Omaha Union Station — *Photo by Ali Eminov*

It’s a night or very early morning stop in Omaha, but if the unique attractions appeal to you, it might be worth dealing with train schedule. A short walk away from the Amtrak station is the Durham Museum, which is in the 1931 Union Pacific train station (pictured above). The building is gorgeous, and you can explore local history and train cars from the 1940s and 1950s. Before or after, you can visit the Old Market district, which has restaurants, shops, galleries, live music and events.

Other top attractions include the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Lauritzen Gardens, and the Joslyn Art Museum. And if you love railroad history, have a meal in Little Italy, where many railroad workers lived. Union Pacific railroad construction began in Omaha in 1863, and Union Pacific is headquartered in the city still today.

Closest Hotel: Embassy Suites by Hilton Omaha Downtown Old Market (11-minute walk from the train station)

Denver – Best for visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Denver and Rocky Mountains — *Photo by James St. John*

There are many museums, breweries and activities to explore in and around Denver. The historic Union Station is in a walkable area near Coors Field and many restaurants. With a rental car or tour package, you can also visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Vail and Boulder.

Rail fans may also want to check out the Colorado Railroad Museum, which is about 25 minutes away from the Amtrak station by car. The museum has seasonal train rides, exhibits, and historic engines and rail cars.

Top tours: Best of Denver Bus Tour, Best of Denver Walking Tour, Rocky Mountain National Park Tour

Things to do near the station: Explore Denver Union Station, a beautifully restored 1914 landmark that is filled with great restaurants, bars and shops, Museum of Contemporary Art, Confluence Park, Coors Field, Larimer Square

Where to stay: The Crawford Hotel is inside Denver Union Station. Limelight Denver, The Hotel Oxford and the Sentral Union Station Hotel are also a short walk away.

Transportation: Lyft and Uber are easy ways to get around Denver. Union Station also has a connection to the RTD light rail, A Line airport trains and a free 16th Street shuttle.

Fraser/Winter Park – Best for outdoor activities

Winter Park Ski Resort — *Photo by Robert Meszaros*

In the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Fraser/Winter Park stop is must-do if you love winter sports and outdoor activities. A free shuttle at the Amtrak station will take you to downtown Winter Park and the Winter Park Resort. In the summer, mountain biking and hiking are top activities — skiing and snowboarding are popular in the winter. There are also year-round events and a large number of breweries to check out.

Closest Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fraser – Winter Park Area (10-minute walk from the train station)

Glenwood Springs – Best for a relaxing getaway

Pool in Glenwood Springs, Colorado — *Photo by Steven Martin*

Glenwood Springs is full of mountain views and activities for people of all ages and interests. There are hot springs, spas, a theme park, trails, rafting and tubing, and a variety of snow sports. As a bonus, the Amtrak station is in walking distance of hotels, restaurants and the year-round Glenwood Hot Springs pool (pictured above).

Grand Junction – Best for adult trips

Winery in Grand Junction, Colorado — *Photo by Marko Forsten*

For beautiful scenery, wineries, unique shops and art galleries, consider getting off the train in Grand Junction. The Colorado National Monument is the top nearby attraction. A rental car is best for driving through the area and reaching hiking trails. You can walk eight minutes from the train station to Enterprise or arrange for a pick-up (requires a rental reservation).

The Amtrak station is in a walkable area, so you don’t have to rent a car to explore downtown. Main Street is about three blocks away, and in the opposite direction you can walk to the Colorado River.

Closest Hotel: Tru by Hilton Grand Junction (6-minute walk from the train station)

Salt Lake City – Best for culture & nature

Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City — *Photo by Ken Lund*

Full of cultural and outdoor attractions, Salt Lake City is the home of the Salt Lake Temple (pictured above) and The Tabernacle. A top attraction is the Natural History Museum of Utah, which has a great dinosaur collection, or check out Clark Planetarium to view exhibits and IMAX films.

For outdoor fun, head to Red Butte Garden, a large botanical garden with hiking trails at the edge of the city, or to Big Cottonwood Canyon, which is less than a 20-minute drive from downtown. Additionally, you can drive to many ski resorts in less than an hour.

If you are willing to drive a few hours, you can also visit several national parks, including Arches National Park. Multiple rental car companies are near the train station if you want to rent a car.

Closest Hotel: Homewood Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City-Downtown (10-minute walk from the train station)

Reno – Best for gambling and nightlife

“The Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno is a fun place to exit the train if you like casinos and gambling. But there is more to the city than that. There are several museums (including the National Automobile Museum), a riverwalk, wildlife sanctuary and a ski resort worth visiting.

It’s easy to get around once you arrive. The area around the Reno Amtrak Station is very walkable, plus you can get rides from Uber and Lyft, or rent a car at the nearby Enterprise.

Closest Hotels: Reno Suites and Whitney Peak Hotel (3-minute walk from the train station, and several other hotels are a short walk away)

Truckee – Best for families

Donner Lake kayakers — *Photo by Kent Kanouse*

Truckee is a small mountain town near Lake Tahoe with a surprising amount of restaurants. Donner Memorial State Park (pictured above) and the Northstar California Resort are top attractions — there are many outdoor activities to enjoy year-round, and history buffs should stop by the park’s visitor center to view exhibits on the Donner Party and Sierra Nevada railroad construction.

Lyft and Uber are options for getting around. The ride to the state park is only 10 minutes from the Amtrak station, the Northstar California Resort is less than 20 minutes away, and the north side of Lake Tahoe is over 30 minutes away, with Tahoe Vista and Kings Beach the closest places to stay near the water. You can also rent a car at the Truckee Tahoe Airport.

Closest Hotel: Tahoe Star Hotel (4-minute walk from the train station – also check Airbnb and VRBO for a larger variety of accommodations near Amtrak and Lake Tahoe)

Sacramento – Best for food & history

California State Capitol, Sacramento — *Photo by Steven Pavlov*

The capital of California, Sacramento is the home of the California State Fair, California Automobile Museum and the California State Railroad Museum, which features excursion train rides and a custom 1948 private rail car. There’s more history and fun to explore in the Old Sacramento Waterfront historic district. There are restaurants, nightclubs, bars, boat rides and locally-owned shops, not to mention a Ferris wheel and a carousel.

Another unique thing to do is visit one of the area’s farmers markets. Sacramento is near large agricultural areas that produce crops for the entire country. Kids and animal-lovers will also enjoy the Sacramento Zoo.

Closest Hotel: Hyatt Regency Sacramento (5-minute walk from the train station)