Empire Builder vs Coast Starlight

The Empire Builder and Coast Starlight are two of Amtrak’s most popular long-distance routes. Both stop in Seattle, have beautiful scenery, and the same on-board amenities. However, the scenery is very different, and the sights you want to see and the destinations you want to visit will be the biggest factor in deciding which route to ride.

As the name suggests, the Coast Starlight travels along and near the West Coast of the United States. There are amazing views of the Pacific Ocean (pictured above) and the Cascade Mountain Range. In between you’ll see agricultural valleys and wine country.

In contrast, the Empire Builder is a true cross-country route that is almost 1,000 miles and 10 hours longer than the Coast Starlight. You’ll travel through Midwest farmland and the Great Plains for about half of the trip, and the other half you’ll be in the Montana Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest. You can shorten the journey (and view the best scenery) by starting on the West Coast and traveling only to the Rocky Mountains. View stations near Glacier National Park to explore your options.

Whether you decide to book tickets on the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder or both, keep in mind that it’s best to plan your trip in the summer when there is the most daylight. Views of the scenery are greatly impacted by early sunset times in the winter, including:

No visibility while traveling through the Rockies on westbound Empire Builder trains
Limited views of the Columbia River Gorge on eastbound Empire Builder trains
No views of Mt. Rainier on northbound Coast Starlight trains
Limited views of the Pacific Ocean and beaches on southbound Coast Starlight trains

To learn more about these two Amtrak routes, see the table below.

	Coast Starlight	Empire Builder
Route Length	1,377	2,200+ miles
Travel Time	35 hours	45 hours
Frequency	Daily	Daily
Type of Train	Superliner	Superliner
Sightseer Lounge	Yes	Yes
Dining Options	Café for coach passengers, traditional dining car for sleeper car passengers	Café for coach passengers, traditional dining car for sleeper car passengers
WiFi	No	No
States on the Route	California, Oregon, Washington	Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon
End-of-the Line Stations	Los Angeles and Seattle	Chicago, Portland, Seattle
Popular Stops	LA, Santa Barbara, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle	Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul-Minneapolis, East Glacier Park, Whitefish, Portland, Seattle
Landscapes	Pacific Ocean, agricultural valleys, Cascade Mountain Range	Midwest farms, Great Plains, Montana Rocky Mountains, Pacific NW forests, Columbia River Gorge, Puget Sound
Best Scenery	Pacific Ocean, Cascades	Montana Rocky Mountains, Columbia River Gorge, Puget Sound