5 best Amtrak sleeper car routes

If you’re considering an overnight Amtrak trip with sleeping accommodations, there are several routes to choose from. Most people prefer the mountain and desert scenery in the western half of the United States, but there are also overnight routes east of Chicago. To start planning your trip, here are the best (and most scenic) Amtrak sleeper car routes.

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Cardinal

New River Gorge with railroad tracks next to river — *Photo by John W. Iwanski*

One of Amtrak’s hidden gems, the Cardinal route travels through mountains and valleys in West Virginia and Virginia. There’s beautiful scenery in the New River Gorge (pictured above); trains travel along the river for about two hours. You’ll also have views of the Appalachian Mountains and Shenandoah Valley.

The Cardinal only operates three days per week and typically has fewer sleeper cars compared to other long-distance routes, so book your tickets early. Also, for guaranteed views of the New River Gorge, travel eastbound. You can start the trip in Chicago or Indianapolis and travel to Alexandria, VA or Washington D.C. for the best scenery and easy access to airports.

If you want to travel the entire route, Chicago and New York City are the end-of-the-line stations. You can also book your tickets to Staunton, VA to explore the Shenandoah Valley and birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson, or to Charleston, WV to reach the New River Gorge National Park (rental car needed at both locations).

Southwest Chief

For a trip through the New Mexico and Arizona deserts, Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Apache Canyon and the Raton Pass on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail, plan a trip on the Southwest Chief. Trains on this route travel between Los Angeles and Chicago (43 hours), but you can also travel between Los Angeles and Kansas City to shorten the travel time.

Westbound trains provide the opportunity to see beautiful desert sunsets and Raton Pass in daylight. Otherwise, travel east during the summer to view the most sights. Popular stops include Albuquerque and Flagstaff, with Flagstaff the closest stop to the Grand Canyon, which is one of the top attractions on the route to plan a trip around.

Note that the Southwest Chief uses Superliner rail cars that are two levels tall, and there is an observation car and option to book a roomette, bedroom or family bedroom on this route.

Empire Builder

Trains on the Empire Builder route will take you to Glacier National Park and through the Montana Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, Columbia River Gorge and the Upper Midwest. Summer travel is recommended to see the most scenery, especially if you are traveling west. However, it’s worth noting that winter travel can be magical with snow in the forests and mountains.

We recommend starting the trip in Seattle or Portland (Portland trains travel through the Columbia River Gorge and Seattle trains along Puget Sound). You can then travel to one of the stations near Glacier National Park and stay for a night or more and return to the West Coast on Amtrak or fly out of the Glacier Park International Airport (near the Whitefish Amtrak Station). Otherwise, you can start or end the trip in Chicago if you want to experience the entire route and some of the cities along the way.

Roomettes, bedrooms and family bedrooms are available on this train along with an observation car.

California Zephyr

For stunning mountain views, plan a trip on the California Zephyr. Trains travel through the Colorado Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada with many great stops along the route for sightseeing, skiing and even gambling. Summer is a popular time to ride, but all seasons have wonderful scenery, and you can see golden Aspen trees in fall and snow-covered mountains in winter.

If you want to ride the entire route, you’ll spend two nights on the train and travel between Northern California and Chicago. For a shorter trip and to view the best scenery, travel between California and Denver instead. The perk of starting in Denver and traveling west is that you’ll have daylight for the entire trip through the Rockies (unless there is a major delay).

Like most other routes on this list, you can choose from a roomette, bedroom or family bedroom when booking your tickets. Tip: When choosing where to start or end the trip in California, Emeryville and Sacramento are both near airports (Oakland International and Sacramento International).

Coast Starlight

The Coast Starlight is consistently ranked as one of the most scenic Amtrak routes. Trains travel between Los Angeles and Seattle and you’ll have ocean, valley and mountain scenery. Total trip time is 34 hours and you’ll spend a night on the train. It’s best to travel in the summer for the most daylight, and northbound travel from Los Angeles is a popular option.

There are many great places to visit along the Coast Starlight route. Plus, you can book a day tour from Seattle to visit Mt. Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, wineries and other destinations before or after your rail trip. Roomettes, bedrooms and family bedrooms are options, and you can enjoy the views in the observation car.