The first step in planning your Amtrak trip is choosing which route to ride and when to ride it. If you want long days full of scenic views, June is the best month for train travel. However, other routes shine in different seasons, such as fall foliage rides in autumn, trips to ski resorts in winter, and spring getaways to reach national parks before the summer crowds.
To help you decide when to ride and where to go, we’ve listed the best long-distance Amtrak routes for every month of the year along with top things to along the way. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country rail adventure, this guide makes choosing the perfect Amtrak route simple.
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January
In January, most places in the United States are cold and dark. It’s the perfect time to book tickets on the Silver Meteor for a trip to Florida. You’ll spend the majority of the trip sleeping and wake up in the Sunshine State. Consider traveling to West Palm Beach for the South Florida Fair or Miami for Art Deco Weekend. Pictured above is Hollywood Beach in Hollywood, Florida where you can enjoy average high temperatures in the mid-70s (°F). View Amtrak stations in Florida to view your destination options.
The Silver Meteor travels along the East Coast of the United States with stops in major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. There are also stations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. View the Silver Meteor Route Guide for the full list of stations and also explore stations on the Floridian route for more ways to reach Florida by train.
February
For warmer weather and a potential stop in New Orleans for Mardi Gras celebrations, book tickets on the Sunset Limited route in February. Trains travel between Los Angeles and New Orleans and there are mild temperatures as you travel through big cities, bayous, and deserts. It’s also a great time to visit San Antonio to enjoy attractions without the crowds and go on a Riverwalk tour.
Trains on the Sunset Limited route travel between New Orleans and Los Angeles with stops in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Popular places to board the train include Houston, San Antonio, Tuscon, and Maricopa (which is near Phoenix). View the Sunset Limited Route Guide for a full list of stations.
March
The Texas Eagle travels between Chicago and Los Angeles with many stops in Texas. That’s a good thing in March as you can enjoy the spring flowers. Book tickets to Dallas for the Dallas Blooms festival, which takes place during the entire month of March. Hill Country (pictured above) is also known for wildflowers starting in mid-March, which you can reach via a day tour from San Antonio.
Texas Eagle trains travel daily between Chicago and San Antonio, and major cities where you can board the train include St. Louis, Little Rock, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin. Between San Antonio and Los Angeles, the Texas Eagle is joined with the Sunset Limited, expanding your station options to Tuscon, Maricopa (near Phoenix), and places in between. View the Texas Eagle Route Guide for the full list of stations.
April
The Southwest Chief is a desert and mountain Amtrak route that’s best to ride before or after summer, especially if you want to stop at attractions along the way. April has plenty of daylight for enjoying the scenery in either direction of travel, and it’s also a great time to visit Los Angeles and the Grand Canyon (via a day tour or rental car in Flagstaff) for pleasant weather and fewer tourists.
The Southwest Chief stops in cities such as Chicago, Kansas City, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles, which all have major airports. View the Southwest Chief Route Guide for a list of all stations on the route.
May
The Floridian gets our vote for a trip in May. You’ll be surrounded by green trees as you travel through the Appalachian Mountains (consider stopping in Harpers Ferry for hiking and sightseeing). If you travel over Memorial Day weekend, you can pay your respects at the war memorials in Washington D.C. or kick off summer in Florida or Chicago, which has Navy Pier fireworks, beaches and many boat tours.
The Floridian is a long route with service between Chicago and Miami. There are many stations in Florida, and you can board the train in cities including Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Richmond, and Raleigh. View the Floridian Route Guide for a list of all stations.
June
The Cardinal travels between Chicago and New York City through the New River Gorge in West Virginia, and if you travel in June, you can easily enjoy the scenery if you are traveling east or west. To explore the New River Gorge National Park, book your tickets to Charleston, WV and rent a car. Otherwise, for the most scenic part of the trip, travel between Washington D.C. and either Indianapolis or Chicago. Tip: Eastbound trains offer the most daylight for viewing the mountain scenery.
Chicago and stations in Indiana are the best places to board the Cardinal in the Midwest. On the East Coast, choose from several large cities including New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. We particularly like Alexandria, which is a smaller station near Washington D.C. and the Reagan National Airport (DCA). View the Cardinal Route Guide for a full list of stations.
July
One of Amtrak’s most scenic routes, the Empire Builder is best in the summer when there is plenty of daylight for viewing the amazing landscapes. While any summer month is ideal, July is a great time to visit destinations along the route, including Chicago, Wisconsin Dells, Glacier National Park, Portland and Seattle. We recommend starting the trip on the West Coast for the most daylight in the Rocky Mountains and personally like the Seattle segment best with views of the Cascades and Puget Sound.
The Empire Builder travels between the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Chicago are major stops with nearby airports. View the Empire Builder Route Guide for a full list of stations.
August
August is one of the best times to visit the Pacific Northwest and wineries in California, and the Coast Starlight can take you there. Start the trip in Los Angeles or Seattle if you want to ride the entire route, and consider stopping along the way for beautiful beaches, Pas Robles wine tours, and day trips to Mount Rainier National Park. To maximize views of the scenery, start the trip in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles and Seattle are the end-of-the-line stations for the Coast Starlight. Van Nuys is also a great station to use if you’re flying into the Hollywood Burbank Airport or live in or near Burbank. Other stops with nearby airports include Santa Barbara, Sacramento, and Portland. View the Coast Starlight Route Guide for a full list of stations.
September
The California Zephyr route has wonderful scenery all year long. However, September offers unique perks, including less people on the train, golden Aspen trees in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, and great weather for hiking and soaking in the hot springs in Glenwood Springs. Trains travel between Northern California and Chicago, but if you don’t want to do the entire route, travel between Denver and Sacramento or Emeryville for the best scenery and easy access to airports.
Chicago, Denver, Sacramento, and Emeryville are key stations on the California Zephyr route that are near airports. There are also stations across Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. View the California Zephyr Route Guide to view the full station list.
October
For beautiful fall foliage in Upstate New York and New England, plan to ride the Lake Shore Limited in October. You can travel through the beautiful Hudson River Valley (pictured above) if you select New York City as your start or end station. Or choose a Boston departure or arrival for colorful trees and rolling hills in Western Massachusetts. If you prefer a day trip option without sacrificing scenery, book tickets on the Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, or Maple Leaf and travel between New York City and Albany.
Trains on the Lake Shore Limited route stop in major cities including Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, New York, and Boston. View the Lake Shore Limited Route Guide for the full list of stations.
November
Ride Amtrak’s Crescent route in November to attend Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, visit museums in Washington D.C. in the off-season, go to a college football game, or escape chilly weather in the Northeast with a visit to a Southern destination such as Atlanta, Laurel, and New Orleans. If you depart from New Orleans, you’ll also have great views of Lake Pontchartrain.
Trains on the Crescent route stop in many large cities and college towns from New York City to New Orleans. There are stations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. In the South, the largest cities with stations are Atlanta, Birmingham, and Hattiesburg. View the Crescent Route Guide for a full list of places where you can board the train.
December
The City of New Orleans Amtrak route travels overnight between Chicago and New Orleans. It’s a great option for escaping the cold weather in the Midwest and enjoying the holiday decorations and festivities in Memphis and New Orleans, including Réveillon dinners and New Year’s Eve celebrations in NOLA. When traveling south from Illinois, you’ll board the train in the evening and arrive in New Orleans the next day in time for dinner.
Chicago, Memphis, Jackson and New Orleans are the biggest cities on the City of New Orleans route. There are also additional stops in Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. View the City of New Orleans Route Guide to learn more.
More Information
- 10 most scenic Amtrak routes
- 5 best Amtrak sleeper car routes
- 10 best Midwest Amtrak trips
- 7 best Amtrak trips out West
- 10 best Amtrak trips on the East Coast
- Best direction of travel for Amtrak’s scenic long-distance routes
Photo by Sergey Yarmolyuk, California Zephyr in California (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Last updated December 2025
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