10 best places to start a train trip in the US

Ready to take a train trip in the United States? Amtrak has more than 30 routes that travel to 46 states. Some cities have multiple passenger trains and major airports, which makes it easy to connect with routes that travel regionally and across the country.

To start planning your rail vacation, here are the best places to start a train trip in the United States.

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Chicago

With more than 15 Amtrak routes and Metra commuter trains, Chicago is one of the best places to start a train trip in the United States. Cities in Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin and Indiana are a short ride away, or book tickets on the popular California Zephyr, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief for travel through mountains and across the desert.

If you plan to fly into Chicago, there are two international airports (Midway and O’Hare) that you can use to reach the city. You can also take an Amtrak train to Chicago and transfer to another route there. View the best Amtrak trips from Chicago to learn more.

Tip: The Chicago Union Station is next to the Chicago River and a short walk away from the Willis Tower Skydeck and a water taxi stop — the water taxi and boat tours are a fun way to see the city in a short amount of time.

Los Angeles

With four airports near Amtrak stations, the Greater Los Angeles area is a fantastic place to start a train trip. For amazing ocean views, travel south on the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego or north all the way to Seattle on the Coast Starlight. The Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle routes also depart from the L.A. Union Station and travel cross-country through the desert.

To avoid some of the traffic in L.A., considering flying into the Long Beach or John Wayne airports, which are both near the Anaheim Station (Pacific Surfliner trains stop here). You can also fly to the Hollywood Burbank Airport for easy access to Coast Starlight via the Van Nuys Station or board a Pacific Surfliner train at the Bobe Hope Station next to the airport.

Tip: The Hollywood Burbank Airport is overall a great airport to use, and is a short drive away from top L.A. attractions including Universal Studios Hollywood and Griffith Observatory. However, there are no international flights and limited direct flights.

Seattle

Three scenic Amtrak routes depart from Seattle’s King Street Station: Cascades, Coast Starlight and Empire Builder. The Cascades travels north to Canada with a stop in Vancouver, the Empire Builder travels to the Montana Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park, and the Coast Starlight travels south to Los Angeles. For shorter trip options, Sounder regional trains can take you to nearby destinations including Everett, Edmonds and Tacoma.

To start a trip from Seattle, you can fly into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is only a 20-minute drive away from the King Street Station. Consider building in time to visit top attractions or take a day tour to Mt. Rainier, Olympic National Park or Snoqualmie Falls before your train departs.

Tip: To view Puget Sound, book tickets on the Cascades (northbound) or Empire Builder and sit on the left side of the train.

Portland

Like Seattle, you can board the Cascades, Coast Starlight and Empire Builder trains in Portland, Oregon. So why choose a Portland departure over Seattle? Portland is a smaller city, has many beautiful public gardens, local breweries and cheaper hotels, and if you board the Empire Builder here, you’ll travel through the Columbia River Gorge.

If arriving via plane, the Portland International Airport is only 20 minutes away from Amtrak station by car — another great reason to start a train trip here.

Tip: You can take day tours from Portland to the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood and Williamette Valley before starting your train trip.

New York City

There are many options for long-distance rail journeys and Amtrak day trips from New York City. Multiple Acela and Northeast Regional trains stop at Penn Station each day and travel as far north as Boston and as far south as Norfolk. Plus, the Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen and Maple Leaf routes travel through the beautiful Hudson River Valley after departing from Manhattan.

If you’re interested in an overnight trip, Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains travel to Florida, Crescent trains travel to New Orleans and Cardinal trains travel through the New River Gorge in West Virginia and terminate in Chicago.

Tip: Consider a train trip through the Hudson River Valley in the fall to view the beautiful autumn leaves. The Vermonter is also a great route to escape the summer heat with a trip to Vermont, or travel in the fall to view the leaves or in the winter to go skiing.

Washington D.C.

Washington Monument in DC — *Photo by Mexy99/Wikimedia Commons*

Washington D.C. is major Amtrak hub with 10 regional and long-distance routes to choose from. Like New York City, the Acela and Northeast Regional trains stop here multiple times per day, making Amtrak day trips possible.

There are also longer train vacation options, including to Vermont, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Chicago and New Orleans. The long-distance Cardinal route is especially scenic and travels through the New River Gorge in West Virginia, or travel through the Allegheny Mountains on the Capitol Limited.

Tip: Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) and Reagan Washington National (DCA) are the airports closest to Amtrak stations. BWI has a shuttle to the BWI Airport Station where you can board Amtrak (Acela, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Vermonter) or MARC trains to reach Washington Union Station. Or if you travel to DCA, the Alexandria Station is closest to the airport.

Alexandria

Just one stop away from Washington D.C., Alexandria might be a better place to start a trip than the nation’s capital, especially if you want to avoid traffic. The Reagan Washington National Airport is a short drive away and there are also hotels within a five-minute walk of the Amtrak station (Embassy Suites and Hilton Old Town are closest).

In Alexandria, you can board Northeast Regional, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains. You can travel to Florida or Massachusetts, as well as to states in between. For travel to Atlanta and New Orleans, book tickets on the Crescent, or travel through the New River Gorge on the Cardinal in the summer for scenic views.

Tip: Old Town is a fun and historic place to explore near the station. The Potomac River is also nearby, and there are water taxis that will take you the National Harbor and Georgetown.

Boston

With tons of sightseeing options and an international airport near multiple Amtrak stations, Boston is a fun and easy place to board an Amtrak train. It is one of the few cities that has Amtrak service to Maine, which is a fun summer and fall destination. Acela and Northeast Regional trains provide frequent service to cities south of Boston, or get on board the Lake Shore Limited for travel to New York City, Niagara Falls (via Buffalo) or Chicago.

View the best Boston Amtrak trips to get started. Note that you can transfer to other Amtrak routes in New York City, Washington D.C. and Chicago to visit more destinations across America.

Tip: Check out this guide to determine which Boston Amtrak station is best for your trip.

Philadelphia

There are three main reasons why Philadelphia is a good place to start a train trip. One, there are many Amtrak and commuter trains to choose from. Two, you can easily travel by train from the Philadelphia International Airport to the 30th Street Station, the main train station in Philly. And three, you can board a NJ Transit train in Philadelphia to reach Atlantic City.

If you’re interested in long-distance travel from Philadelphia, some of the best trips include escapes to Florida, getaways to Vermont on the Vermonter and a trip through the New River Gorge on the Cardinal. There are also multiple Amtrak day trip options, including to an amusement park.

Tip: Rideshare is a good option for reaching historic sites and tours if you want to sightsee before getting on a train. There are also bikeshare rentals across the street from the station.

Denver

Although Denver doesn’t have many passenger rail routes, the trips you can take have stunning scenery. You can board the California Zephyr here for a trip through the Rocky Mountains. If you prefer a day trip, travel from Denver to Salt Lake City. Otherwise, stay on board to view the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the following day.

In the winter, the Winter Park Express also departs from Denver and travels to the Winter Park Resort. You can go skiing, snowboarding or just enjoy the snow in the mountains for a day or stay overnight at the resort.

Last but not least, you can board a Canadian Rocky Mountaineer train in Denver and travel to Moab, Utah. The Rockies to the Red Rocks route includes meals and overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, which is a great option if you prefer to sleep in a hotel instead of a train.

Tip: Westbound Amtrak trains depart Denver early in the morning, so it’s good to fly (or drive) to Denver the day before. There are many hotels near Denver Union Station, including The Crawford Hotel, which is inside the station.