10 best Amtrak routes to ride in summer

Summer is all about outdoor fun and finding cool places to explore. Lakes, beaches and mountain towns are all great getaways, and Amtrak can take you there. Plus, a train trip in the summer means plenty of daylight for viewing all the scenery out the window. For some vacation inspiration, here are our favorite Amtrak routes to ride in the summer and some of the top destinations to visit along the way.

This website is reader supported and not affiliated with Amtrak. We may earn a small commission from links on this page. For current schedules and ticket prices, visit Amtrak.com.

Adirondack

Lake George in New York — *Photo by Ron Cogswell (Lake George)*

Enjoy mild summer weather with an Amtrak trip to Montreal or Upstate New York on Amtrak’s Adirondack route. Trains depart from stations in New York State, and if you depart from Manhattan you’ll have several hours of beautiful scenery in the Hudson River Valley. If you don’t have a passport, consider traveling to charming Saratoga Springs for boating and water sports on Saratoga Lake. You can also exit at the Fort Edward Station to reach Lake George.

Amtrak Cascades

Lake Padden near Bellingham, Washington — *Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons (Lake Padden near Bellingham)*

The Amtrak Cascades travels through Oregon, Washington State and part of Canada, all of which have cool summer temperatures. Vancouver, British Columbia is a great destination for beautiful scenery and outdoor activities (with a passport). On the U.S. side, Bellingham is the last stop before the Canadian border and has many hiking trails and places to pick berries.

California Zephyr

Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe — *Photo by Brian Holsclaw/Flickr.com (Lake Tahoe)*

Escape to the mountains on the California Zephyr from cities including Chicago, Omaha, Denver, Sacramento and Emeryville. Trains travel through the Rockies and Sierra Nevada, and you can visit fun mountain towns: Winter Park and Glenwood Springs in Colorado, Lake Tahoe (via rental car in Reno), and Truckee (near Donner Lake). This route is especially popular in the summer, so book your tickets early.

Coast Starlight

For stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Cascade Mountains, book a trip on the Coast Starlight. You can explore California beaches (Oxnard and Santa Barbara two great stops) and go on outdoor adventures in the Columbia River Gorge. Plus, August is a prime time to enjoy wineries and wine tastings at stops along the way, including in/near San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles in California and Eugene and Salem in Oregon.

Downeaster

*Photo by Paul VanDerWerf/Flickr.com (Old Orchard Beach Pier)*

Enjoy fresh lobster and cooler weather with an Amtrak trip to Maine on the Downeaster. You can board the train in Massachusetts, including at Boston’s North Station, and there are multiple trains to choose from each day. Tip: You can ride Acela or a Northeast Regional train to reach Boston and transfer there to the Downeaster. For easy summer fun, travel to Old Orchard Beach. The ocean and the pier pictured above is a short walk away from the Amtrak station.

Empire Builder

Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park — *Photo by Ken Lund (Glacier National Park)*

Summer is the best time to ride the Empire Builder to see the most scenery in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest during daylight hours. This train will also take you to cool places (literally), including Glacier National Park, Whitefish, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Seattle and Portland. Wisconsin Dells is also a great family vacation spot with many water parks and scenic boat tours.

Maple Leaf

*Photo by Artur Staszewski (Niagara Falls boat tour)*

Beat the heat with an Amtrak trip to Canada on the Maple Leaf. Trains depart from cities in New York State (including New York City) and travel to Toronto (and a few other cities in Canada). As a bonus, trains also stop at Niagara Falls, which is a beautiful and refreshing attraction to visit on warm summer days, especially if you take a ride on the Maid of the Mist (pictured above).

Pacific Surfliner

Restaurant on San Clemente Pier — *Photo by Kinney/Wikimedia Commons (San Clemente)*

Nothing says summer like the Southern California coast, and the Pacific Surfliner offers amazing views of the ocean (and sometimes surfers!). There are many great stops for enjoying beaches, local food and attractions, including Solana Beach, Oceanside and San Clemente. You can even bring surfboards on the train (view guidelines). Other top destinations on the route include L.A., Disneyland (near Anaheim), San Diego and Santa Barbara.

Pere Marquette

St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse — *Photo by Corey Seeman (St. Joseph)*

Summer is the perfect time to visit Michigan, and the Pere Marquette is one of three Amtrak routes that will take you there. There are stops near Lake Michigan, including St. Joseph, Holland and Grand Rapids that are perfect for a relaxing summer vacation. Plus, the local blueberries are amazing, which you can eat in July and August. One train departs daily from Chicago, and you’ll need to stay in Michigan at least two nights to enjoy the beaches and other attractions.

Vermonter

Lake Champlain in Burlington Vermont — *Image by Michelle Raponi from Pixabay (Lake Champlain)*

As the name suggests, Vermonter trains travel to Vermont from Washington D.C. and cities north of the capital. The route provides a charming getaway to the Green Mountains for hiking, or you can travel to Burlington for summer events and water activities on Lake Champlain. The Ben and Jerry’s factory tour in Waterbury is also a must-do if you like ice cream.