Because of San Francisco’s location on a peninsula, train travel to and from the city has always been limited. Passenger trains once departed from the Third and Townsend Depot near the Mission Bay neighborhood. However, if you want to travel across the state (or the country) today, you’ll need to go to an Amtrak station outside the the city to start your trip.
Fortunately, you don’t have to travel far. Emeryville and Oakland are the two closest Amtrak train stations. Options for getting there:
- Take the San Francisco Bay ferry to Oakland (choose the Jack London Square Station as your starting point when booking your tickets).
- Request a taxi, Uber or Lyft ride to reach Emeryville (choose Emeryville as your starting station when booking your tickets).
- Choose San Francisco (SFC) as your starting “station,” and this option will include a bus shuttle from downtown San Francisco to Emeryville.
There are many places you can travel to by train from these stations, including the following best Amtrak trips from San Francisco that don’t involve middle-of-the-night travel or train transfers. Note that Coast Starlight, Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins trains stop at both stations, but if you want to ride the popular (and scenic) California Zephyr route, you’ll need to start your trip in Emeryville.
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Sacramento
Rail fans should consider a trip to Sacramento to explore the California State Railroad Museum. In addition to exhibits, the museum also has excursion train rides. Other top places to visit include the California State Fair (in July), Old Sacramento Waterfront District and the many farmers markets and farm-to-table restaurants. Travel time is almost two hours on Amtrak are you can return same day or stay overnight in the city.
Fresno
A gateway to national parks, Fresno is a stop on the San Joaquins route. You can rent a car there to drive 90 minutes or less to Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks (Budget is a 16-minute walk away from the station or Enterprise has pickup service). There’s also fantastic food, trendy bars in the Tower District and unique outdoor spaces (like the Forestiere Underground Gardens pictured above). Amtrak travel time is about four hours.
Paso Robles
Paso Robles is about five hours away from Emeryville and Oakland and a must-visit destination if you love wine. Vineyards and wineries surround the small city (some with great views, like DAOU Vineyards), and you can walk to several hotels and wine tasting rooms from the Amtrak station. There are also wine tours and mineral hot springs to check out.
Truckee
Truckee is a California mountain town on the California Zephyr route near Lake Tahoe and Donner Memorial State Park (pictured above). History lovers should stop by the state park’s visitor center to view exhibits on the Donner Party and Sierra Nevada railroad construction. You can also kayak, fish, hike, camp, cross-country ski and go on a snowshoe tour at the park. Plan to use rideshare or taxi to explore the area or to reach rental cars at Truckee Tahoe Airport. Train travel time is about 5.5 hours.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo is a great family getaway or a wine trip that’s about 6.5 hours away from Emeryville and Oakland. Downtown there is a children’s museum, railroad museum and historic mission. Adults can also visit the many wineries in the area (the Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards has peacocks). For more things to do, rent a car and drive to nearby Morro Bay State Park and Dinosaur Caves Park.
Reno
“The Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno is almost seven hours away from Emeryville on the California Zephyr route. After arriving, you can gamble at casinos, visit museums (including the National Automobile Museum), check out the riverwalk and even go skiing. You can also easily rent a car and drive to Lake Tahoe for winter or water activities.
Santa Barbara
For great restaurants, beaches and shopping, travel to Santa Barbara. There’s also a zoo, harbor, coastal bike path and historic mission that the whole family can explore , plus adults can enjoy wine tastings. Consider visiting in August if you want to go to the Old Spanish Days festival or in the winter for and butterfly viewing. Amtrak travel time is about 9.5 hours.
Klamath Falls
Travel 10 hours on the Coast Starlight to reach beautiful scenery in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The city is next to a river, in between two lakes and has views of Mount Shasta, so there’s plenty of fishing, kayaking and scenic hiking opportunities. You’ll also want to exit the train here to visit Crater Lake National Park (a guided tour from Klamath Falls is an option or rent a car at Enterprise).
Oxnard
If you want to enjoy the California coast away from the crowds, consider an Amtrak trip to Oxnard. The city has Victorian architecture, beautiful beaches, whale watching excursions and water activities at Channel Islands Harbor (pictured top of page). For a unique day trip, take a boat ride to Channel Islands National Park, often called the Galapagos of North America. Amtrak travel time is about 10.5 hours.
Los Angeles
For fun and sun, travel 12.5 hours on Amtrak to reach Los Angeles. Top attractions include the Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios Hollywood and the Santa Monica Pier. City tours are a great way to see the sights (and maybe a celebrity). Note that you can book your tickets to the Hollywood Burbank Station (BUR) for a shorter trip and easy access to Universal Studios, Hollywood and Griffith Park.
It’s and easy transfer to Pacific Surfliner trains at the L.A. Union Station if you want to travel further south to destinations including Anaheim, Oceanside and San Diego. You can also transfer to the long-distance Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle routes here.
Eugene
A college town near wineries and outdoor recreation, Eugene has a variety of things to do. The station is in a very walkable area near a few hotels, farm-to-table restaurants and the historic Eugene Saturday Market. You can go to a game at the University of Oregon, visit the Cascades Raptor Center, go hiking and check out the Willamette River path. Travel time is about 15 hours on the Coast Starlight.
Portland
A pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly city full of parks and gardens, Portland is 18 hours away from Emeryville and Oakland. There are many craft beers to try and interesting festivals to plan a trip around. Plus, Mt. Hood (home to multiple ski areas) and the Columbia River Gorge are also nearby, which are great day trip options. You can also transfer to the Empire Builder to travel by train through the gorge.
Seattle
About 22 hours away on Amtrak, Seattle is a cultural urban getaway with many attractions and activities. Grab a coffee and stroll through the famous Pike Place Market, visit the Chihuly Gardens, Museum of Flight, or head to Kerry Park for stunning skyline views of the city. There are even tours to Mount Rainier if you want to visit the national park, or you can transfer to the Empire Builder train to reach many great places in the mountains and Midwest.
Grand Junction
Grand Junction has beautiful scenery, wineries, unique shops and art galleries. The Colorado National Monument is a popular nearby attraction — a rental car is best for driving through the area and reaching hiking trails. You can walk eight minutes from the train station to Enterprise or arrange for a pick-up (requires a rental reservation). Amtrak travel time is 24 hours.
Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs is a great destination if you want travel into the Rocky Mountains and have a variety of experiences. The hot springs are a top attraction, or check out the theme park, trails, snow sports, rafting and tubing. As a bonus, the Amtrak station is in walking distance of hotels, restaurants and the year-round Glenwood Hot Springs pool (pictured above). Train travel time is 26 hours.
Winter Park
Winter Park, Colorado is a mountain resort area with year-round events and outdoor activities. A free shuttle at the Fraser/Winter Park Amtrak station will take you to downtown Winter Park and the Winter Park Resort. In the summer, mountain biking and hiking are popular — skiing and snowboarding are the things to do in the winter. There are also a large number of breweries to check out. Train travel time is about 29.5 hours.
Denver
Full of museums, breweries and outdoor activities, Denver is 32.5 hours away from Emeryville on the California Zephyr. You can easily walk to Coors Field and many restaurants from the historic train station. Plus, with a rental car or guided tour, you can visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Vail and Boulder. You’ll also find the Colorado Railroad Museum here and you can travel to nearby Red Rocks Amphitheatre for an amazing concert experience.
Chicago
Chicago is the last stop on the California Zephyr route if you are traveling eastbound from Emeryville. It’s a two-night trip that’s almost 52 hours, with great museums, festivals, live music venues and tourist attractions to visit after you arrive. In the warmer months, you can visit one of the city’s beaches, go on a boat tour and take a bike ride along the Lakefront Trail. For more rail adventures, check out the best Amtrak trips from Chicago.
More Information
Top photo by Heath Alseike/Flickr.com (Winter Park skiing)
Amtrak Guide 