The long-distance Amtrak trip from Chicago to San Francisco is one of the most popular in the United States. Trains travel through the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada via the California Zephyr route, and the scenery is absolutely stunning. Here's what you need to know when planning your trip. Amtrak trains don't travel to San … Continue reading Chicago to San Francisco on Amtrak: 7 things to know
Long-distance Amtrak trips can be a great adventure, but one downside is that it is impossible for good arrival and departure times at all stations along the route. At most there is only one train each day in each direction, which means some states are literally left in the dark during overnight hours. To prepare … Continue reading U.S. states with the worst Amtrak arrival times
If you're planning a trip on one of Amtrak's Superliner trains, there are seats and sleeping accommodations on two levels. Based on availability and the type of ticket you purchase, you may have the option to choose the upper or lower level. Both have pros and cons. Here's what you need to know in order … Continue reading Upper vs lower level on Amtrak
Viewliner is a specific type of rail car used on some Amtrak routes. There are only Viewliner sleeping, dining and baggage cars, which are single level and most identifiable by the "double-decker" windows (see photo above). All overnight trains that stop in New York City use Viewliners in order to fit in the tunnels surrounding … Continue reading Viewliner trains: Layout, routes and other things to know
Superliner trains are composed of “Superliner” rail cars — a specific model that has two levels. There are Superliner coach cars, sleeper cars, lounge cars and dining cars (to name a few) that can be combined in different ways depending on the needs of the Amtrak route. For example, sleeper and dining cars are added … Continue reading Superliner trains: Layout, routes and other things to know
A train trip from Indiana to Florida is doable, but not easy or short. In previous decades, the South Wind (1940-1971) and Floridan (1971-1979) passenger trains provided direct service, but today you must ride more than one Amtrak train to get to the Sunshine State. Note that if you are willing to rent a car … Continue reading Trains from Indiana to Florida
Combining a flight and an Amtrak train trip is a great way to expand your travel options. The Northeast United States in particular has many Amtrak stations near airports, so you can make this connection without a car, or shop around for the cheapest flights, as a neighboring city along an Amtrak route might offer … Continue reading Northeast airports with the easiest connections to Amtrak
HGTV's 'Home Town' has an active Amtrak train station. Learn more.
Two of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States, Florida and California, are on opposite coasts. It's a long trip if you're flying, long if you are driving and even longer if you decide to take Amtrak because multiple trains are involved. The trip is doable if you have the time, and you … Continue reading Riding Amtrak between Florida and California
In addition to providing rail service in different regions of the United States, Amtrak also has 15 long-distance routes that travel overnight (sometimes multiple nights) to destinations across the country. These trains have sleeper and lounge cars, which provide additional space on a long journey. Explore the long-distance routes below to learn about the cities, … Continue reading Amtrak’s 15 long-distance train routes and the places they go
Amtrak Guide 