California Zephyr Train: Rider Guide

The California Zephyr Amtrak route travels between Chicago and Emeryville, California through the scenic Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. This multi-day trip through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California takes about 52 hours and you’ll spend two nights on the train. There are many great places to visit on the route or stay onboard for a long-distance train adventure.

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Schedule Highlights

There is only one eastbound and one westbound California Zephyr train each day.
Overnight, trains are in part of Utah and Nebraska.
Trains depart and arrive in Chicago in the afternoon.
Trains depart Emeryville (which is near San Francisco) in the morning.
Trains arrive in Emeryville in late afternoon.
Westbound trains have better arrival times in Salt Lake City.

View latest schedules on Amtrak.com.

Things to Know

No WiFi.
There is an observation car. Get there early for the Colorado portion of the journey.
You can do a day trip between Denver and Salt Lake City for views of the Rocky Mountains.
Exit the train in Denver if you want to rent a car or join a tour to explore the Rocky Mountain National Park.
All the stations in Colorado are great paces to stay for a night or two. View Colorado Amtrak trip ideas to learn more.
You can get off and on the train at any station, but you’ll have to buy tickets for each segment, and in most cases, you will need to stay at least one night in the city where you get off the train.
The California Zephyr uses Superliner rail cars that are two-levels tall. In addition to unassigned coach seats, there are roomettes, bedrooms, bedroom suites, family bedrooms and accessible bedrooms (learn about the different sleeping accommodations here).

Cost

The cost of Amtrak tickets varies by type of ticket, distance traveled, time of year and how early you book your tickets. Coach seats are the most affordable, followed by roomettes and bedrooms.

Here are estimated California Zephyr 2023 prices if you travel the entire route:

$150-$300 for coach seat
$700-$1,300 for a roomette (meals, water and coffee included)
1,400-$2,300 for a family bedroom (meals, water and coffee included)
$1,600-$3,300 for a bedroom (meals, water and coffee included)

Note ticket prices are especially high during the peak summer season.

FAQ

Is the California Zephyr worth it?

The California Zephyr is definitely worth riding. There are beautiful views of two mountain ranges, a cliff-hugging ride along the Colorado River and more than 30 tunnels. You can save money and time by starting the trip in Denver and traveling to Northern California to see the stunning mountain scenery. You can also do a day trip and travel from Denver to Salt Lake City and have the option to fly out of Salt Lake.

What is the best month to ride the California Zephyr?

For fewer crowds, cheaper prices and yellow Aspen trees, we recommend riding the California Zephyr in September.

What is the California Zephyr route?

The California Zephyr route travels through the middle of the United States between Chicago and Northern California. You’ll go through the Great Plains, Colorado Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada Mountains.

What side of the California Zephyr to sit on?

The best side to sit on depends on what scenery you want to see. The Colorado River in the Rocky Mountains is one of the best parts of the California Zephyr. It is visible from the left side of the train when traveling westbound and on the right when traveling east — head to the observation car for the best views.

For the ascent into the Rockies from Denver, sit on the right side. Note that if you are traveling eastbound, it may be getting dark (or nightfall) on the journey out of the mountains.

Can you bring food on the California Zephyr?

You can bring food on all Amtrak trains. Consider bringing a small cooler as a personal item for refrigerated food. Especially if you are sitting in coach, we recommend packing snacks and even a meal or two as there are limited items on the café menu.