The Empire Builder is one of Amtrak’s most scenic routes, traveling between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. The two-night journey includes views of the Mississippi River, golden fields in the Great Plains, the Montana Rocky Mountains, the Columbia River Gorge, and Puget Sound. A destination highlight is Glacier National Park, with three Amtrak stations offering access to the park’s lodges and trails.
Read on for Empire Builder travel tips, FAQs, and important things to know.
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Table of Contents
Route Overview
| Route Information | Facts & Highlights |
|---|---|
| Distance | ~2,200 miles |
| Travel time | 45-46 hours (3 days, 2 nights) |
| Frequency | One train daily in each direction |
| End Stations | Chicago, Portland, Seattle |
| Amenities | Sightseer lounge, cafe, dining car, sleeper cars |
| Best time to ride | Summer (for visits to Glacier National Park and more daylight in the mountains), January and February for dramatic snow views and skiing near Whitefish |
| Best travel direction | Eastbound from Seattle or Portland |
| Scenery highlights | Puget Sound, Cascade Mountains, Columbia River Gorge, Rocky Mountains, Middle Fork of the Flathead River, Mississippi River |
Empire Builder Highlights
- Dramatic views of the Rocky Mountains and Middle Fork of the Flathead River
- Three train stations near Glacier National Park (learn more)
- The longest railroad tunnel in the US (Seattle segment)
- Stunning views of Puget Sound and Cascade Mountains (Seattle segment)
- Columbia River Gorge journey (Portland segment)
- Hours of Mississippi River scenery on eastbound trains
- Skiing and small town charm in Whitefish
- Home of the “Empire Builder” (the train’s namesake) in St. Paul
- Family-friendly vacations in the Wisconsin Dells (water parks, theme parks, lakes, river)
- Airport access in or near Portland, Seattle, Whitefish, Minot, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago
Popular Stops
View the most popular Empire Builder stops below. Click the links to view travel guides. For more information, see the 10 best stops on the Empire Builder route.
- Chicago
- Milwaukee
- Wisconsin Dells
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- West Glacier
- Whitefish
- Leavenworth
- Portland
- Seattle
Top Attractions to Visit
- Chicago: Art Institute, Skydeck
- Milwaukee: Pabst Mansion, Art Museum
- Wisconsin Dells: Noah’s Ark Water Park
- St. Paul: James J. Hill House
- Minneapolis: Institute of Art, Mall of America
- East & West Glacier: Glacier Park National Park
- Whitefish: Whitefish Mountain Resort
- Leavenworth: Bavarian Village
- Edmonds: Waterfront (whale watching tours)
- Portland: Rose Test Garden
- Seattle: Space Needle, Pike Place Market
Tickets and Onboard Options
When booking your tickets on the Empire Builder, you can select coach seats or private rooms. Coach seats are the most affordable option, but you’ll need to sleep sitting up (seats partially recline). Additionally, coach cars are typically in the front of the train, which means the train horn will be louder and may disrupt your sleep.
In comparison, private rooms are more expensive, but you’ll have a bed and free water, coffee, and meals. Plus, if you book a bedroom, you’ll have a private bathrooms.
The following private room options are available on the Empire Builder:
- Roomettes (upper and lower level)
- Family bedrooms (lower level)
- Accessible bedrooms (lower level)
- Standard bedrooms (upper level)
Explore the room types to see which one is best for you and the differences between upper and lower level rooms.
What it’s like to ride the Empire Builder
Named after James J. Hill, the “Empire Builder” of the Great Northern Railway, the Empire Builder has carried passengers between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest for nearly a century. The Great Northern Railway also played a key role in establishing Glacier National Park, and many of the historic lodges built by the railroad are still welcoming visitors today (and you can see some of them from the train).
Travel Tips
- Travel in June to see the most scenery (most daylight).
- Eastbound trips are better than westbound. You’ll see all of the Rocky Mountains and have hours of Mississippi River scenery.
- If you want to see the Columbia River Gorge, start or end your trip in Portland.
- If you want to see Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, start or end in Seattle, but be aware that this segment involves a long train tunnel.
- Whitefish is a charming ski town with a free shuttle to ski resorts. There are also guided day trips to Glacier National Park if you don’t want to rent a car.
- Travel to West Glacier for lodging, food, shuttles into the park and a scenic river float trip.
While some passengers may find the Great Plains scenery repetitive after a couple hours, the dramatic rise of the Rocky Mountains on westbound trains and the peaceful views of the Mississippi River on eastbound trains makes the full-length trip worthwhile.
For the most scenic portion of the route, the segment between East Glacier Park and the Pacific Northwest showcases rugged mountain and water scenery. Learn more.
FAQ
What is the route of the Empire Builder train?
Empire Builder trains travel east and west through the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. The end-of-the-line stations are Chicago, Portland and Seattle.
How long is the Empire Builder train ride?
It takes about 46 hours to ride the entire Empire Builder route, and you’ll spend two nights on the train. Sleeping accommodations are available.
Does the Empire Builder have sleeper cars?
Yes, the Empire Builder has Superliner sleeper cars. These sleeper cars have roomettes, bedrooms, a shower room and shared bathrooms.
What is the best direction of travel on Amtrak’s Empire Builder?
Eastbound is the best direction of travel on the Empire Builder. You’ll travel through the Montana Rocky Mountains and along the Mississippi River during daylight hours.
What is the best time of year to ride the Empire Builder?
The best time of year to ride Amtrak’s Empire Builder is summer, especially in June when extended daylight lets you see the maximum amount of scenery along the route.
Is the Empire Builder worth riding in winter?
Yes. Winter trips offer beautiful snow-covered landscapes and access to skiing in Whitefish, making it a great seasonal alternative.
What is the most scenic part of the Empire Builder route?
The Empire Builder is most scenic between the West Coast and Montana Rocky Mountains and we highly recommend riding just this segment. In addition to seeing the Rockies and Flathead River, there are views of the Columbia River Gorge (Portland leg of the route) along with Cascade Mountains and Puget Sound (Seattle leg of the route).
Tip: Start your trip in Portland or Seattle and travel to the East Glacier Station to see the Rocky Mountains in daylight. For the return trip, travel to Portland on Amtrak for views of the Columbia River Gorge or to Whitefish if you prefer to book a flight out of the Glacier International Airport.
Can you get on and off the Empire Builder?
Yes. You can get on and off all Amtrak routes, but you’ll need a one-way ticket for each segment of your trip. Depending on the train schedule, you might also need to stay overnight in the city where you get off the train. There are also a few fresh air/smoke breaks along the Empire Builder route if you want to get off the train for a few minutes.
Does the Empire Builder have food?
Yes, the Empire Builder has food, including a café for sandwiches, snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and small meals. Sleeper car passengers also have free meals included in the ticket price (dining car available or meals can be delivered to rooms). Coach passengers may also be able to purchase breakfast, lunch and dinner in the dining car based on availability, but don’t rely on this option.
Does the Empire Builder have a lounge car?
Yes, the Empire Builder has a sightseer lounge full of windows, a few tables and lounge seats. It is open to all passengers. On the lower level is the café.
What side of the Empire Builder is best to sit on?
- For views of Puget Sound, sit on the left side of trains departing Seattle (right side on westbound trains).
- For views of the Columbia River, sit on the right side of trains departing Portland (left side of westbound trains).
- For beautiful views of the Flathead River in the Rocky Mountains, travel eastbound and sit on the left side of the train (including in the sightseer lounge).
Is there WiFi on the Empire Builder?
No WiFi, but cellular reception is available during most of the route (but not in the mountains and remote areas).
Stations
Below is the complete list of Empire Builder stations in route order. Click the links to view station amenities and other helpful information on the Amtrak website.
- Chicago, IL – Union Station (CHI)
- Glenview, IL (GLN)
- Milwaukee, WI – Intermodal Station (MKE)
- Columbus, WI (CBS)
- Portage, WI (POG)
- Wisconsin Dells, WI (WDL)
- Tomah, WI (TOH)
- La Crosse, WI (LSE)
- Winona, MN (WIN)
- Red Wing, MN (RDW)
- St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN – Union Depot (MSP)
- St. Cloud, MN (SCD)
- Staples, MN (SPL)
- Detroit Lakes, MN (DLK)
- Fargo, ND (FAR)
- Grand Forks, ND (GFK)
- Devils Lake, ND (DVL)
- Rugby, ND (RUG)
- Minot, ND (MOT)
- Stanley, ND (STN)
- Williston, ND (WTN)
- Wolf Point, MT (WPT)
- Glasgow, MT (GGW)
- Malta, MT (MAL)
- Havre, MT (HAV)
- Shelby, MT (SBY)
- Cut Bank, MT (CUT)
- Browning, MT (BRO)
- East Glacier Park, MT (GPK)
- Essex, MT (ESM)
- West Glacier, MT (WGL)
- Whitefish, MT (WFH)
- Libby, MT (LIB)
- Sandpoint, ID (SPT)
- Spokane, WA (SPK)
- Pasco, WA (PSC)
- Wishram, WA (WIH)
- Bingen-White Salmon, WA (BNG)
- Vancouver, WA (VAN)
- Portland, OR – Union Station (PDX)
- Ephrata, WA – Transportation Center (EPH)
- Wenatchee, WA – Amtrak Station (WEN)
- Leavenworth, WA – Icicle Station (LWA)
- Everett, WA (EVR)
- Edmonds, WA (EDM)
- Seattle, WA – King Street Station (SEA)
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Photo by Loco Steve/Flickr.com via Creative Commons (Empire Builder in the Montana Rocky Mountains)
Last updated November 2025
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