Southwest Chief Route Guide

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief is a scenic long-distance route that travels between Chicago and Los Angeles, showcasing the stunning landscapes of the U.S. Southwest. Along the journey, trains stop near the Grand Canyon and pass through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Enjoy panoramic views of deserts, mountains, and historic towns, with opportunities to hop off the train to visit a variety of attractions.

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Southwest Chief Overview

What to Know	Facts & Highlights
Distance	2,265 miles
Travel time	43 hours
Frequency	One train daily in each direction
Best time to ride	Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November)
Best travel direction	Westbound toward California
Scenery highlights	Raton Pass (Sangre de Cristo Mountains), New Mexico desert

Popular Stops

Explore the most popular stops along the Southwest Chief route below.

Los Angeles: Film industry, celebrity home tours
Flagstaff: Dark sky, Grand Canyon day trips
Albuquerque: Southwest culture, tramway, hot air balloons
Dodge City: Wild West history
Kansas City: Jazz, barbecue, museums
Chicago: Iconic landmarks, boat tours

Schedule Highlights

Trains depart Los Angeles early evening.
Trains depart and arrive in Chicago in the afternoon.
Overnight, trains are in Arizona and Kansas.
Eastbound trains traveling toward Chicago arrive in Flagstaff in the middle of the night.
Travel eastbound in June to see the San Bernardino Mountains, Missouri River and Mississippi River.

Tickets and Onboard Options

When booking tickets on the Southwest Chief, 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. Based on availability, you can choose from the following private room options:

Roomettes
Family bedrooms on the lower level
Accessible bedrooms on the lower level
Standard bedrooms on the upper level

Explore the room types to see which one is best for you and the differences between upper and lower level rooms.

Dining

Anyone can purchase food in the cafe car, which has a selection of beverages, snacks and light meals. There are sometimes discounts on food toward the end of the trip.
The dining car is primarily reserved for sleeper car passengers. Any remaining reservations, after private room passengers have chosen their meal times, may be offered to coach passengers at standard cost.
It’s generally good to bring snacks with you on the train. If you’re sitting in coach, bringing a meal or two is also a good idea as the cafe car has limited food options. A small cooler or cooler bag is great accessory for packing a variety of food.

Other Things to Know

No WiFi and limited cell phone coverage.
Trains use Superliner rail cars (two levels tall).
New Mexico and Colorado are the states with daytime views and the best scenery.
The La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona is a beautiful and historic place to stay. It’s a great way to break up your Southwest Chief journey for a night or more.

Travel Tips

A shorter trip option is to travel between Kansas City and Los Angeles. Travel time is over 35 hours, reducing the total time by 8 hours. You can also start or end your trip in Albuquerque if you’re only interested in the desert scenery.
If you start this trip in Kansas City, westbound trains depart at night so you’ll have time to sightsee during the day. A trolley tour is a great way to get an overview of the city.
The Los Angeles Union Station is a beautiful and historic building worth exploring (opened in 1939). The Los Angeles Conservancy offers Saturday morning tours.
If you prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of L.A., you can start or end your trip in San Bernardino or Riverside, California. In Riverside, you can visit or stay at the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa (17-minute walk from the Amtrak station). The nearest airports are San Bernardino (SBD) and Ontario (ONT).

FAQ

What is the most scenic part of the Southwest Chief route?

The New Mexico desert and travel through the Raton Pass in Colorado are the most scenic parts of the Southwest Chief route. Travel between Los Angeles and Kansas City for this scenery and have access to airports.

How long is the Southwest Chief train ride?

Traveling the entire Southwest Chief route takes 43 hours, which involves two nights on the train.

What direction is better for the Southwest Chief?

Westbound is the best direction of travel on the Southwest Chief. You’ll have the unforgettable experience of riding into the desert sunset. Additionally, westbound trains cross the Raton Pass in the morning, guaranteeing daylight through one of the most scenic parts of the trip.

Does the Southwest Chief have sleeper cars?

Yes, the Southwest Chief has sleeper cars with accommodations on upper and lower levels of the train. The upper level is better for viewing the scenery, but if you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to book a bedroom or roomette on the lower level.

Are meals included on the Southwest Chief?

Meals are included only if you book a private room (roomette or bedroom).

Does the Southwest Chief go by the Grand Canyon?

The Southwest Chief does not go by the Grand Canyon, but it does get close to the national park. Exit at Flagstaff and book a day tour or rent a car with Turo or another company (you may need to use rideshare to reach the rental car office). Drive time is approximately 1.5 hours.

Stations

Explore the full list of Southwest Chief train stations in route order. Click the station names to view amenities and additional details on the Amtrak website.