Southwest Chief

The Southwest Chief Amtrak route connects Chicago with Los Angeles and provides an old west tour of the United States. Canyons, ranches, deserts and mountains provide a spectacular backdrop for this epic journey. Exit at the Flagstaff Amtrak Station for travel connections to the Grand Canyon.

Things to Know

No WiFi and limited cell phone coverage
Like with all long Amtrak routes, hours of delays can happen
A small cat or dog in a pet carrier is allowed with prior reservation
National park rangers provide on board narratives between May and September on parts of the route
Motion sickness can happen on the longer Amtrak trips as the trains sway, so bring medicine just in case as well as a sweatshirt and/or a small blanket because trains can be cold

Schedule

Visit the Amtrak timetable for the Southwest Chief to plan your trip. You can also view schedules via Google Maps or when booking your tickets.

Highlights:

Only one train per day in each direction
Trains depart and arrive in Chicago around 3 p.m. if on time
Trains depart Los Angeles just after 6 p.m. and arrive there just after 8 a.m.
Total trip time is almost two full days (two nights on the train)

Reviews

Overall ratings for the Southwest Chief on Yelp is 3.5/5 stars and TripAdvisor is a mix of positive and negative reviews. Here are some of the top takeaways:

Amazing scenery, but some reviewers recommend the views from the California Zephyr more
Desserts and dinner menu items can run out over the course of the long trip, so consider having early dinners to get first pick
Pack cleaning wipes for extra wipe down of your roomette, bedroom or bathroom
Passengers liked the food, but it can be expensive if you have a coach seat, so consider bringing a meal or two on board if you don’t have meals included in your ticket price