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. For a virtual tour, check out our audio route overview.

Things to Know

No WiFi and limited cell phone coverage
Delays are possible
New Mexico and Colorado are the states with daytime views and the best scenery
National park rangers typically 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 when booking your tickets.

Highlights:

Trains depart and arrive in Chicago around 3 p.m.
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)
Overnight, trains are in Arizona and Kansas
Arrival time at Flagstaff is better on westbound trains (between 8 and 9 p.m.)
To see the San Bernardino mountains, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, travel eastbound in June.