The Sunset Limited travels between New Orleans and Los Angeles with stops in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Along the way, you can explore cultural cities and fun attractions or simply stay on board to enjoy sweeping desert landscapes, mountains and the Mississippi River. Fun fact: the Sunset Limited is the oldest-named passenger train in the United States still in operation. See the 5 best Amtrak routes for history lovers to learn more.

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Sunset Limited Overview

What to Know	Facts & Highlights
Distance	1,995 miles
Travel time	45.5 to 46.5 hours (2 nights)
Frequency	Three days per week
End stations	New Orleans, Los Angeles
Best time to ride	Fall, winter, spring
Best travel direction	Eastbound for more daylight in the desert
Scenery highlights	Mississippi River, Houston skyline, Pecos River, Mexico border, Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Sierra Blanca mountains in New Mexico, high desert

Popular Stops

View the popular stops on the Sunset Limited route below and click the links to view travel guides.

• New Orleans: French Quarter, National WWII Museum
• Lafayette: Acadian and Cajun history
• Houston: Space Center, art and culture
• San Antonio: The Alamo, Riverwalk
• Tucson: Outdoor activities, food tours
• Phoenix (via Amtrak bus from Maricopa)
• Palm Springs: Sun and fun
• Los Angeles: Hollywood, iconic attractions

Schedule Highlights

• Trains depart New Orleans in the morning.
• Trains depart Los Angeles at night.
• Trains arrive in L.A. early in the morning.
• Trains arrive in New Orleans in the evening.
• Overnight, trains are in parts of California, Arizona and Western Texas.

Tickets and Onboard Options

When booking your tickets on the Sunset Limited, 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.

Tips & Things to Know

• No WiFi
• The Sunset Limited is the only route that travels to and from Houston.
• The Texas Eagle is attached to the Sunset Limited in San Antonio for the trip to L.A.
• Rent a car in Tuscon to drive to Saguaro National Park.
• Lafayette is a wonderful place to learn about Louisiana history via the Acadian Village and Cajun food tours.
• Maricopa is the stop for Phoenix, but it is 30 miles away from the city center. We recommend getting a Lyft or Uber ride to reach the city. You can also choose Phoenix as your destination when booking tickets, which will include a bus shuttle.
• For visits to Palm Springs, select the Palm Springs Spa Resort Casino Station as your final destination when booking your tickets, which includes a bus transfer to downtown Palm Springs. Hotels closest to the bus stop (in easy walking distance) are Andreas Hotel & Spa, Hilton Palm Springs and Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs.

FAQ

What is the difference between the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle?

The Sunset Limited travels through the US South and Southwest while the Texas Eagle has additional stops in the Midwest. These trains are combined in San Antonio, and stop at the same stations between San Antonio and Los Angeles.

Does the Sunset Limited have food?

There is a café car available to all passengers and traditional dining for sleeper car passengers on the Sunset Limited. Meals are included in the ticket price if you book a roomette or bedroom.

Stations

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

• New Orleans, LA – Union Passenger Terminal (NOL)
• Schriever, LA (SCH)
• New Iberia, LA (NIB)
• Lafayette, LA (LFT)
• Lake Charles, LA (LCH)
• Beaumont, TX (BMT)
• Houston, TX – Amtrak Station (HOS)
• San Antonio, TX (SAS)
• Del Rio, TX (DRT)
• Sanderson, TX (SND)
• Alpine, TX (ALP)
• El Paso, TX – Union Depot (ELP)
• Deming, NM (DEM)
• Lordsburg, NM (LDB)
• Benson, AZ (BEN)
• Tucson, AZ (TUS)
• Maricopa, AZ (MRC)
• Yuma, AZ (YUM)
• Palm Springs, CA – Amtrak Station (PSN)
• Ontario, CA (ONA)
• Pomona, CA (POS)
• Los Angeles, CA – Union Station (LAX)

More Information

• Views from Sunset Limited
• Amtrak routes with observation cars
• Amtrak trips out West: 7 amazing vacations
• 20 best Amtrak trips from New Orleans
• 10 attractions on the Sunset Limit route to plan a trip around

Top photo by Matt Johnson via Creative Commons

Last updated November 2025