The Texas Eagle is the longest passenger train route in the United States, running between Chicago and Los Angeles with stops in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. True to its name, it serves numerous cities across Texas, making it an easy way to reach places like Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso. Explore popular stops, schedule highlights, and travel tips below.

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Texas Eagle Overview

What to KnowFacts & Highlights
Distance2,728 miles
Travel timeAlmost 62 hours
Train typeSuperliner with sleeper cars
FrequencyOne train daily between Chicago and San Antonio and three trains per week between San Antonio and Los Angeles
Best time to rideFall, Winter Spring
Scenery highlightsMississippi River, Mexico border, Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Sierra Blanca mountains in New Mexico, high desert

Popular Stops

Click the links to view travel guides for the popular stops on the Texas Eagle route.

Schedule Highlights

  • Trains depart Los Angeles at night.
  • Trains depart Chicago in the afternoon.
  • Trip time between Los Angeles and Palm Springs is about 2.5 hours.
  • Trip time between Dallas and Austin is almost 6 hours.
  • Trip time between Dallas and San Antonio is about 8 hours.
  • Trip time between Chicago and Austin is 28 hours.
  • Trip time between Chicago and Dallas is 21.5 hours.

Things to Know

  • No WiFi.
  • The entire trip is over 65 hours, which is three nights on the train.
  • The Texas Eagle is combined with the Sunset Limited between San Antonio and Los Angeles.
  • Travel to Springfield, IL for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln home and Lincoln tomb.
  • Maricopa is the stop for Phoenix, which is about 45 minutes away from downtown. You can request a Lyft or Uber car from the Maricopa Station or book your Amtrak ticket to Phoenix, which will include bus service for the last leg of the trip.

FAQ

Does Texas Eagle have sleeper cars?

Yes, the Texas Eagle has sleeper cars. You can book a roomette, bedroom, family bedroom or accessible bedroom in the sleeper car. Learn about the different sleeping accommodations.

Does the Texas Eagle run every day?

Texas Eagle trains run every day between Chicago and San Antonio. Between San Antonio and Los Angeles, train service is just three days per week.

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

The Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle trains are combined on the trip between San Antonio and Los Angeles, so there is no difference. East of San Antonio, the trains follow different routes, with the Texas Eagle traveling to/from Chicago and the Sunset Limited to/from New Orleans.

Stations

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

More Information