The Best Train Trips to Take Across America
Explore the U.S. by train on these scenic train trips.
There's a romance to train travel — the leisurely pace of a rail trip compared to the hustle of an airport or a crowded highway encourages you to relax. There are the historic train stations and roomy seats, plus the chance to get up and walk around, visit the dining car, or just sit and take in the scenery passing by. There are many train journeys you can take across the United States, with stops in exciting cities, historic landmarks, and national parks along the way. From Napa Valley to New England, here are 10 of the best train travel routes in the country.
Note that some of these routes have changed due to travel restrictions related to the ongoing pandemic.
Trains across the US
THE COAST STARLIGHT
35 hours
Daily Departure
A grand west coast train adventure, en route daily between Los Angeles and Seattle, the Coast Starlight train passes through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of all train routes, the Coast Starlight links the greatest cities on the West Coast. The scenery along the Coast Starlight route is unsurpassed. The dramatic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush forests, fertile valleys and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline provide a stunning backdrop for your journey.
THE NAPA VALLEY TRAIN
The Napa Valley Train takes riders through the picturesque wine country northeast of the Bay Area. The route follows a rail line originally built in 1864. Visitors take a three-hour, 36-mile round-trip journey from downtown Napa to picturesque St. Helena and back. After boarding the train at the McKinstry Street Station, travel through the old industrial section of Napa, then continue through the scenic vineyards of Northern California. On some routes, you can even hop on and off the train along the way — and don't forget to plan an overnight stay at one of the incredible hotels in Napa Valley.
A luxuriously vintage experience. Elegant 100-year-old railcars. A historic 150-year-old rail corridor. The Wine Train preserves a piece of Napa Valley history and proudly continues railroading traditions that are disappearing from the American landscape. The railroad that once transported visitors to a spa resort in Calistoga now brings guests from around the world on a 36-mile round-trip discovery to St. Helena and back, stopping at celebrated Napa Valley wineries along the way.
THE PACIFIC SURFLINER
The Pacific Surfliner serves stations in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. There are daily round-trips between San Diego and Los Angeles, with some trips extending up to Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo. Service on the northern end of our route is supplemented with Amtrak Thruway bus service.
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AMTRAK CASCADES
Cross over the United States' northern border on Amtrak Cascades, stretching from Vancouver, Canada to Eugene, Oregon, passing through Portland and Seattle along the way. Stop in cities for day trips or overnight stays, and then hop back on a train to pass by Mount St. Helens and cross the Columbia River Gorge. The Amtrak Cascades is a passenger train corridor in the Pacific Northwest, operated by Amtrak in partnership with the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. It is named after the Cascade mountain range that the route parallels.
THE GRAND CANYON RAILWAY
The Grand Canyon Railway, which dates back to 1901, offers riders a lesson in history from the Wild West and the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery in this iconic region. Kick back in the restored cars and listen to crews' incredible stories as you ride the railway to the South Rim in a 65-mile trip across the high desert plateau.
Since 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel has been taking passengers on a fabled journey to the heart of one of the seven wonders of the world. Grand Canyon Railway is more than just a mode of transportation: it’s a trip back in time on lovingly restored rail cars with entertaining musicians and the antics of cowboy characters. Out your window, the terrain changes from high desert to prairie, prairie to pine. It’s a view that’s ever-changing until you come across a view so brilliant, it could very well change you.
THE WHITE PASS YOUKON ROUTE
Ride this historic railway across the Yukon on this train trip that travels from Alaska into Canada. The 67.5-mile trip takes you between Skagway, Alaska, and Carcross, Canada, along the same route that the Klondike stampeders traveled more than 100 years ago. Stop along the way to tour the historic Bennett Station and museum.
THE GRAND CANYON RAILWAY
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
The Rockies to the Red Rocks route is a two-day itinerary between Denver and Moab, Utah with a stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado — home to the world's largest mineral hot spring pool. Passengers can start their journey at either end of the route.
In Canada, there are three routes to choose from. On the First Passage to the West route, passengers will cross the Continental Divide and travel through the iconic Spiral Tunnels on a trip between Vancouver and Banff/Lake Louise with a stop in Kamloops. The Rocky Mountaineer is the only passenger rail service that connects Canada from east to west.
Meanwhile, on the Journey to the Clouds itinerary, the train will travel between Vancouver and Jasper, allowing guests the opportunity to admire Jasper National Park, parts of which are designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, and catch a glimpse of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
Passengers on the Rainforest to Gold Rush route will also have the chance to see Jasper National Park and Mount Robson through their panoramic windows as the train makes its way between Vancouver and Jasper with stops in Whistler and Quesnel.
THE MAPLE LEAF TRAIN
Take a train trip that starts at Niagara Falls and ends in New York City on Amtrak's Maple Leaf train. Along the way, you'll travel through the scenic Hudson River Valley, New York's wine country, and the gorges of the Finger Lakes region. While at Niagara Falls, stop for a cruise on The Hornblower to the rushing falls or take a Journey Behind the Falls tour, which brings you 150 feet below ground to tunnels that lead to observation spots at the foot of the Falls.