Amtrak USA Rail Pass: For Adventurers Only
First, let me start off by saying that train travel (especially long distance) is definitely not for everyone! So while I would love to recommend this trip to you, I think there is a lot that you should know before booking your ticket that I wish someone would have told me.
Second, this is not meant to be an itinerary, so if you want more specific details on travel and cost, head on over to my full itinerary linked below. There, you'll find all sorts of info on places to stay, recommendations, exact locations, and items you'll need before you go.
Know Before You Go!
Wait, what is the USA Rail Pass again? If you already know the answer to this question, congrats...you're far ahead of where I was in your USA rail system knowledge before I took this trip! The USA Rail Pass is an opportunity for customers to purchase a pass that allows you to travel virtually anywhere in the country! However, there are quite a few rules when it comes to taking advantage of this great deal.
1. This rail pass is for coach class only. 😧
- This means no sleeper cars. No exceptions. Business class and private room upgrades are not currently available for the rail pass system. However, we found seats to be very spacious and comfortable with reclining seats that include a foot rest. All seating rows are set in pairs and separated by a middle aisle and large windows with curtains are available for every row. If you're fortunate enough to be on a route that is not super busy, you may be able to use both seats to sleep in. If you fully recline both, you will be on a nearly flat and very spacious surface, which will make sleeping very easy. You will also have access to observation cars with floor-to-ceiling windows and dining tables for the cafe area on the attached lower level. You'll find plenty of people in these cars, since they provide the best views and it's a great place to have conversation, play games if you happened to bring any, or eat.
2. As a member of the coach class, you will not have included access to the "traditional" dining cars with table service. 🍽️
- However, you can choose to purchase a meal with them if you are willing to pay $20 each time you visit. Personally, we did this one time on the first morning of our trip, but were made to feel extremely unwelcome by both the staff and the random guy that they placed at our table. Unless you have 4 people in your party, expect to be seated with strangers due to limited space. The french toast I had was mediocre at best. My advice: stick to the cafe cars that serve snacks and pre-packaged items, or bring your own food. Amtrak allows visitors to bring any food or beverages they would like on board.
3. There are very important restrictions to keep in mind. 👎
- The pass is only valid for use within 120 days of your purchase (119 technically, I learned this the hard way).
- This pass allows you to take 10 "segments" along your route. A segment is the term that Amtrak uses to describe a stop along your trip. Each train station/city that you will exit a train on will be considered a segment. For example, we started our trip in Chicago, and did not get off of the train until we reached Glacier National Park in Montana. This meant that even though we passed through plenty of train stations, only by exiting the train did we conclude our first of ten segments.
- Important note: Using Amtrak's connecting bus routes will cost you one of your segments, even if it's only a 15-20 minute ride to get you where you want to go. Due to limited time and a desire to get as far as possible during our trip, we strayed from using any of these services and only used our segments on long distance rides.
- While planning, it's important to know that once you decide on your first segment/travel date, all other segments must be used within 30 days of the beginning of your trip (or forfeited). This means that you could potentially spend up to one month traveling across the country as long as you stay within the segment limit. This may seem like a long time, but wait until I tell you how long some of these segments can get.😵💫
- All segments must be booked in advance. Having a rail pass does not give you the freedom to hop on/off any 10 trains that you would like along the route.
4. Certain routes are liable to sell out dependent on where you are going and what time of year it is. 📈
- This is why it is important to map out your entire route and purchase all tickets needed to complete said route at the same time and well in advance. Since you have the rail pass, these tickets will not lead to any additional costs, but this is how you will make Amtrak aware of your plans and reserve your seat on all of your trains.
5. The amount of luggage you're allowed to bring is practically unlimited. 🧳
- As an Amtrak customer, you are allowed to bring one personal item (up to 25 lbs.) and two carry on bags (up to 50 lbs.) free of charge. However, if this still isn't enough, you can also purchase up to two additional bags for $20 each. If you would like to have your luggage "checked" by Amtrak, you will need to arrive at the luggage counter 30 minutes prior to your departure. However, I had an employee turn us away after arriving at the station an hour early and getting to the front of their line 28 minutes prior to departure, so either I had a bad experience, or their policy needs some work. If you don't arrive early enough, no worries - there will more than likely be plenty of space for your luggage on the train. The challenging part is getting everything up the stairs, but there's not much I can do to help you there.
6. The Amtrak website is actually one of the worst things I've ever seen. 😡
- When you are booking segments, you will need to type in each station individually and know it's specific name. City names simply will not work, and you'll need to find the closest station to your desired destination and figure out how to get to that destination on your own. For example, the closest train station to San Francisco is actually the Emeryville station, which actually just takes you to Oakland. The point is, you will not be able to just step right off the train and see the Golden Gate Bridge or a lot of other recommended places.
7. Amtrak promises wifi on a majority of their routes, but it was very unreliable throughout our trip. 📡
- I had originally planned on working throughout my time on the train rides, but this proved to be pretty difficult. I was able to manage by using my mobile hotspot, but I can safely say that there will be times that you'll go without a connection.
Route Options
- While Amtrak does have relatively limited route options compared to the train systems in other countries, I was shocked to find out just how many places this train can take you (if you have the time).
- As you can see in this picture, the rail pass can take you all over the country. Their stops include many major cities and natural wonders, so this trip definitely has a little something for every type of traveler to enjoy. Our route highlights included Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver, while also getting to spend time in the Glacier, Olympic, Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. This is the most affordable way to check a lot of places off of your bucket list VERY quickly, and it's not even close.
Route Possibilities
- Of course, the train will not take you directly to some of these highlights. However, with proper planning, you can see a select number of these iconic destinations in one trip!
New York City
Boston
Washington D.C.
Toronto
Chicago
New Orleans
Savannah, GA
Disney World
Miami
Glacier National Park
Seattle
Olympic National Park
Mount Hood
San Francisco
Yosemite National Park
Sequoia National Park
Los Angeles
Grand Canyon
Horseshoe Bend
Antelope Canyon
Zion National Park
Arches National Park
Las Vegas
White Sands National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Dallas
How much does this cost?
- Obviously, the more you want to do/see will decide how much you spend on this trip, but I'm sure these pictures are making you think twice about that budget!
- As far as the actual cost of travel, the Rail Pass will cost you a flat fee of $499 for a majority of the year. However, if you keep an eye out, you may be able to get the same deal we did and snag your USA Rail Pass for only $299! Which is by far the best travel deal I have ever seen.
- Keep in mind, this deal is typically only available for a short period after the holidays, which means you would have to use it before June. This means some places that you'll want to visit may not be the warmest and some parks will still have trails/roads that are closed. However, this also means that you will not have to worry about parks being overcrowded, which is a huge deal if you know how bad traffic can get in some of these national parks during their peak seasons.
- This also affects rates at hotels and airbnb's that we stayed at along the way, so if you're looking to save money on this trip, I would definitely recommend going at the same time of year that we did (Early May) to get as much value as possible.
What could go wrong...right?
- If your trip is anything like mine, after experiencing last minute train cancellations, Amtrak's seemingly endless number of rude employees, and the stress of seeing two weeks' worth of detailed planning executed in real time, you'll probably end up as exhausted as I was by the end of our trip. However, I cannot stress enough how incredible of a time I had. This was TRULY a once in a lifetime trip that many people will never get the chance to experience.
Advice
- Make sure you plan enough time to see everything you want to. I PACKED our itinerary for a 14 day trip, and I will admit that it was overwhelming at times. However, I tend to do this for all of my trips, and I wouldn't prefer it any other way.
- Plan this trip with people that you actually like because you are going to be spending A LOT of time with them.
- Pack as light as possible! Carrying around ridiculous amounts of luggage gets very old very quickly.
Biggest Takeaways
- If you have the time and don't mind spending it on a train for what could be well over 24 hours at once, then you should absolutely take this trip! Personally, I didn't mind the train rides at all and it gave me plenty of time to relax and enjoy the incredible views along the way!
- If you haven't gotten the chance to explore the United States and want to see a lot of it, this is the trip for you! Even at the $499 cost, this is an incredible deal that will allow you to appreciate the vast landscapes that the United States has to offer.
- If you made it this far, I hope this has been helpful in your decision making process. If you're still interested in purchasing the pass but don't want to do all the planning, that is where I come in! Check out the links below for more info!
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