This is the final section of a three-part series regarding Amtrak’s Long Distance Trains. In this part, we will cover the Auto Train, City of New Orleans, Palmetto, Silver Star and the Silver Meteor.
If you are completely new to the idea or are looking for different trains, see the links in the section below:
Part 1: Sunset Limited, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Empire Builder or Coast Starlight.
Part 2: Crescent, Texas Eagle, Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited and Cardinal routes.
Feel free to check out an official Amtrak commercial above, which gives a glimpse into what it is all about.
Who is Amtrak?
Amtrak is the national passenger intercity railroad of the United States and serves 46 of the lower 48 states across more than 21,000 miles of track and over 500 stations.
Learn more about America’s Railroad by checking out the video below:
Where can I go?
Where do you want to go?
There are a number of options. Amtrak operates regional trains (Chicago-Pontiac, MI or Chicago-St. Paul), state-supported corridor runs (think Chicago-St. Louis, Los Angeles-San Diego or Boston-NYC-Washington) as well as long-distance trains, which typically cover travel across multiple states.
This guide will focus on the latter of the three, which makes up the majority of Amtrak’s national network. LD service is, specifically, any route traveling more than 750 miles from its origin to destination. Amtrak operates 15 of these routes.
Feel free to glance at the map below, which shows the entirety of the Amtrak system. The red lines are current and active rail routes - most operating at least once daily - while the green lines represent thruway busses operated by Amtrak and intended to supplement a train ride.
Now that you’ve looked over the map and are probably feeling overwhelmed by all of the lines, dots and colors, let’s slow it down a bit.
I am going to take you through each long-distance route and highlight some of the major destinations you would pass through along the way, if you were to ride end-to-end.
Ok! Now take a deep breath — in…..and out -- and come along for the ride.
First up is the oldest named train in the United States and holder of the prestigious train numbers 1 and 2. We will give a broad overview of the larger stops and bullet point the intermediate stations. Let’s roll!
#1/2 - Sunset Limited
(New Orleans - Los Angeles)
*Operates tri-weekly; departs New Orleans on Mon/Wed/Sat and Los Angeles on Tue/Thur/Sat*
New Orleans
@mitchellmcavoy
The originating station for train #1, Amtrak serves the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal. NOUPT is located right next door to the homes of the Pelicans (NBA) and Saints (NFL) and about a 15-20 minute walk to Bourbon Street.
Walk?! Fret not, there are connections to the New Orleans Streetcar system near the station.
Flying into Louis Armstrong International Airport? There is public transit from the airport to the train station, but plan for anywhere between 30 mins and an hour to make the trip.
NOUPT also serves Amtrak’s City of New Orleans (to Chicago via Jackson, MS & Memphis) and Crescent (to New York via Birmingham, AL, Atlanta & Charlotte) routes as well as the Mardi Gras?? (a new regional train …official name pending...between New Orleans and Mobile, AL that is expected to be coming soon! *fingers crossed*)
Details
• Schriever
• New Iberia
• Lafayette
• Lake Charles
• Beaumont, TX
Houston
@mitchellmcavoy
Arrival in Houston is scheduled for approximately 8-9 hours after departing New Orleans. The Sunset Limited has a slightly extended stop in Houston - per the schedule - for passenger loading and servicing. Unfortunately, the Houston station leaves a lot to be desired.
Located north and west of downtown, the station is stuffed in the corner beneath a web of interstate highways. It is about a 20-minute or 1.25-mile walk from the heart of Houston.
If you are just stepping off the train to stretch your legs, it’s not a bad experience, especially since you get a nice view of some skyscrapers from the platform. However, if you are looking to spend a few days, have your ride organized ahead of time. Again, the station is tucked away, surrounded by large parking lots as well as warehouses and although there is a police station around the block, it doesn’t give off the safest vibe.
That being said, downtown Houston is an excellent spot to spend a few days checking out the sites or even catch a game at Minute Maid Park (home of the Houston Astros and former train station). If you opt into renting a car, you can even take a trip down to Galveston, which is about a 45-minute ride south depending on traffic.
Details
San Antonio
@mitchellmcavoy
The Sunset Limited’s very next stop after Houston is the home of the Alamo, San Antonio. Scheduled for about five hours, per the timetable, the run can be done in much less (4-4.5 hrs) if the train gets good dispatching and faces minimal traffic.
In contrast to Houston, San Antonio’s station is located right next to the Alamodome and within walking distance to the majority of the tourist attractions. The Tower of the Americas, The Riverwalk & The Alamo are all within a mile walk as are a variety of eateries and hotels.
Unfortunately, the upside comes with some downsides, one of which is that the train’s scheduled arrival is 12:05 a.m. CT. Now with the extra padding in the schedule between Houston and San Antonio, if the Sunset gets a clean run, it can arrive closer to 11 p.m. This is a possibility, but far from a guarantee.
While the late arrival is a pain, San Antonio is an excellent place to break up your journey west and spend a couple of days, while you wait for the next train to come through. There is so much to do within walking distance of the train station plus, if you rent a car, Corpus Christi and the Gulf Coast is about a two-hour drive.
One last note is the train’s scheduled departure from San Antonio is 2:45 a.m. Aside from a major service stop for the train, the tri-weekly Sunset Limited joins up - becoming one train - with the daily Texas Eagle here for the trip west toward LA. Therefore, in theory if the train is on-time, you have at least 2.5 hours to wander about (if you’re a night owl!)
Details
• Del Rio
• Sanderson
• Alpine
Central Time > Mountain Time
El Paso
@mitchellmcavoy
The Sunset Limited’s arrival into El Paso is scheduled for the mid-afternoon. As is the pattern with trains 1 & 2, if the train is running on time out of Alpine and is given a clean run through Far West Texas, it can get into El Paso about 30 minutes early, possibly more. No matter what, you will at least have 10 minutes in the station to step off and stretch your legs. Although in the triple-digit dead-of-summer heat, you may not want to!
The majority of the run through West Texas is painted with views of the high desert and some short mountain ranges such as the Davis Mountains. For the last 30-40 miles of the run from Alpine to El Paso, you will likely catch views of the United States-Mexico border.
Located on the southwestern edge of El Paso in a quiet area, the station is within walking distance of some hotels, food options and attractions, although it can be quite cumbersome. It seems there is an overall lack of a direct route to many places as the train tracks split the neighborhood. More so, if you want to get onto the north side of the tracks, say to go to a El Paso Chihuahuas game (AAA affiliate of the MLB’s San Diego Padres) you will have to walk about 0.75 miles to get to one of the bridges to cross over, even though it is probably a couple hundred yards as the crow flies. If you are fit and it isn’t the dead of summer, it is certainly doable, but beware of the heat.
As far as the schedule goes, you may be suspicious of why I’ve mentioned getting in early quite a bit. It is certainly possible, because both trains have a ton of padding in their schedules. Padding is extra time to protect on-time performance in case issues arise en route - weather, traffic, signal issues, etc. Unfortunately, the owner of the tracks - Union Pacific - has had its share of issues with dispatching Amtrak trains with preference as they are legally-required. Recently, the Surface Transportation Board has started to hold the freight company accountable, which has increased on-time performance significantly. The padding also helps BUT there is always the potential for severe delays (upwards of 3 hours) on the Sunset Limited.
Details
• Deming, NM
• Lordsburg
Mountain Standard Time (AZ doesn't observe Daylight Saving Time)
• Benson, AZ
• Tucson
• Maricopa
• Yuma
Mountain Standard Time > Pacific Time
• Palm Springs, CA
• Ontario
• Pomona
Los Angeles
@mitchellmcavoy
The Sunset Limited’s trip ends in downtown Los Angeles, arriving at Union Station in the early morning. Currently scheduled for arrival at 5:35 a.m. PT, the time isn’t the most ideal, but it certainly allows for an early start to the day.
One thing to be aware of: IF the Sunset is running on time out of Maricopa, Arizona (scheduled the depart around 9 p.m.), it can arrive into LA more than an hour early as long as it has a clean run overnight. This is because it doesn’t have to wait for its scheduled departure time at Ontario or Pomona and can leave early. So be prepared for an even earlier start to the day (or hope you’re running slightly behind schedule).
The City of Angels presents endless opportunities of places to go, things to do, eat and stay. On top of that, you can make direct connections to a variety of Amtrak trains. The Pacific Surfliner (regional service between San Luis Obispo and San Diego), the Southwest Chief (LD to Chicago via Albuquerque & Kansas City), the Coast Starlight (LD to Seattle via Oakland & Portland).
Union Station in Los Angeles is well-known for appearing in a variety of tv shows as well as movies, but it is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Located a mere two miles from Dodger Stadium (MLB) and less than a mile to the heart of downtown, it is perfectly situated for a car-less adventure (you might prefer it that way/get where you’re going faster too!).
Details
Need some ideas on what to do while visiting Los Angeles? Check out an Amtrak official video below!
Route Overview (courtesy of Wikipedia)
See the full Sunset Limited schedule by clicking and scrolling below. Thanks to the Rail Passengers Association for providing the schedule since Amtrak seems to have gone away from publishing timetables. While it is a great guideline, always be sure to confirm times with Amtrak prior to making plans, especially if you are traveling to/from Arizona (does not observe DST).
#3/4 - Southwest Chief
(Chicago - Los Angeles)
Chicago
@mitchellmcavoy
The Windy City’s Union Station is a major hub for Amtrak services with eight long distance departures (and subsequent arrivals) every day as well as several shorter distance corridor trains (some with multiple frequencies). CUS sees several thousand passengers every day just for Amtrak as well as many more for regional Chicago (CTA) travels.
Connections can be made to Amtrak long-distance trains headed toward Seattle/Portland (Empire Builder), Los Angeles (Southwest Chief), New York (Cardinal & Lake Shore Limited), Emeryville (California Zephyr), Washington (Capitol Limited), New Orleans (City of New Orleans) and San Antonio (Texas Eagle).
Union Station is located just west of the Chicago River and spans nearly 10 city blocks (mostly underground), however, numerous entrances are located at street level. The station is also served by CTA buses & trains, Megabus and Greyhound.
Located in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, it is a brief walk to the heart of the city or other tourist attractions like Millennium Park and the lakefront. There is no shortage of food options in the surrounding blocks of the station or really anywhere in Chicago. If you’re up for a walk, head east across the Chicago River and north along Wacker Drive to eventually run into the riverwalk for some more dining options.
Chicago truly is a city where you do not need a car and can use any one of several transportation options to get around, most likely the L or city buses. So whether you’re looking to visit Navy Pier, Wrigley Field, see a White Sox game, an aquarium, a planetarium or any one of the many museums and parks, there’s a really good chance you’ll be able to leave the driving to someone else!
Details
• Naperville
• Mendota
• Princeton
• Galesburg
• Fort Madison, IA
• La Plata, MO
Kansas City
@mitchellmcavoy
The first major stop on the Southwest Chief route following departure from Chicago is a city with an equally (or at least very close) nice Union Station - Kansas City. Just under eight hours after leaving the Windy City, the Southwest Chief pulls into the City of Fountains.
Located on the southern end of downtown across from the National WWI Museum and Memorial and other Crown Center attractions, Kansas City's Union Station is a reminder of the great history of railroads. Now partially-owned by a private company, the station not only serves Amtrak but is home to a cafe, a family-friendly science center and other attractions.
The KC Streetcar’s southern terminus is located on the east side of Union Station along Main Street. Able to whisk passengers north through downtown to River Market and eventually the future home of the KC Current, the Streetcar can get you to a number of restaurants and entertainment venues.
Details
• Lawrence, KS
• Topeka
• Newton
• Hutchinson
• Dodge City
• Garden City
Central Time > Mountain Time
• Lamar, CO
• La Junta
• Trinidad
• Raton, NM
• Las Vegas
• Lamy
Albuquerque
@mitchellmcavoy
Traveling across Kansas through the night, the Southwest Chief alights in Albuquerque in the late afternoon of the next day.
The Alvarado Transportation Center (ATC) is located in downtown Albuquerque just a few blocks from the convention center and about two miles from the historic Old Town neighborhood. Serving local busses, Greyhound and the state’s commuter rail system (New Mexico Rail Runner Express), there are plenty of options should one decide to get off in Albuquerque including a possible connection to Santa Fe.
Trains 3 & 4 both have extended stops at the ATC for servicing of the train, which allows passengers an opportunity to step off the train and stretch/walk about. There are often local vendors that set up near the station to sell items and if you are prepared/willing to take a risk, a few restaurants are located in the general area.
Details
• Gallup
Mountain Standard Time (AZ doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time)
• Winslow, AZ
• Flagstaff
• Kingman
Mountain Standard Time > Pacific Time
• Needles, CA
• Barstow
• Victorville
• San Bernardino
• Riverside
• Fullerton
Los Angeles
@mitchellmcavoy
Continuing west, the Southwest Chief makes several more overnight stops prior to entering the Los Angeles metro area with San Bernardino.
The City of Angels presents endless opportunities of places to go, things to do, eat and stay. On top of that, you can make direct connections to a variety of Amtrak trains. The Pacific Surfliner (regional service between San Luis Obispo and San Diego), the Southwest Chief (LD to Chicago via Albuquerque & Kansas City), the Coast Starlight (LD to Seattle via Oakland & Portland).
See the Sunset Limited entry for more information as well as Amtrak’s Top Spots: LA video.
Details
Route Overview (courtesy of Wikipedia)
See the full Southwest Chief schedule by clicking and scrolling below. Thanks to the Rail Passengers Association for providing the schedule since Amtrak seems to have gone away from publishing timetables. While it is a great guideline, always be sure to confirm times with Amtrak prior to making plans especially if you are traveling to/from Arizona (does not observe DST).
#5/6 - California Zephyr
(Chicago - Emeryville, CA [Bay Area])
Similar to many other long-distance trains, the California Zephyr begins its journey in Chicago. For more information about the Windy City, refer to the earlier entry regarding the Southwest Chief.
Upon departure from Chicago, the California Zephyr follows the same tracks as the Southwest Chief for the first approximately 165 miles before splitting off just after the Galesburg station stop. Trains 5 and 6 follow a more northernly route, which begins by traversing much of southern Iowa.
• Chicago, IL
• Naperville
• Princeton
• Galesburg
• Burlington, IA
• Mt. Pleasant
• Ottumwa
• Osceola
• Creston
Omaha
@mitchellmcavoy
Nebraska’s largest city Omaha, is the first major stop on the California Zephyr route. Traversing Illinois and Iowa, #5 reaches the eastern edge of the Cornhusker state about 9 hours after departing Chicago.
Although #5’s run is typically in darkness by the time the train reaches western Iowa, (eastbound may be light depending on the time of the year); the train runs along the west side of the Missouri River for about 25 miles after crossing at Plattsmouth, NE en route.
Amtrak’s station in Omaha is one of the original pre-fabricated “Amshack” kind, which is unbecoming of a larger city, but it still provides a basic waiting room with vending machines, a ticket/baggage office and restrooms.
Unfortunately, it's not the end of the mediocre news as the station is located a fair bit from the heart of downtown. On the north side of the Little Italy district, the station isn’t completely isolated, however, it is still about a two mile walk from the city center, Creighton University and the venue that serves as the home of the College World Series.
Lastly, train #5 arrives just after 11 p.m. and train #6 around 5 a.m. CT, which is obviously less than ideal. This should not discourage visiting Omaha, but rather suggest more thorough planning.
Details
• Lincoln, NE
• Hastings
• Holdredge
• McCook
Central Time > Mountain Time
• Fort Morgan, CO
Denver
@mitchellmcavoy
Arriving in the Mile High City before 8 a.m. MT, the California Zephyr travels through southern Nebraska and the northeastern Colorado plains overnight.
Heads up! The train crosses into the mountain time zone roughly around the Colorado-Nebraska border. There is also a little bit of extra time built into the schedule, which means if the train is running on-time into Fort Morgan and encounters no freight interference coming into Denver, it can arrive as early as 7:15 a.m. This leaves passengers continuing west well over an hour to wander around.
Denver Union Station is a service stop and operating crew change point, which ultimately means the Zephyr spends at least 25-30 minutes in the station. During this time, it is fueled and a full mechanical inspection is completed as well as other normal boarding procedures (baggage, sleeper car rooms being turned, new passengers boarding). Train #5 currently has a scheduled departure time of 8:46 a.m., so as mentioned above whether it arrives at 7:15 a.m., earlier or even a little after, it will not leave early.
The station is shared with RTD - Denver’s public transit (bus, light & commuter rail) - and also hosts intercity busses (beneath the tracks). Located in Lower Downtown (LoDo), there is a ton to do in the immediate area from eateries to shopping, the 16th Street Mall, Coors Field (MLB’s Colorado Rockies), Ball Arena (NBA’s Denver Nuggets & NHL’s Colorado Avalanche) and even Mile High (NFL’s Denver Broncos). Inside the station, one can find a bar, a bookstore, some cafes and the Crawford Hotel. There is really no shortage of places to go, but if you are not permanently exiting the train in Denver, keep an eye on the time because there are no re-boarding announcements made.
Details
• Fraser-Winter Park
• Granby
• Glenwood Springs
• Grand Junction
• Green River, UT
• Helper
• Provo
Salt Lake City
@mitchellmcavoy
Following a day traveling through the Rocky Mountains and traversing a multitude of red rock canyons, the California Zephyr arrives in Salt Lake City just after 11 p.m.
Almost the exact opposite of Denver, Salt Lake’s stop is (for now) extremely unbecoming of a major city with a rich railroad heritage. Amtrak’s operations in Utah’s capital city take place out of another one of the Amshack structures located nearby the Salt Lake Intermodal Hub, which serves Frontrunner Commuter Rail, Trax Light Rail, UTA Bus and Greyhound.
All of this wouldn’t sound too bad (it didn’t to me, the first time I visited after doing a little research): fairly busy train station a few blocks from downtown, seems like a fine place to spend several hours waiting for Amtrak, right? Well, it is amazing the difference a couple of blocks can make and I can confidently say it is not the place you want to wait more than the to-be-expected 30 minutes (my party quickly left, found a hotel and spent the excess time there).
First of all, the shack station is only open certain hours around when the train actually arrives, so it isn’t an option to hang out at if you are quite early. Second, there is a lot of undesirable and frankly unsafe activity happening in the general area (people openly doing drugs directly across the street in daylight, walking around and screaming at apparently no one). Third, there seemed to be an infestation of cockroaches on the platform, so watch where you put your bags (and yourself!). Lastly, if on-time, train #5 arrives at 11:15 p.m. and train #6 at 2:55 a.m., which means all of the buzz from a lively city is either winding down or fully asleep. The local transit (Trax, Frontrunner, UTA) all seem to stop running roughly around midnight, effectively leaving the station a ghost town.
By no means am I trying to discourage a visit to SLC, just be prepared and arrange a drop-off/pick-up ahead of time, so you don’t have to spend any extra time at the station. In other, more positive news, the Rio Grande Plan is gaining traction in the SLC area, which would move all of these services into the old Rio Grande Station building and significantly develop the area bringing it up to par with a big city (similar things have happened in the past 20 years in Denver and Reno).
Details
Mountain Time > Pacific Time
• Elko, NV
• Winnemucca
• Reno, NV
• Truckee, CA
• Colfax
• Roseville
• Sacramento, CA
• Davis
• Martinez
• Richmond
Emeryville
@mitchellmcavoy
Departing Reno in the morning, the California Zephyr traverses the Sierra Nevada (passing Donner Lake) and upper Central Valley of California before arriving in the Bay Area in the late afternoon.
Located slightly north, but almost directly across the bay from San Francisco, Emeryville is a bustling area full of restaurants, cafes, commercial businesses (Trader Joe’s, Ross, AMC movies). The station itself has a decent building with seating and is connected via pedestrian bridge to the Emeryville Public Market. There are a variety of chain hotels and is even a jetty or peninsula into the San Francisco Bay, which can offer distant views of the Golden Gate Bridge in the right conditions.
If you are interested in continuing into downtown San Francisco, you can connect to an Amtrak Thruway Bus, which will leave as soon as all passengers have boarded from the train. This bus is specifically for Amtrak passengers and you must have a connecting train ticket.
Heads up! If you are, for example, traveling from Reno to San Francisco, you must book your ticket that way. You cannot book Reno to Emeryville and then decide later that you want to go to San Francisco. The same is true in reverse and from everything I understand, the ticket agents either will not or cannot sell a separate ticket to the bus.
Aside from all of the amazing things you can do in the Bay Area, you can connect to other Amtrak trains at Emeryville station including regional trains: The San Joaquins (Oakland/Sacramento/Stockton-Bakersfield) and the Capitol Corridor (Oakland-Sacramento/Auburn) as well as another long-distance train: Coast Starlight (Los Angeles-Seattle).
Details
Route overview (courtesy of Wikipedia)
See the full California Zephyr schedule by clicking and scrolling below. Thanks to the Rail Passengers Association for providing the schedule since Amtrak seems to have gone away from publishing timetables. While it is a great guideline, always be sure to confirm times with Amtrak prior to making plans.
#7/8 - Empire Builder
(Chicago-Seattle)
#27/28 Empire Builder
(Spokane, WA - Portland)
If you are brand new to Amtrak travel, you are more than likely wondering: Why does the Empire Builder go by 7 and 27 or 8 and 28? I would be, in fact, I did, but with another train on the network. I will explain this but we must go in order (feel free to scroll ahead, I won’t judge you).
Stop me if I have said this before…we begin our journey on the Empire Builder in Chicago! Similar to trains 3 and 5, No. 7 departs the Windy City in the late afternoon, allowing an opportunity to experience the morning in the city before heading out.
• Chicago, IL
• Glenview
Milwaukee
@mitchellmcavoy
One intermediate stop and a quick 1h30m later, you are in downtown Milwaukee, following just inland of Lake Michigan from Chicago.
The Milwaukee Intermodal Station is located nearby the confluence of the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers about a 10-minute walk from the Public Market. Located less than a mile south of Fiserv Arena (home of the NBA’s Bucks) as well as the same distance west of Marquette University, there is really no shortage of options surrounding the station. Connections to The Hop Streetcar can be made near the station as well.
Amtrak’s Hiawatha also serves the station as it runs a more local service between Chicago and Milwaukee.
Details
• Columbus, WI
• Portage
• Wisconsin Dells
• Tomah
• La Crosse
• Winona, MN
• Red Wing
Saint Paul
@mitchellmcavoy
The Twin Cities are next up, a little more than six hours after departing Milwaukee. Stopping on the east side of the Mississippi River, the Twin Cities stop is at St. Paul Union Depot.
The station is located on the northern bank of the Mississippi in downtown Lowertown St. Paul. Historic Union Depot is now a multimodal facility with a connection to the Metro Green Line (light rail) that links to downtown Minneapolis and eventually the Metro Blue Line (running between Target Field - home of the Minnesota Twins - and the Mall of America).
The stop in St. Paul is just before 11 p.m., but fear not, there are plenty of hotel options in St. Paul as well as Minneapolis if you should choose to step off for the day. Reboard the next evening or a few nights later to continue west through the Great Plains and Rockies.
The Twin Cities are expected to play a big part in future rail projects with the Borealis (a second train between Chicago & St. Paul, running along the same tracks as the Empire Builder now underway) as well as the Northern Lights Express (a future expansion from Minneapolis north to Duluth and potentially Superior, WI).
Details
• St. Cloud
• Staples
• Detroit Lakes
Fargo
@mitchellmcavoy
The Empire Builder’s next notable stop is in North Dakota’s most populous city - Fargo. Unfortunately, the train’s scheduled arrival times are at 4:13 a.m. CT (westbound) and 3:21 a.m. CT (eastbound), which makes any connections or plans difficult.
On the plus side, the station is in downtown Fargo about a mile from North Dakota State University. There are a number of eateries along Broadway North, a block west of the station as well as a few hotels a quarter mile to the south.
Fargo used to also serve Amtrak's North Coast Hiawatha, which split off the Empire Builder route just past the station on a more southern route through North Dakota and Montana before eventually rejoining with the line near Sandpoint, Idaho. Discussion of bringing this train back has gained momentum over the past few years and may become reality if talks continue positively.
Details
• Grand Forks, ND
• Devils Lake
• Rugby
• Minot
• Stanley
• Williston
• Wolf Point, MT
• Glasgow
• Malta
• Havre
• Shelby
• Cut Bank
• East Glacier Park/Browning (EGP summer only/BRO all other times)
• Essex
• West Glacier
Whitefish
@mitchellmcavoy
After departing Fargo in the middle of the night, the Empire Builder spends the entirety of the next day passing through North Dakota and the majority of northern Montana. The westbound stop is scheduled for 10:06 p.m. MT and the eastbound is at 7:11 a.m. MT (both stops include 15 minutes of dwell time).
Most of these stops are ticketed only, meaning thru-travelers are not permitted to step off the train. However, the Minot and Havre stops are when the train is serviced and typically include a fresh-air opportunity.
Whitefish is one of four stops in the general Glacier National Park area. The main stop for the park is East Glacier Park, located about 100 yards from the Glacier Park Lodge, however, it is only operative when the hotel is open (typically Memorial Day-Labor Day). At all other times of the year, the station in Browning is used, which is several miles from the park. Of the other stops (Essex, West Glacier and Whitefish), the latter is the only actual town and also Amtrak’s busiest station in Montana.
Whitefish’s station is in the general downtown area, located next door to Depot Park. The train tracks split the city down the middle and are steps from the Great Northern Bar & Grill among other food options. Due to its location, Whitefish has grown into a resort town, with plenty of hotels as well as inns and certainly things to do.
Details
• Libby
• Sandpoint, ID
Spokane
@mitchellmcavoy
Located in the northeast part of the state of Washington, Spokane is the first stop in the state for the westbound Empire Builder arriving just before 3 a.m. PT.
It is a far from ideal time for arrival, however, Spokane is a very vibrant city located west of the Rocky Mountain foothills. The Spokane Intermodal Center, which serves the Empire Builder as well as Greyhound, Trailways and Jefferson Lines, is located in the city’s downtown. There are a variety of hotels and restaurants in the immediate area south of the Spokane River as well as on its north bank. Among other attractions, Gonzaga University is located about a mile from the station.
Details
Ok, let’s answer the question posed above and seen elsewhere along the Amtrak system. Why does the Empire Builder goes by train numbers #7/27 and #8/28?
The answer is because the Empire Builder runs as two different sections west of Spokane. Upon arriving in Spokane, headed west, the train splits into two segments with one continuing to Seattle, while the other heads south and west toward Portland. Vice-a-versa, on the eastbound train, the two parts join up in Spokane and run as one toward Chicago.
Trains #7 & #8 refer to the entire run from Seattle-Chicago, while trains #27 & #28 refer to only the segment between Portland-Spokane. There is a difference in the consists of the trains when they separate: the lounge/cafe car only runs on 27/28, while the diner is on 7/8. Both trains have at least one sleeper and coach car. If you are going to Portland, you will be placed in the corresponding cars by your conductor.
STOPS TO PORTLAND, OREGON
• Pasco, WA
• Wishram
• Bingen-White Salmon
• Vancouver
Portland
@mitchellmcavoy
Following the Empire Builder’s arrival into Spokane, the Portland section of the train is the trailing three cars. Therefore it must wait for the Seattle cars to be separated and depart before picking up an engine and heading south.
Upon departing around 3:50 a.m. PT, train #27 cuts south and west through Washington before arriving at Portland’s Union Station at 11:17 a.m. The depot is located in the Old Town section of the city on the west side of the Willamette River and has connections to the Portland Streetcar and the MAX Light Rail. It is directly across the river from the home of the Trailblazers (NBA) and a couple miles from the Japanese and Rose Gardens.
Details
STOPS TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
• Ephrata, WA
• Wenatchee
• Leavenworth
• Everett
• Edmonds
Seattle
@mitchellmcavoy
Departing Spokane around 3:20 a.m. PT, the Empire Builder continues west toward Seattle, crossing the Cascade Mountains on the way. Arriving at a final destination of King Street Station at 11:30 a.m., passengers are directly in the heart of Seattle.
The station is located a mere five minute walk from Lumen Field (Seattle Seahawks & Sounders) and T-Mobile Park (Seattle Mariners) and a short ride on the light rail from the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and the University of Washington among other attractions.
Details
Route overview (courtesy of Wikipedia)
See the full Empire Builder schedule by clicking and scrolling below. Thanks to the Rail Passengers Association for providing the schedule since Amtrak seems to have gone away from publishing timetables. While it is a great guideline, always be sure to confirm times with Amtrak prior to making plans.
#11/14 - Coast Starlight
(Seattle - Los Angeles)
For the last route of part one, it is a seamless transition from the Empire Builder’s final destination in Seattle (as well as Portland for that matter).
Train #11 departs Seattle, traveling along the Puget Sound on its way south. Heads up! Keep your eyes peeled out the east side of the train, while heading south for views of Mt. Rainer and Mt. St. Helens (on a clear day!)
• Seattle, WA
• Tacoma
• Olympia-Lacey
• Centralia
• Kelso-Longview
• Vancouver
• Portland, OR
• Salem
• Albany
Eugene
@mitchellmcavoy
The station stop in Eugene is almost directly in the middle of downtown with a historic, yet basic station building offering seating and a ticket counter. The University of Oregon is only a short distance to the southeast of the station and Autzen Stadium (Oregon Ducks football) is just across the Willamette River.
Eugene also serves the Amtrak Cascades intercity route (Eugene-Vancouver, BC) as the southern terminus, although not all Cascades trains run the entire distance. In fact, as of December 2023, no single train runs the entire route with the longest option being Portland-Vancouver. So if you are in Eugene, you would have to connect in Portland or Seattle to continue north.
After serving Eugene, the Coast Starlight cuts almost directly east and deep into the forests of Oregon as it loosely parallels SR-58 through McCredie Springs and Cascade Summit on the way to its next station stop in Chemult (closest stop to Crater Lake National Park).
Details
• Chemult
• Klamath Falls
• Dunsmuir, CA
• Redding
• Chico
Sacramento
@mitchellmcavoy
Departing Eugene, the Coast Starlight takes a more central route (still pretty far west) through Oregon. Crossing the state border into California, the train makes a near beeline toward Sacramento and the Central Valley.
Travelers can get some incredible views of Mt. Shasta from the train, if you are a night owl or wake up in time. Shortly before arriving in Dunsmuir (southbound), the tracks pass north of the mountain and follow its western slope before arriving into the station. If you are up for it (and it is a clear night with some moonlight), set an alarm for just before Dunsmuir!
Now for Sacramento, the Coast Starlight makes a 20-minute stop at the station in the early morning. It is a crew change point and a semi-service stop for the Starlight. Sacramento Valley Station is located in northwest midtown, slightly south of the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. It is also a few blocks from the Kings' (NBA) arena and all of the amenities of downtown.
There is a large station building with a waiting hall, ticketing and checked baggage. Connections can be made at the station for Amtrak Corridor Service - San Joaquins toward Bakersfield, Capitol Corridor toward Oakland - as well as Amtrak Thruway busses, the California Zephyr (to Chicago) and Sacramento’s Light Rail.
Details
• Davis
• Martinez
• Emeryville, CA
Oakland
@mitchellmcavoy
The Coast Starlight follows the same tracks as the California Zephyr after departing Sacramento on its way toward the Bay Area.
Jack London Square (JLS) is directly across the Bay from the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. Located on the waterfront of Oakland’s Inner Harbor, JLS has a trendy-fun vibe with numerous restaurants, hotels and shops. It also carries a historic aspect with street-running railroad tracks and restaurants dating back to the late 1800s. It is about 10 blocks away from downtown Oakland.
Access to JLS is possible via the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) from San Francisco or points north and walking or connecting to a bus. Another far more interesting option, if coming from San Francisco, is taking the ferry. By boarding at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, one can take the Oakland & Alameda line across the Bay. A brief 25-minute ride finds you at the JLS ferry stop, which is a mere four blocks from the train station or about a 7-minute walk.
Details
• San Jose
• Salinas
• Paso Robles
• San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
@mitchellmcavoy
Upon leaving Jack London Square, the Coast Starlight travels south along the east side of the San Francisco Bay. Loosely paralleling SR-101, riders learn very quickly why it is called the Coast Starlight after the San Luis Obispo stop. The train proceeds to hug the shoreline for a majority of the next 150 rail-miles and over two hours of travel. In the midst of this travel, the train is mere feet from the water.
Arriving in the early evening, the Coast Starlight alights at the Santa Barbara station which is just blocks from West Beach and less than a 10-minute walk to the Santa Barbara Pier. Dropping off in the middle of the dinner rush, there is no shortage of waterfront restaurants to pick from and, depending on the season, you might even be able to catch a sunset cruise from a local vendor.
Details
After departing Santa Barbara, the Coast Starlight continues hugging the shoreline past Ventura before heading inland.
• Oxnard
• Simi Valley
• Van Nuys
• Burbank Airport
• Los Angeles, CA
Arriving at its final destination at LA’s Union Station in the mid-to-late evening, the Coast Starlight provides connections to the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego (as well as local rail and subway).
FYI - Beginning with the Oxnard stop, the Coast Starlight does not pick up passengers, only deboards, which allows it to leave early and either pick up time or become early in Los Angeles.
Route overview (courtesy of Wikipedia)
See the full Coast Starlight schedule by clicking and scrolling below. Thanks to the Rail Passengers Association for providing the schedule since Amtrak seems to have gone away from publishing timetables. While it is a great guideline, always be sure to confirm times with Amtrak prior to making plans.
When?
Whenever you want! Almost all of Amtrak’s trains run at least one time daily (with some exceptions), so head to Amtrak’s website and start your planning.
If you are looking to travel in coach, you often can buy a ticket on the day of (although I wouldn’t recommend waiting that late). Amtrak’s site typically shows the ‘real-time seat availability’ for every train on the booking screen. For sleeper class, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find availability less than two weeks before, unless it is a quiet time.
Of course, just like any mode of public travel, it is dependent on the season. If you are traveling during a holiday week, mid-June through mid-August or peak fall colors, for example, it will be far more difficult to find availability. During those times, you may have to book sleeper accommodations, months in advance. Typically, the best times to travel for the most affordable rates and quieter trains are in the shoulder seasons. The middle of the winter may also be a great time to travel - the landscapes are brilliant and again, it will likely be relaxing and cost-efficient (this will probably not be the case on the Florida trains)
How?
The best place to start is Amtrak.com! By doing some simple searches, you can start to gather how expensive it will be to travel during certain dates. If you would rather speak to someone, you can do so by dialing 1-800-USA-RAIL/1-800-872-7245.
This is just Part 1! You can find Part 2 and 3 below!
This is the final section of a three-part series regarding Amtrak’s Long Distance Trains. In this part, we will cover the Auto Train, City of New Orleans, Palmetto, Silver Star and the Silver Meteor.
If you are completely new to the idea or are looking for different trains, see the links in the section below:
Part 1: Sunset Limited, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Empire Builder or Coast Starlight.
Part 2: Crescent, Texas Eagle, Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited and Cardinal routes.
This is just a mere intro to Amtrak’s services and what I am most passionate about - riding the train :-)
My hope is to continue to use my travel experience to create more guides. I plan to release the itineraries for the trips I have taken. These will have more train-specific information, such as locations served as well as ways to break up the train rides, if you choose to do so (and of course lots of pictures!)
If you found this guide or anything in it helpful, I humbly ask that you consider scrolling down and leaving a tip. This will help to keep these guides, itineraries and any other work either completely free or at a reduced price. If you are unable to, I totally understand and ask to you save it to your profile and share it with as many people as you can. I greatly appreciate it and wish you safe travels!
Questions? Inquiries? Suggestions? Reach me - Mitchell - at orientbayadventures@gmail.com
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