The 15 Long-Distance Amtrak Routes, Ranked and Explained

Amtrak's long-distance network — the trains that carry sleeping cars, dining cars, and Sightseer or Cross Country Cafe lounges — connects the cities short corridor services do not reach. There are fifteen of them, each with a distinct character, fare profile, and reason to ride. Here is an opinionated overview.

Daily, transcontinental

The California Zephyr (Chicago–Emeryville, 51h45m) crosses the Sierra Nevada via Donner Pass and the Colorado Rockies via the Moffat Tunnel; widely considered the most scenic of the network. The Empire Builder (Chicago–Seattle/Portland, 46h) skirts Glacier National Park's southern boundary. The Southwest Chief (Chicago–Los Angeles, 43h) crosses Raton Pass into New Mexico. The Coast Starlight (Seattle–Los Angeles, 35h) hugs the Pacific from San Luis Obispo to Vandenberg.

Daily, single-night

The Lake Shore Limited (New York–Chicago via Albany, 19h) and Capitol Limited (Washington–Chicago, 17h) provide overnight service to Chicago from the East. The Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Floridian connect New York and the Carolinas to Florida. The Crescent (New York–New Orleans, 30h), City of New Orleans (Chicago–New Orleans, 19h), and Cardinal (New York–Chicago via West Virginia, 27h) round out the East-South network.

Tri-weekly

The Sunset Limited (New Orleans–Los Angeles, 48h) is the only U.S. transcontinental train operating less than daily, with departures Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays each direction. The Texas Eagle (Chicago–San Antonio daily, San Antonio–Los Angeles tri-weekly via the Sunset Limited) provides through-cars to Los Angeles three days a week. The Auto Train (Lorton, VA–Sanford, FL daily) transports passengers and their vehicles in a single overnight movement, the only such service in the United States.

Choosing among them

For first-time long-distance riders, the Coast Starlight and California Zephyr are the canonical introductions — both are heavily booked and worth reserving Roomettes well in advance. For maximum scenery per dollar, the Empire Builder's Glacier Park stretch is unmatched. For those traveling east-of-the-Mississippi, the Lake Shore Limited and Crescent provide overnight efficiency on routes the airlines have largely deferred to small jets. Detailed route reviews are catalogued in the Long-Distance Traveler's Companion Guide.