The California Zephyr connects Chicago, IL and Emeryville, CA over a 2,438-mile route operated by Amtrak, calling at 35 stations across 7 states.
Quick Facts
- Operator
- Amtrak
- Service type
- Long-Distance
- Endpoints
- Chicago ↔ Emeryville
- Distance
- 2,438 mi
- Frequency
- Daily
- Stations
- 35
- States served
- 7 (IL, IA, NE, CO, UT, NV, CA)
- Typical fare range
- $155 – $895
Route guide
The California Zephyr is a long-distance service operated by Amtrak. Trains run Daily over 2,438 miles of mainline track between Chicago Union Station and Emeryville, calling at 35 intermediate and terminal stations across 7 states. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.
What to watch for: Continuous spectacle for two days — Glenwood Canyon, Ruby Canyon of the Colorado, the Sierra Nevada via Donner Pass — widely considered the most scenic train ride in North America.
History & service notes
A direct successor to the original California Zephyr (1949), the train was relaunched by Amtrak in 1983 over the same Denver & Rio Grande Western and Western Pacific lines. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.
Equipment
Typical consist on the California Zephyr includes superliner sleepers, Sightseer Lounge, dining car, coaches. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.
Stops along the route
Stations are listed in geographical order from Chicago to Emeryville. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.
- Chicago Union Station — Chicago, IL
- Naperville — Naperville, IL
- Princeton, IL — Princeton, IL
- Galesburg — Galesburg, IL
- Mt. Pleasant — Mt. Pleasant, IA
- Ottumwa — Ottumwa, IA
- Osceola — Osceola, IA
- Creston — Creston, IA
- Omaha — Omaha, NE
- Lincoln — Lincoln, NE
- Hastings — Hastings, NE
- Holdrege — Holdrege, NE
- McCook — McCook, NE
- Fort Morgan — Fort Morgan, CO
- Denver Union Station — Denver, CO
- Granby — Granby, CO
- Glenwood Springs — Glenwood Springs, CO
- Grand Junction — Grand Junction, CO
- Green River, UT — Green River, UT
- Helper — Helper, UT
- Provo — Provo, UT
- Salt Lake City — Salt Lake City, UT
- Elko — Elko, NV
- Winnemucca — Winnemucca, NV
- Reno — Reno, NV
- Sparks — Sparks, NV
- Truckee — Truckee, CA
- Colfax — Colfax, CA
- Auburn — Auburn, CA
- Roseville — Roseville, CA
- Sacramento Valley Station — Sacramento, CA
- Davis — Davis, CA
- Martinez — Martinez, CA
- Richmond, CA — Richmond, CA
- Emeryville — Emeryville, CA
Sample fares & travel times
Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.
| From | To | Distance | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Naperville | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Naperville | Princeton | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Princeton | Galesburg | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Galesburg | Mt. Pleasant | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Mt. Pleasant | Ottumwa | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Ottumwa | Osceola | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Osceola | Creston | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Creston | Omaha | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Omaha | Lincoln | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Lincoln | Hastings | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Hastings | Holdrege | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Holdrege | McCook | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| McCook | Fort Morgan | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Fort Morgan | Denver | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Denver | Granby | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Granby | Glenwood Springs | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Glenwood Springs | Grand Junction | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
| Grand Junction | Green River | 72 mi | 1h 36m | $65 – $374 |
Connections & transfers
Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From Chicago, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Emeryville. The corridor passes through cities including Chicago, Naperville, and Emeryville, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.
Further Reading on the California Zephyr
- Riding the California Zephyr: a first-timer's full-route diary
- Best window seats and viewing tips along the line