I would love to take a train across the country but I understand these trips aren’t for everyone. This article will focus on shorter PUBLIC TRANSIT trips that pack a punch in views. I understand there’s like a million privately owned railroads that give life-altering trips, this list doesn’t include those.
Denver -> Salt Lake City
370 miles, 15 hours, From $48
In what is widely considered to be the best section of Amtrak’s routes, the California Zephyr makes a daily trip through the Rockies. It stops at a few of the region’s ski towns before clearing the ridges into the valley of SLC. Guys, driving through the Rockies is insane enough, but the train takes you even deeper into the wilderness. Looking at some of the videos, there’s times where you’re entirely surrounded by nature. If you visit in the summer, rafters have a tradition to moon the passing train, it just seems like a fun time! The trip is incredibly high on my bucket list and something I hope to cross off soon.
Slidell, Louisiana -> New Orleans
30 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes, From $9
In what would normally be a standard commuter route, the Amtrak Crescent moves through the bayous of Louisiana before embarking on a ten-mile bridge across Lake Pontchartrain. Without any barriers, the train is mere feet above the water. It’s absolutely terrifying, but something I really want to try. Bonus points for spotting a gator in the swamps around the lake.
Boston -> Portland, Maine
100 miles, 2 hours 30 minutes, From $24
The Downeaster is another one of Amtrak’s commuter routes. It runs a few times between Boston and Brunswick, Maine. Along the journey, it stops in a few small New Hampshire towns before cutting to the Maine coast. You’ll stop in industrial Saco, its old factory-turned-apartments perched on the river and the small vacation town of Old Orchard Beach.
Ephrata, Washington -> Seattle
131 miles, 5 hours 55 minutes; From $21
The Cascade Mountains are some of the nation’s most underrated peaks. Isolating Seattle from the rest of the country, these monstrosities jut into the sky and create a rugged skyline full of volcanoes. Nearing the end of its trip from Chicago, the Empire Builder train passes patches of snow, alpine evergreen forest, lakes and rushing creeks. Once you cross the mountains, it follows right along the Puget Sound from Everett into Seattle. Along the water, you can look for Killer Whales with the Olympics on the opposite peninsula.
Reno -> Sacramento
114 miles, 5 hours 37 minutes, From $40
A trek through the mountainous forests of Northern California was once a death trap, just ask the Donner Party. Now, you can comfortably appreciate the terrain from an Amtrak. The train climbs up from Reno into the Sierra Nevadas while passing through Tahoe National Forest. You even get to go through Donner Pass! I’m almost certain the views are to die for, these are the same mountains that produce Yosemite. I feel like it’s a stunning trip year round but for my dark tourism side, I’d have to go during the winter.
San Louis Obispo, California -> San Diego
267 miles, 8 hours 38 minutes, From $61
While Amtrak runs the entirety of the West Coast, it doesn’t hit the coast until San Louis Obispo. The gorgeous trip only deviates from the ocean when it enters the metropolitan Los Angeles area, so riders are treated to nearly endless coastal views. Utilize the time passing warehouses and homes to take a nap, as the train will rejoin the ocean in Orange County.
Albuquerque -> Flagstaff
280 miles, 5 hours 13 minutes, From $64
The southwest is home to so many magnificent things. The Grand Canyon, Painted Desert and Saguaro Cacti are some of my favorites! This train trip whisks you along Interstate 40 through Native American land and past innumerable rock formations. Dropping you off at Flagstaff is the perfect gateway to explore Grand Canyon National Park, about an hour away. After Flagstaff, the train continues through the desert to L.A. I’m sure it’s pretty, but probably would get repetitive.
Charlottesville, Virginia -> Ashland, Kentucky
227 miles, 8 hours 20 minutes, From $27
West Virginia gets a lot of hate, which really discredits the beauty of the state. Don’t quote me on this, but I feel like it has to be one of the most mountainous states. I can’t think of any place that’s flat! With proper marketing, the tourism could rival that of Colorado. Starting in Charlottesville puts you right in the middle of Virginia’s Blue Ridge District. From there, you’ll move west into the ‘Wild and Wonderful.’ Between the mountains and hollows, you’ll pass through tiny Appalachian towns I’m sure you otherwise would never see. The train stops in Ashland at dusk and puts you between Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Through the night it continues to Cincinnati, but it’ll be dark.
Washington, D.C. -> Pittsburgh
190 miles, 7 hours 43 minutes, From $54
This trip weaves around the Allegheny Mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania. I’ve never been to this region of the country, but map scouting lends a view of rolling hills and tons of farmland. After rolling out of the district, the train tunnels into Harper’s Ferry (another strange bucket list item of mine) and follows the Potomac River another 50 miles west of Virginia. After that, there’s barely a stretch of track that continues straight for more than a few miles, I think which alludes to hills.
Providence -> New York (on the Acela)
160 miles, 3 hours, From $56
This is one of the few trips I have been on, so I can give my full endorsement. The only reason I add it again is to try Amtrak’s high-speed luxurious Acela service. Coastal Connecticut has always acted as a playground for New England’s wealthy. This track of rail parallels the coast, stealing glimpses of the ocean on the left and small coastal towns on the right. Highlights include the leafy streets of Downtown Mystic, docks full of sailboats, the vast expanses of beach near Niantic and the charming downtown of New London. When you approach New York, the train rides on a ridge granting jaw-dropping views of the skyline from across the East River. Diving into a tunnel, you’re in the city a few minutes later.
New York -> Albany
134 miles, 2 hours 30 minutes, From $36
The Hudson River Valley gets dramatic pretty soon after leaving New York. As the river widens, the cliffs climb higher. The train travels through the valley, crossing between the river’s two sides. There are thick forests, rapid currents and jaw-dropping views. Extra points for travel in the fall when the green becomes a brilliant array of color.
Turquoise Skies 