There’s something beautiful and stirring about traveling through the U.S. by train. While the unhurried pace of travel brings a sense of calm, it also invites passengers to soak in the scenery. Although trains are not the fastest mode of transportation, they allow travelers to focus on the surrounding beauty.
Some train routes across the country do more than simply transport passengers from one place to another, it showcases the country’s dramatic geography, from the rugged Rockies, to the dazzling coastal blues of the Pacific, to the river canyons, and the small towns.
Here are seven of the most scenic train rides across the country that capture the nation’s beauty in all her glory.
7 US Train Routes Offering the Most Stunning Seasonal Scenery
1. California Zephyr
The California Zephyr takes passengers through the heart of the Rockies, snaking through the canyons, and further west through the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas. The daily train service runs between Chicago and San Francisco, through the plains of Nebraska to Denver, across the Rockies to Salt Lake City, and eventually to San Francisco. The train also offers views of the Donner Lake and the Truckee River.
Between Reno and Sacramento, volunteer docents from the California State Railroad Museum often join aboard to share insights and narrate the history of the route, according to Lonely Planet.
Route: Chicago to Emeryville (San Francisco)
Duration: 51 hours 20 minutes
Ticket range: Starts from $127
2. Pacific Surfliner
One of the best train rides if you want to experience the country’s ocean views, the Pacific Surfliner runs multiple services daily. The 351-mile-long route takes passengers through San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, with some parts of the route hugging the Southern California coastline.
The train stops at several beach stations and amusement parks.
Route: San Diego to San Luis Obispo
Duration: 9 hours
Ticket range: Starts from $61
3. Coast Starlight
Coast Starlight takes travelers on a west coast journey and runs daily between Los Angeles and Seattle. The route connects some of the most iconic cities on the west coast, and traverses through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay area, Sacramento, and Portland.
The train offers some of the best views the U.S. has to offer. Passengers can feast their eyes on the snow-capped stretches of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush green forests, valleys, and stretches of the Pacific Ocean.
Route: Seattle to Los Angeles
Duration: 35 hours
Ticket range: Starts from $90
4. Grand Canyon Railway
Beginning its 65-mile-long journey from Williams, Arizona, the Grand Canyon Railway, the heritage railroad takes passengers to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The daily round-trip service departs Williams at 9:30 a.m. and arrives at the Canyon at 11:45 a.m. Passengers get a three-hour halt at the South Rim before departing at 3:30 a.m. and returning to Williams at 5:45 a.m. The train has been in service since 1901 and offers one of the best ways to experience America’s desert landscape and the iconic natural wonder, the Grand Canyon.
As the historic train makes its way through its journey, it offers travelers a peek into the changing terrain, from high desert to prairie, to pine. Travelers may also catch elk, mountain lions, mule deer, squirrels, and even skunks while traveling through the forests of the Grand Canyon. The train ride is a complete experience, with restored rail cars and onboard cowboy characters and musicians.
Route: Williams to the Grand Canyon
Duration: 8-9 hours round trip
Ticket range: Starts from $89.98 round trip
5. Cass Scenic Railroad
The Cass Scenic Railroad takes travelers back into time, offering them a ride on vintage diesel-powered steam locomotives through the Appalachian Mountains. Originally built in 1901 to transport lumber through West Virginia, the train includes open observation coaches to offer panoramic views. The train service has preserved the steel wheels and the standard gauge rails that were used originally.
The train service offers several excursions, including the popular 4.5-hour round trip to Bald Knob, one of the highest points in West Virginia. The climb of 2,390 feet on Back Allegheny Mountain offers panoramic views of the mountain, plants, and animals.
Route: Cass to Bald Knob
Duration: 4.5 hours roundtrip
Ticket range: Unavailable
6. Empire Builder
The Empire Builder offers the best way to experience the rugged charm of America’s west. Traveling daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, the train takes passengers along major portions of Lewis and Clark’s original route.
The train departs from Chicago, traveling through major cities like Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana, and ends in either Seattle or Portland. Passengers can enjoy views of the Mississippi River and the night skyline of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In the morning, the train travels through the Gassman Coulee Trestle and passes by the Glacier National Park. The route splits from Spokane and passengers can opt to continue northward to Seattle or down the Columbia River Gorge toward Portland, while enjoying views of Mt. Hood and Beacon Rock.
Route: Chicago to Seattle/Portland
Duration: 46 hours
Ticket range: Starts from $141
7. Napa Valley Wine Train
The Napa Valley Wine Train offers a collection of curated train experiences, which combine wineries and gourmet meals with hills on board vintage trains. The train route was originally started to transport visitors to a spa resort in Calistoga. It has now transformed into a 46-mile round trip from Downtown Napa to St. Helena, with stops at wineries at the picturesque Napa Valley.
Passengers can choose from 14 curated experiences offered on two different trains and are available through the year. The Legacy Experience takes passengers on a six-hour wine tasting and four-course meal tour through Napa Valley on an open-air Pullman rail car that dates back to 1915.
The train service recently featured among the top 10 best Christmas train experiences in the U.S. compiled by Newsweek.
Route: Downtown Napa to St. Helena
Duration: Depends on the experience package
Ticket range: Depends on the experience package
Taking a train ride across the U.S. is more than traveling, it’s a beautiful reminder of how diverse and rich the landscape is. Each of these train rides offer a peek into the country’s natural beauty, from soaring mountains, rugged deserts to pristine coastlines, and vineyard-lined valleys.
Taking the Train!!! I’ve accomplished 5 of the above 7 (humor part; 5/7 are the one’s yet get to), although if you count the pic (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam train) that puts my count to 6… It takes a while to go cross country on one, but the experience is usually worth the wait. 🚂 (sometimes entertaining attempting to “Go to the store” during a stop)
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