Unearth The Voyage
Traveling by train is one of the most relaxing and rewarding ways to explore the United States. Instead of rushing through airports or staring at highway guardrails, you get to sit back and watch the country unfold through wide, panoramic windows.
From towering mountain ranges to rugged desert canyons and shimmering coastlines, America’s rail routes offer some of the most stunning views on the planet. Whether you are a first-time traveler or a seasoned explorer, these 12 train journeys are worth every mile.
1. California Zephyr (Amtrak) – Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area
Few train rides in the world can match the sheer drama of the California Zephyr. Stretching nearly 2,438 miles across the heart of America, this legendary Amtrak route connects Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area over approximately 51 hours of pure scenery.
Passengers travel through the flat plains of Nebraska before the landscape suddenly erupts into the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The train winds through narrow canyons along the Colorado River, offering views that feel almost cinematic.
Then comes the Sierra Nevada in California, where snow-capped ridges and pine forests create a breathtaking finale.
The double-decker observation car is the best seat in the house, with curved glass windows designed to maximize your view. Booking a sleeper roomette is highly recommended for overnight legs.
The California Zephyr is not just a train ride; it is a moving portrait of America.
2. Coast Starlight (Amtrak) – Seattle to Los Angeles
Hugging the western edge of the continent, the Coast Starlight is one of Amtrak’s most beloved long-distance routes. Running from Seattle all the way down to Los Angeles, this roughly 35-hour journey showcases the incredible diversity of the American West Coast.
Riders are treated to sweeping views of Puget Sound in Washington, dense evergreen forests in Oregon, and dramatic Pacific Ocean cliffs in California. On clear days, you can spot Mount Shasta rising like a sentinel above the northern California landscape, its snow-covered peak gleaming in the sunlight.
The train also passes through the scenic Salinas Valley, famous for its fertile farmlands and rolling golden hills. Amtrak’s Pacific Parlour Car, available on this route, offers a lounge-style experience with panoramic windows and a full-service dining area.
Traveling the Coast Starlight feels less like a commute and more like a curated coastal adventure.
3. Empire Builder (Amtrak) – Chicago to Seattle/Portland
Named after railroad magnate James J. Hill, the Empire Builder lives up to its grand title.
This iconic Amtrak route stretches over 2,200 miles from Chicago to either Seattle or Portland, cutting a sweeping path across the northern United States.
Leaving Chicago, the train rolls through Wisconsin’s dairy farmlands and Minnesota’s lake country before entering the wide open spaces of North Dakota. The real highlight comes in Montana, where the train skirts the southern edge of Glacier National Park.
Passengers get front-row seats to jagged peaks, glassy alpine lakes, and valleys carved by ancient glaciers.
Crossing into Idaho and then Washington, the scenery shifts to dense forests and the dramatic Columbia River Gorge. The full journey takes about 46 hours, making a sleeper car well worth the upgrade.
The Empire Builder is a genuine cross-country adventure that showcases America’s wild northern frontier at its finest.
4. Southwest Chief (Amtrak) – Chicago to Los Angeles
There is something deeply romantic about following the old Santa Fe Trail by rail. The Southwest Chief retraces a historic path from Chicago to Los Angeles, covering roughly 2,265 miles through the heart of the American Southwest over about 43 hours.
After leaving Chicago and crossing Kansas, the landscape transforms dramatically once the train enters New Mexico. Suddenly, you are surrounded by rust-colored mesas, wide desert valleys, and ancient Native American pueblos visible from the window.
The train passes through Lamy, New Mexico, a stop so close to Santa Fe that many travelers hop off for a side trip.
Arizona brings even more visual rewards, with sweeping canyon views and the famous Raton Pass offering a thrilling mountain crossing. The Southwest Chief also stops in Flagstaff, a great base for visiting the Grand Canyon.
Onboard, the lounge car is a social hub where fellow travelers swap stories as the desert rolls by.
5. Rocky Mountaineer – Denver to Moab (Rockies to the Red Rocks Route)
Luxury and scenery collide on the Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks route. Launched in 2021, this relatively new journey connects Denver, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, passing through some of the most jaw-dropping canyon country in North America.
Unlike standard overnight trains, the Rocky Mountaineer operates exclusively during daylight hours so passengers never miss a single view. The train winds through Glenwood Canyon, one of Colorado’s most spectacular gorges, where the Colorado River runs alongside sheer limestone walls rising hundreds of feet above the tracks.
Approaching Moab, the landscape shifts to iconic red sandstone formations that look like something from another planet. The GoldLeaf Service features glass-domed ceilings, gourmet meals prepared onboard, and attentive service throughout the journey.
This is not just transportation; it is a moving luxury experience designed to make the landscape the star of the show. Advance booking is strongly recommended.
6. Grand Canyon Railway – Williams, Arizona to Grand Canyon Village
Since 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway has been carrying visitors from the small town of Williams, Arizona, straight to the South Rim of one of the world’s most famous natural wonders. Riding this historic train is like stepping back into the golden age of American travel.
The 65-mile journey takes about two and a quarter hours each way, passing through ponderosa pine forests and open grasslands before arriving at the iconic Grand Canyon Village. Along the way, the railway often features Western-themed entertainment onboard, including strolling musicians and even mock train robberies that delight younger passengers.
Arriving by train rather than car adds a nostalgic charm to the Grand Canyon experience that simply cannot be replicated on a highway. Several train classes are available, from coach to luxury Pullman cars with dome windows.
The railway runs year-round, making it a fantastic option in every season, including winter when the canyon is dusted with snow.
7. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad – Colorado
Coal smoke, steam whistles, and mountain air greet passengers the moment they step aboard the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This beloved Colorado landmark has been operating continuously since 1882, making it one of the oldest working steam railroads in the United States.
The 45-mile route between Durango and Silverton winds through the rugged San Juan Mountains, hugging cliff edges high above the rushing Animas River. At certain points, the track is carved directly into the mountainside, offering thrilling views straight down into the gorge below.
The scenery changes beautifully with the seasons, from lush summer greenery to brilliant fall foliage in September and October.
Silverton itself is a charming historic mining town at 9,318 feet elevation, worth exploring during the layover before the return trip. The railroad is a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate.
Riding it feels like traveling through living American history.
8. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad – North Carolina
Nestled in the heart of western North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers one of the most charming and family-friendly train experiences in the American South. Based in Bryson City, this excursion railroad winds through river gorges and mountain tunnels that most visitors never see by road.
The most popular route follows the Tuckasegee River and passes through the dramatic Nantahala Gorge, where steep forested walls rise on both sides and the cold river churns below. The scenery is lush and green in summer, but fall transforms the entire corridor into a blaze of orange, red, and gold that draws photographers from across the country.
The railroad also runs themed excursions throughout the year, including popular events like the Polar Express Christmas train, making it a hit with families. Open-air cars allow passengers to feel the mountain breeze and hear the river up close.
It is a relaxed, crowd-pleasing ride through genuinely beautiful Appalachian country.
9. Cass Scenic Railroad – West Virginia
Tucked away in the mountains of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, the Cass Scenic Railroad is one of America’s best-kept rail secrets. Originally built in 1901 to haul timber out of the Allegheny Highlands, this historic railroad now carries passengers on unforgettable excursions up some of the steepest standard railroad grades in the eastern United States.
The trains use powerful Shay locomotives, a specialized design built specifically for mountain logging work. Watching one of these mechanical giants churn up a switchback grade while releasing clouds of steam is genuinely thrilling, even for people who have never considered themselves train enthusiasts.
The journey climbs to Bald Knob, the second highest point in West Virginia at 4,842 feet, offering panoramic views across a vast wilderness of forested ridges. The town of Cass itself is a preserved logging company town from the early 1900s, adding rich historical context to the experience.
Plan for a full day.
10. Alaska Railroad – Coastal Classic – Anchorage to Seward
Alaska plays by its own rules, and the Coastal Classic train route from Anchorage to Seward is proof. Running through some of the most untouched wilderness on earth, this 114-mile journey takes passengers deep into the heart of the Kenai Peninsula, where nature puts on a show that is hard to believe is real.
Departing Anchorage, the train follows Turnagain Arm, a tidal inlet famous for its dramatic bore tides and frequent beluga whale sightings. As the route turns south, passengers enter Chugach National Forest, passing beneath glacier-capped peaks and crossing bridges over glacial rivers running vivid shades of blue and green.
The destination, Seward, sits on Resurrection Bay and serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Wildlife sightings along the route commonly include moose, bald eagles, and Dall sheep clinging to rocky slopes.
Running seasonally from May through September, the Coastal Classic is a must-ride for any Alaska visitor.
11. White Pass and Yukon Route – Alaska/Canada
Built during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, the White Pass and Yukon Route is a narrow-gauge railroad with a story as dramatic as its scenery. Starting in Skagway, Alaska, the tracks climb nearly 3,000 feet in just 20 miles, scaling sheer granite cliffs and crossing dizzying trestle bridges that took thousands of workers only 26 months to build.
The engineering feat alone is worth the trip, but the views seal the deal. Passengers peer down into deep gorges, look out over the Dead Horse Gulch, and cross into Canada at the White Pass Summit, where the landscape opens into a vast alpine plateau.
On clear days, the panoramas stretch for dozens of miles in every direction.
The railroad was declared a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1994 and remains one of North America’s most celebrated heritage railways. Excursion options range from two-hour summit trips to full cross-border journeys into Carcross, Yukon.
Book early; tours fill up fast during the summer cruise season.
12. Amtrak Adirondack – New York City to Montreal
Starting at Penn Station in Manhattan and rolling all the way to Montreal, Canada, the Amtrak Adirondack route covers 381 miles of some of the most classically beautiful scenery in the northeastern United States. The roughly 10-hour journey is a favorite among fall foliage chasers, and for very good reason.
Leaving New York City, the train immediately hugs the eastern bank of the Hudson River, delivering sweeping views of the water, historic estates, and the dramatic Catskill Mountains rising in the distance. Further north, the route enters the Adirondack Mountains, a six-million-acre park that is the largest protected wilderness area in the contiguous United States.
Crossing into Canada near Rouses Point, the train passes through rolling farmland before arriving in the bilingual city of Montreal. The Adirondack does not require a passport for boarding in the U.S., but you will need one to enter Canada.
Autumn trips between mid-October and early November offer peak leaf-peeping conditions that are genuinely stunning.
