These Amtrak Routes Have Some of the Best Panoramic Views in the West
Skip the flight and board a train.
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Fall color and beautiful skies and mountains heading near Denali National Park
The West has no shortage of gorgeous vistas and destinations of all types: coastal, mountainous, desert, and more. However, with that variety comes changing, sometimes rough, terrain over the almost two million square miles that make up the American West. If you’re looking to avoid any auto mishaps along that journey, train travel is a fantastic option.
Amtrak has a variety of route options to take you through the best landscapes in the West. Especially with their Sightseer Lounges featured on select routes, train travel is a truly wonderful way to take in the scenery. Check out the following routes while you plan your next trip out West.
Amtrak Cascades
If you’re looking to travel the Pacific Northwest, Amtrak Cascades might just be the way to do it. Beginning in Vancouver, British Columbia, the route takes you all the way through to Eugene, Oregon with 18 stops in Seattle, Portland, Olympia, and more. The full trip takes just over 10 hours and goes along the Puget Sound in Washington. Explore ticket options and schedules here.
California Zephyr
Though it begins in Chicago, the latter half of the California Zephyr takes you through some of the West’s best natural attractions. The full route takes around 51 hours, but the length from the first stop in Colorado (Fort Morgan) to the final stop in Emeryville, California, is closer to 36 hours. This route has no shortage of gorgeous mountain views, from the Rockies to the Sierra Nevadas.
Coast Starlight
A 35-hour trip on the Coast Starlight will take you from Seattle to Los Angeles with stops in Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and more. With its variety of destination stops, you can really make the trip your own whether you favor the outdoors, the beach, the mountains, or the city. This line also includes Sightseer Lounges to encourage passengers to take in the beautiful scenery.
Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief route starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles. From the train’s Sightseer Lounge, you’ll get views of canyons, deserts, and mountains. The full trip takes over 40 hours, but the trip from the first Colorado stop in Lamar to the final stop at LA’s Union station is closer to 27.
Sunset Limited
Beginning in New Orleans, the Sunset Limited route lasts two days and takes passengers through a number of national parks—such as Big Bend and Saguaro—and finishes in Los Angeles. Take in the vast desert landscapes of the Southwest via the train’s Sightseer Lounges. The train departs three times weekly.
Texas Eagle
The western portion of the Texas Eagle route runs through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Passengers on the Texas Eagle can expect to see desert landscapes, cattle drives, and picturesque sunsets. Learn more about the route and train schedules here.
