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AAmerica has some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world – but you can’t always appreciate them while driving with your eyes on the road.
Best vantage point? Through the train’s panoramic windows, where you can enjoy the views uninterrupted – and with a drink in hand.
But which trip to choose? Here we’re revealing five bucket-list train journeys that showcase America at its most awe-inspiring.
Board these sensational services and you’ll sail across ethereal desert landscapes, dramatic canyons, scenic river valleys, stunning mountains, fairytale gardens and charming, cities lost in time.
Additionally, some of these trains are like hotels on wheels, with bunk beds, sofas and en-suite rooms, and dining cars reminiscent of the golden age of travel.
All embark on a journey across America like no other.
1. Amtrak’s Empire Builder – Chicago-St. Paul/Minneapolis-Spokane-Portland/Seattle
Amtrak’s Empire Builder, so named because it follows the path of early pioneers, winds through some of America’s most spectacular scenery — and you can enjoy its rugged splendor from the Sightseeing Lounge Car, which has huge panoramic windows on the upper level.
As you leave Chicago Union Station, you’ll be treated to a mesmerizing view of the powerful Mississippi River Before the night glow of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Twin Cities, fills the sky.
As you wake up the next morning, the train will be crossing vast vast plains North DakotaShortly after leaving downtown Minot, just before lunch, you’ll cross the stunning Gasman Coulee Trestle – a 19th-century bridge that spans nearly a third of a mile and rises 117 feet high at its highest point.
Next comes the most spectacular section – Big Sky Country in Montana, where the line crosses the impossibly dramatic Glacier National Park.
The train physically splits in Spokane, Washington, with one half running along the picturesque Columbia River Gorge to Portland Union Station in Oregon, while the other half travels through the Cascade Mountains to Seattle King Street Station in Washington.
The entire journey is long – about 46 hours – but the trains offer plenty of comfort. As well as coach class seats (from $160 per person), there are also roomettes (from $800 for two), in which the seats convert into bunk beds; Bedroom (from $1,500 for two people), which has a sofa and a separate chair; and family rooms (from $1,800), with seating for four that converts into two upper and two lower beds.
On the food front, you will be taken back to the golden age of rail travel in the dining car where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.
visit amtrak.com
Read more: Forget Route 66: Five Under-the-Radar Road Trips That Reach the Heart of America
2. Denali Star Train – Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska
Before you board the Denali Star Train, make sure you have enough space left on your camera roll — because on this 356-mile, 12-hour journey, photogenic alaska The scenery never ends.
Departing Anchorage, the train heads north with the craggy peaks of the Chugach Mountains creating a breathtaking backdrop.
It stops in Wasilla and after passing through historic Talkeetna – where clapboard storefronts and log cabins give the town a pioneer charm – if the weather is nice, you’ll get a heart-stopping view of Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,308 feet.
From here, the train heads into the remote backcountry and crosses the dramatic Hurricane Gulch Bridge. View 300 feet down toward the bay. Or towards the soulful forest.
After stopping at the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, a popular station for hikers, the service passes through the mighty Nenana River Canyon.
Be sure to return for a spot of whitewater rafting on the Nenana as the train winds through suburban hills to its final stop in Fairbanks.
The Denali Star runs seasonally from May to September, and two ticket categories are available.
GoldStar service (from $500 for the entire trip) includes luxurious seating in the upper level glass-domed cars, access to an exclusive outdoor viewing platform, and breakfast, lunch and dinner in the lower level dining room.
Opt for the standard Adventure Class service (from $250) and you’ll enjoy seating in a railcar with picture windows and access to the Wilderness Café for a la carte dining, although meals are not included.
visit alaskarrailroad.com
Read more: A Euro trip without leaving the US: seven US cities that look exactly like places in Europe
3. Amtrak Crescent – New York-Atlanta-New Orleans
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From the East Coast to the Deep South – from the Big Apple to the Big Easy – this one-night, 1,370-mile journey is one of America’s most famous routes, with the service passing through lush landscapes and epic bridges, and visiting bastions of country music and jazz.
the train leaves New York’s Penn Station follows the high-speed Northeast Corridor before entering Virginia and the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, a land of charming cities and winding river valleys that the train frequently crosses.
Atlanta in Georgia is a major stopping point, although you’ll also pass through forested expanses and small Southern towns in this state and neighboring Alabama before traveling along sandy-bottomed creeks and old trees wrapped in Spanish moss in Mississippi.
The most attention-grabbing moment comes when the train approaches new Orleans – Crossing the 5.8-mile Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi River.
Sitting and accommodation options include Coach Class seats (from around $100 per person for the entire journey), Roomette Sleeper (from $400 for two, including all meals) and Bedroom Sleeper (from $900 for two, including all meals).
visit amtrak.com
4. Amtrak’s Southwest Chief – Chicago-Kansas City-Albuquerque-Los Angeles
“Grandeur of the Classic American West” Not Listed on the Timetable – But Ride Amtrak’s Southwest Chief in Between chicago And los angeles And you will be completely immersed in it.
Departing from Chicago’s Union Station and beginning its 43-hour, 2,265-mile journey, the train passes through the open valleys of Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.
As the train climbs the stunning Sangre de Cristo Mountains over historic 7,834-foot-high Raton Pass, views of America’s fantasy desert emerge. You’ll then descend into rugged New Mexico, where the Chief cuts through canyons only a few feet wide by train and winds through ancient, sun-baked wilderness dotted with red rocks invisible from any highway.
After crossing the Rio Grande – the lifeline of the desert – in Albuquerque, the train heads west into the mesas of New Mexico and Arizona, where landscapes of petrified forest appear. Shortly thereafter, Joshua trees signal your arrival in California.
Before the train bursts into L.A.’s urban expanse, there’s one last viewpoint – Cajon Pass, which offers sweeping views of the big sky.
The Sightseer lounge car, with its panoramic windows, comes into its own for this trip, while Amtrak’s array of berths ensures a comfortable sleep after the sun goes down. Seats across the aisle start at around $160, roomettes at $800, bedrooms at $1,500, and bedroom suites at $3,000.
visit amtrak.com
Read more: Where to Find the Best Leaves for Your Fall Leaf Peeping Trek
5. Mount Hood Railroad, Oregon
Mount Hood Railroad oregon It’s a postcard brought to life. This heritage train moves slowly through the beautiful Hood River Valley, offering mesmerizing views of its namesake – 11,250-foot-tall Mount Hood, the fourth-highest peak in the Cascades and the tallest peak in Oregon.
While it’s the star of the four-hour, 44-mile round trip from Hood River Depot to Parkdale, the fruit orchards, vineyards and dense pine forests make for a photogenic supporting cast.
Plus, the vibrant scenery changes dramatically with the seasons – dazzling white and pink flowers in the spring, while golden foliage brightens the landscape in the fall.
The line began as a freight route for fruit and timber, but suffered near-abandonment during the recession of the 1980s, before local investors stepped in and converted it into a heritage railway with vintage trains.
Prices range from $27 to more than $65, with premium ticket holders able to enjoy bar access in the lounge car.
visit mthoodrr.com
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