While holidays in the USA are synonymous with epic road trips, it’s easy to overlook the nation’s equally epic capacity for train travel. Forget extortionate gas prices and wrong turns and embrace a different (and more romantic) form of slow travel. From trundling through the Alaskan wilderness to whizzing up California’s Pacific coast, train travel is gaining trac(k)tion as an alternative means of getting from A to B. But whether you’d prefer to hit the road or the tracks, one thing’s clear: responsible travel is the only way forward in our increasingly climate-conscious world. We’re here to help you make the switch with the six best train trips in the USA…
1. California Zephyr
2. Empire Builder
3. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
4. Coast Starlight
5. Rockies to the Red Rocks
6. Alaska Denali Star
California Zephyr
First up on our list of best train trips in the USA is between two mighty metropolises: Chicago and San Francisco. The California Zephyr, or the ‘Silver Lady’ as she’s affectionately known, is Amtrak’s second-longest route at almost 2,500 miles long. In total, the entire journey takes about 52 hours, stopping over 30 times across seven states. From bolting past Utah’s dramatic Book Cliffs at sunset to dashing through the jagged Sierra Nevada mountains, there’s beauty at every winding turn. While you needn’t embark on the full three-day, two-night journey, a highlight is the 185-mile stretch between Denver and Glenwood Springs in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. For the best views, settle into the sightseer lounge car, where large windows showcase the rugged wilderness, rushing Colorado River and steep gorges in all their glory. This is the perfect route for nature enthusiasts to build a trip around.
Image by Robert Haidinger/LAIF REA
Empire Builder
Eager to follow in the footsteps of the USA’s early pioneers? Enter the Empire Builder. Competing against the Zephyr to take the title of the States’ most epic journey, experience the best of the American West as you chug along notable portions of the Lewis and Clark Expedition trail. Travelling between Chicago and terminating at Portland or Seattle, this train speeds through iconic landscapes across eight states. Discover scenery such as the awe-inspiring Glacier National Park (stop off at Whitefish to explore), the vast, grassy Great Plains and views of majestic Mount Hood as you pootle into Portland. Let's not forget the cosmopolitan cities en route, too, their angular skylines sandwiching the spectacular nature on either end of the line. Hop on and off the formidable 40-hour-long Empire Builder, whether it’s a city break in Minneapolis or a hiking adventure in Montana’s Big Sky Country you’re after.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
This next one is one for dreamers of the wild, wild West. One of the best train trips in the USA for reliving the ‘Golden Age’, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a short jaunt back in time. Travelling three-and-a-half hours each way between (yep, you guessed it) Durango and Silverton in Colorado, this historic steam train has been in operation since 1882. Originally transporting silver and gold from the San Juan Mountains, the surrounding scenery on this 45.4-mile track remains beautifully untamed. Travelling in both directions along the Animas River, the vintage locomotive weaves its way between 14,000ft-high jagged peaks, thick emerald pine forests, and frothy pale aquamarine waters. Silverton's quaint, colourful old mining town makes for a charming stopover before catching the train back to Durango.
Coast Starlight
Dashing down (or up) the Pacific coast, the aptly named Coast Starlight is a 35-hour train travelling between Seattle and Los Angeles. This is one of the best train trips in the USA for hitting all the iconic stops along the West Coast, offering a little something for everyone. Beaches? Stop at laidback Santa Barbara or Oxnard for long sandy stretches. Wineries? Disembark at Paso Robles in the heart of wine country. Wilderness? Head out into the gorgeous Cascade Mountains. Cities? Pick between the likes of San Francisco, Portland, or Sacramento. Soak up the scenery from the sightseer car, especially during the unspoilt stretch between Oregon’s Klamath Falls and Eugene. Whether trundling past lush agricultural fields, pine forests or the palm-fringed Pacific, sit on the train’s west-facing side for optimal views.
Rockies to the Red Rocks
The Rocky Mountains take centre stage again on another of the best train trips in the USA: the Rockies to the Red Rocks. Zooming between Denver, Colorado, and Moab, Utah, this two-day journey is the luxe option on our list. Passing over Colorado’s deep canyons and meandering forest-framed rivers, the train halts in Glenwood Springs overnight before chugging on past Utah’s fascinating red rock formations and vast desert landscapes. Tuck into a locally sourced three-course meal while looking out at the shifting landscape around you (we told you it was luxurious…). There’s even a team of hosts on board to serve drinks and share stories, while a glass-domed top provides unparalleled views of the surroundings. Where can we sign up?
Alaska Denali Star
Alaska’s rugged landscape hosts some of the most spectacular scenery in the USA (and that’s quite a feat). But how best to take it all in? We might be biased, but we recommend viewing it all from the comfort of a train carriage. And the Alaska Denali Star allows just that, travelling 350 miles between Anchorage and Fairbanks for over 12 hours. Climb aboard and wind through bushy birch forests and along snaking rivers while enjoying a backdrop of the captivating Chugach Mountains. Whooshing through a wonderland of untamed wilderness, the Star is the best (and most stylish) way to enter the unmissable Denali National Park. Discover heavenly hiking trails and spot wildlife such as caribou and bears under the gaze of the tallest mountain in North America, Denali.
Written by Hannah Whitehall | Header image by Robert Haidinger/LAIF REA
