The Most Scenic Amtrak Routes in America

Amtrak operates more than 30 different train routes that traverse through 46 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and three Canadian provinces. Some Amtrak trains are primarily used by commuters, who rely on them for quick day trips into major cities. But other routes are best appreciated by sightseers. These long-haul train journeys are among the surest ways to gaze upon the many natural wonders that the United States has to offer, from the lush forests of New England to the towering peaks of the Rockies and the glistening waters of the Pacific coast. Here are seven of the most scenic Amtrak routes you should consider for your next rail adventure.

Empire Builder

Amtrak’s Empire Builder line originates in Chicago, Illinois, and heads up to the Twin Cities, where you’ll come across the flowing waters of the mighty Mississippi River. The train continues on through the sweeping plains of the Dakotas, before the terrain transitions into towering mountains as you enter Montana.

While you may be tempted to disembark and take a scenic hike in the many stunning places along the way, such as Glacier National Park, it’s well worth continuing on to the Pacific Northwest — where you’ll end up in either Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington, depending on which fork of the track you take. Either way, expect to pass by many lush forests due to the region’s plentiful rainfall.

California Zephyr

The California Zephyr connects Chicago, Illinois, to Emeryville, a city in California’s Bay Area, in a little over 51 hours. Along the way, passengers will experience some of the country’s most epic scenery. It’s particularly stunning heading west out of Denver and into the Rocky Mountains, where you’ll travel along the gushing waters of the Colorado River for more than 200 miles. The route also runs through Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon for some 18 miles, with the canyon’s towering walls looming over the train’s panoramic observation car as you pass them by. 

The California Zephyr continues through the Sierra Nevadas in Northern California, where you’ll chug through the Donner Pass, a famous historic site renowned for its snow-capped peaks and namesake lake, before culminating in the beautiful Bay Area.

Adirondack

Connecting New York City to Montreal, Canada, the Adirondack route is a 10-hour journey that takes riders through the beautiful landscapes of upstate New York. Fall is a particularly attractive time of year to ride this route, as the region is home to some of the most vibrant fall foliage in the country. 

The ride between New York City and Albany ushers passengers along tracks built adjacent to the serene Hudson River, which passengers can admire through the window. The Adirondack continues north along Lake Champlain, one of the largest lakes in the country, to Canada, where you may have a quick border stop before the short final leg of the journey to Montreal.

Pacific Surfliner

Enjoy the West Coast in all its splendor by taking a ride along Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner. This route takes passengers on a 351-mile journey between San Diego and San Luis Obispo via Los Angeles. Large portions of the track run directly adjacent to the Pacific coastline, making window seats a rather hot commodity. The train departs multiple times throughout the day, but perhaps the best time to ride the rails is at sunset, when views over the horizon are particularly spectacular.

Coast Starlight

If you’re looking to travel further up the California coast, past San Luis Obispo, consider the Coast Starlight route. Traveling from Los Angeles to Seattle, this 35-hour-long Amtrak trip takes you along the Pacific Ocean, passes through lush forests, and cuts through the shadows of some of the tallest peaks in the region. 

A highlight of the journey is passing by Mount Shasta, one of the highest summits in California, with snow-capped peaks ascending over 14,000 feet into the sky. In Oregon, you’ll travel right along the glistening waters of Upper Klamath Lake, and then continue on to vibrant downtown Portland. As the trip wraps up near Seattle, you may also catch a glimpse of Mount Rainier, the highest summit of the Cascade Mountains.

Floridian

The Floridian is one of Amtrak’s newest routes, joining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star lines into one epic 47-hour long-haul journey. At one end, you have Chicago, while at the other, you have Miami — two vastly different climates offering equally stunning scenery. 

The train departs Chicago every evening, so you won’t experience too much daylight until passing into Pennsylvania. If heading southward, you’ll pass through the beautiful and historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in the late morning. This was the site of a seminal 1859 raid conducted by abolitionist John Brown, and is also renowned for its lush, rolling hills at the confluence of several rivers. 

The route continues on through the lower part of Appalachia before crossing to Florida, where the landscape shifts to plentiful palm trees, with the ocean coming into view as you get closer to the terminus in Miami.

Southwest Chief

One of the best ways to experience the American Southwest is by booking a trip on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief. The line passes through Chicago, Kansas City, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, and lastly Los Angeles. Traveling westward, you’ll journey over the Mississippi River around Fort Madison, Iowa, and continue on toward the rolling plains of Kansas. 

Snag yourself a seat in the train’s Sightseer Lounge before entering New Mexico, as that’s when the terrain really starts to wow. Between Albuquerque and Flagstaff, Arizona, the Southwest Chief passes towering orange mesa formations while it rumbles through endless desert. During this portion of the journey, you’ll also see Petrified Forest National Park — a site that’s famous for its 200 million-year-old ecosystem, Triassic-era fossils, and painted rock formations.

Let us know about your favorite Amtrak routes in the comments below!