Guide to Every Major Amtrak Route Across USA
Traveling across the United States by train is one of the most relaxing ways to see the country. Instead of rushing through airports or staring at a highway, the landscape slowly unfolds outside the window.
Mountains, rivers, deserts, farmland, and coastlines pass by at a pace that lets the journey become part of the experience. Small towns and ghost towns appear without notice.
This overview introduces the major Amtrak routes so it is easier to understand where each train travels and which ones might fit into a future rail adventure.
Amtrak operates a network of long distance and regional routes that connect major cities and small towns across the country. Some trains almost cross the entire continent. Others serve busy regional corridors where trains run several times each day.
Why Chicago Is the Hub of the Amtrak Network
When looking at Amtrak’s route map above, one thing quickly becomes clear. Chicago is the central hub for long-distance train travel in the United States. Several major routes begin or pass through the city, making it possible to connect trains and travel almost anywhere in the country without flying.
From Chicago, trains head west across the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, south toward Texas and New Orleans, east toward New York and Washington, and north to Minneapolis and the Upper Midwest. Routes such as the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, and the Floridian all connect through Chicago’s historic Union Station.
For travelers planning a long rail journey, Chicago often becomes the natural starting point or transfer city. It’s also a good idea to spend two or three days in the Windy City. There are a handful of nice hotels within a one-to-three block walk from Union Station.
Major Amtrak Long-Distance Routes at a Glance
Amtrak operates several long-distance trains that travel overnight across large parts of the country. These routes offer sleeping accommodations, dining cars, and snack cars.
Some have an observation lounges with panoramic windows and snack bar on the lower level.
Major long-distance trains include:
• California Zephyr — Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area
• Empire Builder — Chicago to Seattle or Portland
• Southwest Chief — Chicago to Los Angeles
• Coast Starlight — Seattle to Los Angeles
• Sunset Limited — New Orleans to Los Angeles
• Texas Eagle — Chicago to San Antonio and Los Angeles
• Lake Shore Limited — Chicago to New York or Boston
• Capitol Limited — Chicago to Washington, D.C.
• Crescent — New York to New Orleans
• Cardinal — Chicago to New York
• City of New Orleans — Chicago to New Orleans
• Silver Meteor — New York to Miami
• Floridian — Chicago to Miami
• Auto Train — Virginia to Florida
These trains are the backbone of Amtrak’s network and are often the routes travelers choose for longer rail journeys across the United States.
Amtrak trains with a dedicated observation car are:
California Zephyr
Empire Builder
Southwest Chief
Coast Starlight
Sunset Limited
City of New Orleans
Texas Eagle
Amtrak Regional and Corridor Routes
In addition to long-distance trains, Amtrak operates regional routes that connect major cities. Some offer departures several times per day.
These include:
Northeast Regional – Between Washington, D.C. and Boston
Acela – Between Washington, D.C. and Boston – Amtrak’s fast train
Borealis – Between Chicago and St. Paul/Minneapolis
Hiawatha Service – Between Chicago and Milwaukee
Carolinian – Between Charlotte, NC and New York City
Empire Service – Between New York City and Niagara Falls
Palmetto – Between New York City and Savannah, GA
Maple Leaf – Between New York City and Toronto, CA
Adirondack – Between New York City and Montreal, CA
Cascades – Between Eugene, OR and Vancouver, CA
These trains typically operate during daytime hours and may not include sleeping accommodations.
Long Distance Amtrak Routes in Detail
California Zephyr
Probably the most popular cross-country route, the California Zephyr travels between Chicago and Emeryville, California, just across the bay from San Francisco. Along the way the train crosses the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and the Sierra Nevada in California, offering some of the most dramatic scenery in the Amtrak system. Highlights include Glenwood Canyon, Donner Pass, and sweeping western landscapes. For many travelers this is the single most scenic train journey in the United States.
You’ll also experience the 6.2 mile-long Moffat Tunnel in Colorado. Takes about 10 minutes to travel through the tunnel.
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder runs from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest, splitting in Spokane with branches to Seattle and Portland. The route crosses the northern plains and skirts the southern edge of Glacier National Park. Wide open skies and long stretches of wilderness define much of this journey. It is a wonderful way to experience the northern tier of the country.
Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief travels between Chicago and Los Angeles along a historic rail corridor. The train passes through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Along the way you’ll see prairie landscapes, desert plateaus, and red rock formations in the American Southwest. This route closely follows sections of the old Santa Fe Railway.
Watch for historic signs posted along-side the railroad tracks in New Mexico.
Coast Starlight
The Coast Starlight connects Seattle and Los Angeles along the West Coast. The train travels through Washington forests, Oregon valleys, and California farmland before reaching the Pacific coast. In several areas the tracks run close enough to the ocean to provide beautiful coastal views. It is one of the most varied scenic journeys in the Amtrak network.
Sunset Limited
The Sunset Limited runs between New Orleans and Los Angeles across the southern United States. The train travels through Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Much of the route crosses desert landscapes and remote southwestern terrain. It is the southernmost transcontinental route operated by Amtrak.
As of today’s update, the Sunset Limited runs in each direction only three days a week. There is rumor that it may change to daily service in the near future.
Texas Eagle
The Texas Eagle operates between Chicago and San Antonio, with through service to Los Angeles on days when it connects with the Sunset Limited. The train passes through Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Scenic highlights include the Mississippi River crossing and views of the Texas Hill Country. It is one of the longest routes in the Amtrak system.
Capitol Limited
The Capitol Limited runs overnight between Chicago and Washington, D.C. The train crosses the Appalachian Mountains and follows parts of the Potomac River valley. Passengers traveling between the Midwest and the nation’s capital often choose this route. It is also a convenient connection point for other eastern trains.
Lake Shore Limited
The Lake Shore Limited connects Chicago with both New York City and Boston. The train follows historic rail lines along the Great Lakes before entering the scenic Hudson River Valley approaching New York. The Boston section splits from the train in Albany. It is a comfortable overnight journey linking the Midwest and the Northeast.
Floridian
The Floridian, a two-night train ride, is one of Amtrak’s newer daily long-distance routes, running between Chicago and Miami by way of Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and the Southeast. It gives travelers a one-train ride between the Midwest and Florida, with major intermediate stops that include Cleveland, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa.
Because the route combines Amtrak’s former Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains, it covers a wide range of scenery from the Midwest and Appalachians to the East Coast and Florida. For anyone heading to Florida from Chicago without flying, this is now one of the most useful routes in the system, in my opinion. Amtrak says it’s a temporary route due to the East River Tunnel project in New York.
Crescent
The Crescent runs between New York City and New Orleans. The train travels through major cities including Washington, Atlanta, and Birmingham. Along the way passengers see a mix of Appalachian foothills, southern forests, and historic towns. It is a classic north to south rail journey through several distinct regions of the country.
City of New Orleans
The City of New Orleans operates between Chicago and New Orleans along the Mississippi River corridor. The route passes through Illinois farmland, the blues city of Memphis, and the forests of Mississippi. This train route was immortalized in American music (written by Steve Goodman and made popular by Arlo Guthrie) and remains one of the most historic rail routes in the country. It is also a convenient connection to Gulf Coast destinations.
Cardinal
The Cardinal connects Chicago with New York City via Cincinnati and Washington, D.C. The train travels through some of the most scenic parts of the Appalachian Mountains, including the New River Gorge in West Virginia. The route operates three times per week rather than daily. Because of the scenery, many train travelers consider it one of the hidden gems of the Amtrak system.
Auto Train
The daily Auto Train runs between Lorton, Virginia near Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Florida near Orlando. Amtrak will load your car, motorcycle, or small and low recreational vehicles with them on the train. The trip operates overnight and is popular with travelers heading to Florida for extended stays. It is the only Amtrak train that carries passenger vehicles.
Be sure to check with Amtrak for permitted dimensions and also check your vehicle’s manufacturer specs for height and width.
Eastern and Southern Corridor Routes
Silver Meteor
The Silver Meteor travels between New York City and Miami. The route serves major southeastern cities including Washington, Charleston, Savannah, and Orlando. It is one of the most popular trains for travelers heading to Florida. The journey covers nearly the entire East Coast of the United States.
Silver Star (now part of the new Floridian train)
The Silver Star (before it was combined with the Capitol Limited train) ran between between New York City and Miami. The Floridian still includes stops in Raleigh, Columbia, Tampa, and Orlando. The train is similar to the Silver Meteor but serves additional cities along the way. Many travelers choose whichever train best fits their schedule as you can book the Floridian to travel the route between Miami and Washington, D.C.
Palmetto
The Palmetto runs between New York City and Savannah, Georgia. Unlike the overnight Silver trains, the Palmetto operates primarily during daytime hours. The route travels through Washington, Richmond, Charleston, and other coastal cities. It is a comfortable option for exploring the southeastern United States.
Carolinian
The Carolinian operates between New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina. The route travels through Washington, Richmond, and Raleigh before reaching Charlotte. The train serves both business travelers and vacation travelers heading to the Carolinas. It offers a relaxed alternative to driving along Interstate 95.
Midwest and Regional Routes
Borealis
The Borealis is a newer Amtrak service that runs between Chicago and St. Paul in Minnesota. The train began operating in May 2024 and provides a daily connection between Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Twin Cities. The journey takes a little over seven hours and follows parts of the Mississippi River through scenic river towns. It also complements the Empire Builder by adding more service along this busy Midwest corridor.
Hiawatha Service
The Hiawatha Service operates frequent trains between Chicago and Milwaukee. The short route makes it one of the most heavily used Amtrak corridors in the Midwest. Trains run multiple times each day and the trip takes about 90 minutes. Many travelers use it for quick business trips or weekend visits.
New Gulf Coast Route
Mardi Gras
The Mardi Gras is one of the newest additions to the Amtrak network. Launched in August 2025, the train runs between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The service operates twice daily and restores passenger rail to the region for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. The journey takes just under four hours and provides an easy way to explore coastal Mississippi.
Northeast Corridor Routes
Acela
Acela is Amtrak’s high speed train running between Boston and Washington, D.C. Major stops include New York City and Philadelphia. It is designed for speed and business travel, with fewer stops than other trains in the corridor. Acela is currently the fastest train service in the United States.
Northeast Regional
The Northeast Regional also runs between Boston and Washington, D.C. but makes more stops and operates more frequently than Acela. The train serves cities such as Providence, New Haven, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. It is the backbone of Amtrak’s busiest rail corridor. Many travelers use it for short trips between East Coast cities.
How to Choose the Best Amtrak Route
Choosing the right train depends on what kind of trip is most appealing.
Those interested in dramatic scenery often choose the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, or Coast Starlight. Travelers planning a classic cross country rail adventure might combine two or three long distance trains. With careful planning and an occasional hotel stay, you can plan what I call a Circle America Amtrak trip.
Others prefer shorter regional routes that connect major cities and run several times per day.
One of the best parts of traveling by train is that the journey itself becomes the destination. Watching the landscape unfold from a comfortable seat or from the observation lounge car is something that never really gets old.
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