The Coast Starlight runs daily, connecting Seattle, WA, and Los Angeles, CA, with 28 stops along its 1,377-mile route. The journey offers stunning views of the Pacific coastline, the Cascade Range, and lush valleys, making it one of Amtrak’s most scenic rides.
Here’s a quick overview of fun stops and highlights:
- Seattle, WA: Start your journey in the Emerald City with iconic attractions like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.
- Portland, OR: Known for its vibrant food scene, craft breweries, and scenic parks
- Sacramento, CA: A must-stop for history buffs interested in the California Gold Rush.
- Emeryville, CA (San Francisco Bay Area): Gateway to San Francisco with easy bus connections to Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge
- Santa Barbara, CA: A charming coastal town with beautiful beaches and Spanish architecture
- Los Angeles, CA: End your trip in the City of Angels, home to Hollywood, world-class museums, and iconic landmarks like the Griffith Observatory
Timetable Highlights:
- Southbound Train (#11): Departs Seattle at 9:55 am and arrives in Los Angeles at 9:11 pm.
- Northbound Train (#14): Leaves Los Angeles at 9:51 am and reaches Seattle at 7:51 pm.
Why Choose the Coast Starlight?
The Coast Starlight isn’t just a train ride—it’s a journey through some of the most stunning landscapes in the United States. Whether you’re an experienced traveler or taking your first train trip, here’s why the Coast Starlight is a must-ride:
1. Breathtaking Scenery
The route takes you along the Pacific coastline, through lush forests, and over picturesque mountain ranges. Highlights include:
- Puget Sound views as you depart Seattle.
- Willamette Valley vineyards near Portland.
- Crashing Pacific waves along California’s central coast.
2. Unmatched Comfort
Skip the hassle of airports and highways! The Coast Starlight offers:
- Wide, reclining seats with legroom in coach class.
- Private sleeping accommodations are available.
- You can grab food from the café or enjoy traditional dining in the dining car!
- An observation car offers panoramic views and photo opportunities.
3. Iconic Destinations
With stops in vibrant cities like Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles, the Coast Starlight offers the perfect way to explore the Pacific Northwest and California. Discover charming towns like Santa Barbara or connect to San Francisco via Emeryville.
4. Memorable Onboard Experience
The train is more than transportation—it’s part of the adventure! Passengers enjoy:
- The sightseer lounge car is perfect for relaxing with a view.
- Access to a café car with snacks and beverages.
- Opportunities to socialize with fellow travelers while soaking in the scenery abound.
5. Stress-Free Travel
Leave the driving to Amtrak! There are no traffic or airport security lines—sit back and enjoy the ride. With flexible ticket options and generous baggage allowances, the Coast Starlight is a convenient choice for all types of travelers.
The owners of the tracks that the Coast Starlight uses
As you know, Amtrak uses other railroad tracks for many of its routes, and they are called host railroads. The Coast Starlight uses four host railroads, 15 miles or more.
- BNSF – 158 miles
- Union Pacific – 1162 miles
- Metrolink – 48 miles
- Sounder – 20 miles
Often, these railroads are the primary reasons for Amtrak’s delays, such as:
- Routing delays
- Freight train interference.
- Signal delays
- Passenger train interference.
The Coast Starlight’s on-time Performance Report
- Amtrak’s Coast Starlight average passenger on-time performance
- For December 2024 alone, the average on-time performance was 47.1%, with an average delay of 107 minutes.
- From December 2024, it was 53.5%, with an average delay of 88 minutes.
Information in the section comes from the Amtrak Host Railroad Report – December 2024.
If you are interested, I have an article that lists all of the on-time performance of Amtrak long-distance trains.
Coach Class: Affordable Comfort with Scenic Views
Traveling in Coach Class on the Coast Starlight offers a budget-friendly way to experience this iconic route. The seats are spacious and designed for comfort, featuring:
- Wide reclining chairs with adjustable footrests and leg rests.
- Generous legroom to stretch out, even on long trips.
- Fold-down tray tables for meals, reading, or laptops.
- At seat grounded 120V outlet
- Upper and lower-level seating options
- Luggage storage
- Reading light available
Coach passengers enjoy access to the café car, which offers snacks, beverages, and light meals throughout the trip. They can also access the dining car; however, seating is limited. The article discusses dining more later.
Wi-Fi is not available on the route. If you are looking for activities during the ride, check out my post on entertainment on Amtrak ideas.
Pro Tips for a Comfortable Ride:
- Bring an eyemask, earplugs, a travel pillow, and a lightweight blanket to make overnight travel more enjoyable.
- Noise-canceling headphones or earplugs can help block out ambient noise.
- Bring an extension cord to make sharing the outlet with your seatmate easier.
- Snacks and a water bottle help to save money and fill in the gaps if the cafe car is closed
For those looking for added privacy or comfort, consider upgrading to a roomette or bedroom and more later.
Coach Starlight Coach Car Layout
Sleeper accommodations (Rooms) on the Coast Starlight
Amtrak’s sleeper accommodations are an excellent choice for travelers looking for extra comfort and privacy on their Coast Starlight journey.
These accommodations are perfect for overnight trips or anyone wanting a more luxurious experience. They include all the amenities to make your trip relaxing and enjoyable.
Types of rooms you can get on the Coast Starlight
Roomette
- Ideal for solo travelers or couples, the Roomette is a cozy, private space with:
- Two comfortable seats convert into upper and lower beds.
- Large windows provide panoramic views.
- Access the shared restrooms and a shower room in your sleeper car.
Learn more about Amtrak Roomettes here.
Bedroom
- For more space and additional comfort, the Bedroom offers:
- A private in-room restroom and shower.
- A larger seating area that converts into upper and lower beds
- Extra room for luggage and personal belongings.
Learn more about Amtrak Bedroom here.
Family Bedroom
- Traveling with kids? The Family Bedroom is designed with families in mind and includes:
- Two adult-sized beds and two smaller beds for children.
- Windows to enjoy the view together.
- Convenient access to restrooms and showers.
Learn more about Amtrak Family Rooms here.
Accessible Bedroom
- Amtrak ensures everyone can enjoy the Coast Starlight with the Accessible Bedroom, designed for passengers with mobility needs and their travel companions.
- It includes a private restroom, ample space for wheelchairs, and accessible features for comfort and convenience.
Learn more about Amtrak Accessible Room here.
Exclusive Benefits of Sleeper Accommodations
In addition to a private room, sleeper passengers enjoy several perks:
- Traditional Dining: Complimentary meals for sleeping car passengers are served in the dining car, with delicious options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals can be in the dining car or your room.
- Priority Boarding: Skip the lines and board the train early at larger stations for a seamless start to your journey.
- Car Attendant: Each car has a sleeper car attendant who helps passengers by turning down their beds, getting them off the train, assisting with meals, and more.
Which Room is Right for You?
Choosing the best sleeper accommodation depends on your travel style and budget:
- The Roomette is a cozy and cost-effective choice for solo travelers or couples.
- Families or those wanting extra space will love the Bedroom or Family Bedroom.
- Travelers needing accessibility features can rest easy in the Accessible Bedroom.
Pro Tip: Sleeper accommodations on the Coast Starlight often sell out, especially during peak travel times. Book early to secure your preferred room!
Sleeping car layout
This picture illustrates a typical sleeping car layout, but if you have a roomette, you could also have a room in a transitional dorm. These cars have only roomettes and often house the staff.
Trip add on’s
There are a few things you can add to this trip.
Bikes
- Space is available for standard, full-size bicycles
- Up to 50 lbs, 70 inches x 41 inches x 8.5 inches.
- Amtrak stores bikes in designated bike racks/areas inside the baggage car (if available).
Pets and service animals on Amtrak
- Amtrak allows dogs and cats up to 20 pounds.
- The combined weight of the pet and carrier
- For trips up to seven hours
- You need paperwork filled out before boarding the train.
- Get the latest info and the needed paperwork on the button below.
If you have a service or comfort animal, read Amtrak’s service animal policy for rules and booking instructions.
Luggage on the Coast Starlight
You can check or carry your luggage on this train. However, checked baggage service may not be available at all station pairs.
Checked bags
- Your first and last stations must offer checked bags for you to check them.
- Click the station links below to see if they provide checked baggage service and Amtrak’s checked bag policy.
- Each passenger can check two bags and allow two bags up to 50 lbs—75 linear inches.
- Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage.
- Limit of four checked bags per passenger.
Carry on luggage
Each passenger may carry on:
- One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches
- Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each
If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at some point along your journey, the baggage size for that train is up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each.
Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage; check out Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.
Accessibility on the Coast Starlight.
Wheelchair ramps are available to assist passengers with wheeled mobility devices in boarding and detraining. The train offers lower-level seating or mobile device space in coach class and accessible bedrooms if you want a sleeping accommodation. There are no elevators to get between floors.
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The Coast Starlight Broken Down by Day
The graph below breaks down the route by day, showing each day’s first and last stop.
| Train | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| #11 Southbound | Seattle, WA – Klamath Falls, OR | Dunsmuir, CA – Los Angeles, CA |
| #14 Northbound | Los Angeles, CA – Sacramento, CA | Chico, CA – Seattle, WA |
Food options for the Starlight
There are two food cars on this train. Both are open to all, but the dining car requires reservations for coach passengers, and seating is limited.
Cafe car
The cafe car is excellent for grabbing a tasty treat or beverage. I tend to purchase most of my food in coach class from the cafe. If I am in sleeper accommodation, I will walk there to stretch my legs and buy something to treat myself.
The cafe is on the lower level of the Sightseer Lounge, located between the coach and dining cars in the middle of the train. It offers a variety of hot and cold meals, snacks, and hot, cold, and adult beverages for sale.
The cafe is open to customers from early morning until late at night. However, it closes during the day for short breaks and overnight to ensure the staff can provide the best service possible.
While Amtrak allows you to bring your food and drink aboard the train, remember that they cannot store, chill, or heat your food. Additionally, for the safety and comfort of all passengers, consuming alcohol that you brought on the train is prohibited unless you are in a sleeping accommodation.
Dining car and traditional dining on the Starlight
The meals are complimentary for customers with sleeping accommodations, and coach-class passengers can snag one of the limited meal seats for a set price.
- The Coast Starlight has traditional dining!
- Which are chef-prepared meals with table service
- Meals include breakfast, lunch, and a three-course dinner.
- Selections for kids
- Non-alcoholic drinks are included, with wine, beer, and spirits available for sale.
- Your first drink at dinner is on Amtrak!
- Sleeping passengers can have meals brought to their rooms.
- Reservations may be open for coach passengers at a set meal price.
One of my favorite parts of having a sleeper is the dining car meals, for you get good food without having to pull the wallet out (but for tip). The table below shows you the meal you can revive while traveling on the Coast Starlight.
Coast Starlight Scheduled Meals
| Train | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| #11 Southbound | Lunch & Dinner | Lunch & Dinner |
| #14 Northbound | Lunch & Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |
Amtrak Coast Starlight Timetable or Schedule
The timetable information is from the official Amtrak.com website, but they can change things before I update this page. To ensure you have the most accurate times, check your e-ticket or print out your ticket on the day of travel. I last checked and updated this on September 24, 2024.
If the train does not list an arrival and departure time, it is a short stop, often at unstaffed stations.
| Train 11 Southbound Read Dowan | Communities Served | Miles | Train 14 Northbound Read up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:55a | Seattle, WA King Street Station (SEA) | 0 | 7:51p |
| 10:43a | Tacoma, WA (TAC) | 39 | 6:43p |
| 11:24a | Olympia-Lacey, WA (OLW) | 75 | 6:01p |
| 11:48a | Centralia, WA (CTL) | 94 | 5:36p |
| 12:32p | Kelso-Longview, WA (KEL) | 137 | 4:51p |
| 1:15p | Vancouver, WA (VAN) | 177 | 4:16p |
| 1:50p | 2:22p | Portland, OR * Union Station (PDX) | 187 | 3:40p | 3:56p |
| 3:39p | Salem, OR (SLM) | 239 | 2:04p |
| 4:14p | Albany, OR (ALY) | 267 | 1:23p |
| 5:15p | Eugene-Springfield, OR Amtrak Station (EUG) | 310 | 12:37p |
| 8:13p | Chemult, OR (CMO) * | 432 | 8:59a |
| 9:58p | 10:08p | Klamath Falls, OR (KFS) * | 505 | 7:33a | 7:43a |
| 12:45a | Dunsmuir, CA (DUN) | 610 | 4:58a |
| 2:31a | Redding, CA – Amtrak Station (RDD) | 665 | 3:05a |
| 4:12a | Chico, CA (CIC) | 739 | 1:37a |
| 6:28a | 6:48a | Sacramento, CA Sacramento Valley Station (SAC) | 824 | 11:49p |
| 7:05a | Davis, CA (DAV) | 837 | 11:11p |
| 7:54a | Martinez, CA (MTZ) | 881 | 10:26p |
| 8:29a | 8:39a | Emeryville, CA (EMY) * | 908 | 9:31p | 9:41p |
| 8:54a | 9:09a | Oakland, CA * Jack London Square Station (OKJ) | 913 | 9:06p | 9:21p |
| 10:14a | 10:26a | San Jose, CA Diridon Station (SJC) (Caltrain) | 954 | 7:46p | 7:58p |
| 12:06p | Salinas, CA Amtrak Station (SNS) * | 1021 | 6:13p |
| 1:57p | Paso Robles, CA (PRB) | 1119 | 4:15p |
| 3:24p | 3:37p | San Luis Obispo, CA Amtrak Station (SLO) | 1157 | 2:52p | 3:05p |
| 6:19p | Santa Barbara, CA (SBA) | 1274 | 12:14p | 12:21p |
| 7:20p D | Oxnard, CA (OXN) | 1310 | 11:22a |
| 8:02p D | Simi Valley, CA (SIM) | 1341 | 10:49a R |
| 8:36p D | Van Nuys, CA (VNC) | 1358 | 10:18a R |
| 8:44p D | Burbank, CA (BUR) | 1363 | – |
| 9:11p | Los Angeles, CA Union Station (LAX) | 1377 | 9:51a |
| Last Stop | Stations | Miles | Read Up |
Abbreviations
R = Receive passengers only; this means you can board the train, but you cannot buy a ticket on this train to this station.
D = Depart only; you can buy a ticket to this station but not from this station.
* = Stations with Amtrak Connecting Services.
Printable Amtrak Coast Starlight Schedule
You can print the schedule using the button below or from Amtrak.com. If you ride multiple trains or want a customized schedule, learn to print Amtrak Schedules.
🛤️ Want the full schedule?
Click below to access the latest Coast Starlight timetable from Amtrak!
Download the Coast Starlight & Connecting Service Schedule (PDF)
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Hi Kev,
What does this mean exactly? R = Receive passengers only; this means you can board the train, but you cannot buy a ticket on this train to this station. If I have a ticket from LAX (union station) going to Seattle, can I get on in Burbank and not have someone drive me downtown? What will be different if we do?
Receiving passengers only means that you can only book a ticket from that stop, not to that stop. In other words, going north, you can only board the train at that stop; you cannot book from LA to Burbank on this train.
Amtrak does this if there are other train services in that area (either Amtrak or regional trains). Often these stops are also departing only if you go the other way. Amtrak does this to prevent long-distance trains from becoming commuter trains to keep seats open for passengers who want to go beyond that area.
If you want to leave Burbank, you can; make sure you go to the right station for the Starlight, which is the Airport. If you want to do this, I would call Amtrak and change your ticket to make sure they cancel your reservation for not getting on in LA.
I hope this helps; if you have other questions, contact me.
Kev
Useful site! We just booked Roomette #10 for the Coastal Starlight Superliner northbound. I see it on a room map but can’t quite tell if this is west-facing (ocean view) on the northbound trip. It appears to be on the same side of the car as the bedrooms, which seemed to be facing west on a YouTube video I saw. Does that sound right?
I am glad that my site could help you! To answer your question, If the bedroom side of the car is first, then yes, you are ocean-side. Though there is never a guarantee of what direction a car is, so keep that in mind. Happy planning and safe travels! Kev