Amtrak Family Bedroom: Traveling with Little Ones

Traveling with family can be a joyful and memorable experience, and an Amtrak Family Bedroom offers a unique and comfortable way to enjoy your journey together. Whether planning a cross-country adventure or a short trip, these accommodations are designed with families in mind, providing space, privacy, and convenience. It’s noteworthy that booking a family member’s room is unnecessary.

Routes with Amtrak Family Bedrooms

Family bedrooms are only available on Superliner (bi-level) trains, including the following routes:

• Auto Train
• California Zephyr
• City of New Orleans
• Coast Starlight
• Empire Builder
• Southwest Chief
• Sunset Limited
• Texas Eagle

Note: The Floridian replaced the Capitol Limited and is now a Viewliner, a single-level train without Family Bedrooms.

What Are Amtrak Family Bedrooms?

Amtrak Family Bedrooms are special accommodations on Superliner trains designed to comfortably accommodate up to two adults and two children or a couple. Note that the two beds are relatively short; more on that later.

In addition to private space to relax and enjoy the journey, each Family Bedroom features:

• Two lower berths (one adult-sized and one child-sized)
• Two upper berths (one adult-sized and one child-sized)
• A sofa and chair for daytime seating with a table in between
• There is a closet in the room, with additional luggage storage nearby.
• Window for Scenic Views
• Restrooms and shower facilities nearby

The Layout

The Family Bedroom’s layout maximizes comfort and functionality within a space of 5’2” x 9’2”. By day, the room has a sofa and two seats that convert into beds at night.

Bed sizes are as follows:

• Upper child berth: 2’0″ x 4’7″
• Upper adult berth: 2’4″ x 6’2″
• Lower child berth: 2’0″ x 4’9″
• Lower adult berth: 3’4″ x 6’3″

Take a look at the Family Bedroom.

Here is a look at the Family Bedroom. It’s worth noting that these are older views, and many of the cars have updated interiors, but the layout remains the same. This site shows what the rooms look like during the day.

Amenities & Services

Traveling in a Family Bedroom comes with a range of amenities and services that make the journey even more enjoyable:

• Traveling in a Family Bedroom includes:
  • Privacy and comfort
  • Complimentary meals
  • Priority boarding
  • Lounge access at select stations
  • A dedicated attendant for assistance

Benefits of Choosing a Family Bedroom

Choosing a family bedroom for your Amtrak journey offers several benefits:

• Privacy: Provides a private space for relaxation.
• Scenic Views: Enjoy stunning scenery through large windows.
• Convenience: Attendance can switch your room from day to night setup.
• Flexibility: Easily transitions from day seating to night sleeping.

Tips for Traveling in an Amtrak Family Bedroom

• Pack Smart: Bring essentials like snacks, games, and entertainment for the kids to keep them occupied during the trip. There is often only one outlet in the room, so an extension cord can provide you with more outlets and power where you need it.
• Plan Ahead: Book your Family Bedroom well in advance, as these accommodations can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel seasons. Only one of these rooms is available per sleeper car, so there could be two or three per train.
• Take Advantage of Amenities: To enhance your travel experience, take full advantage of the included meals and the services your sleeping-car attendant provides.
• Kid gear may not count toward luggage allowances: If you’re traveling with infants under two, you can bring your stroller and diaper bag for your baby, neither of which counts toward the carry-on limit.

How to book an Amtrak family bedroom

You can book a Family Room through:

• Amtrak.com
• Call 1-800-USA-Rail
• Amtrak’s app or on mobile devices
• Travel agents

When booking rooms, there are two fees: a fee for the room and a base fare for each person. When you enter the number of people traveling with you and select a room, the price shown on the screen is the total cost for all passengers.

• Kids under 2 are free but must be on your ticket; only one child under 2 per adult.
• Those 2 to 12 are half off the base fare.
• Anyone 13 and up is full fare.

Here are other Amtrak discounts and deals.

If you have more than four in your party

If your group has more than four people, you can consider booking two rooms—a Family Room and a Roomette. You can call Amtrak to request adjacent, lower-level Roomettes near the Family Room, but availability is not guaranteed.

Booking a Family Room and roomette online may result in randomly assigned rooms that are not necessarily close to each other or even in the same train car.

Alternatives to Family Bedrooms

There are alternatives if the Family Bedroom becomes sold out, costs too much, or for any other reason you may have.

Roomettes: You can book one or more roomettes on the train. If you book them online, they are assigned randomly. So, call Amtrak if you want rooms together or near each other. You can book a Family Bedroom and add a roomette if you need more space. There are four roomettes on the lower level of the car.

Bedroom: These trains also have bedrooms and a suite, where you can get two rooms next to each other with a connecting door. To reserve these rooms, you need to call Amtrak.

FAQ on the Amtrak Family Bedroom

• Car Seats: There are no seatbelts on trains, so you cannot secure car seats to the seats in rooms or to coach seats on connecting trains.
• Baby Gear: Strollers and diaper bags for infants under two do not count toward carry-on limits.
• Birthday Booking: The age for booking purposes remains the same throughout the trip.
• Viewliner Trains: Do not offer family bedrooms.
• Solo or Couple: Individuals and couples can book family bedrooms.

Kev’s Thoughts on the Amtrak Family Bedroom

I had a family bedroom on a trip with my sister and niece, and I found it an excellent way to travel with a little one. I had space to stretch out, and she had an area to play games with her mom. Also, having the restrooms nearby made it convenient for my niece.

Amtrak’s Family Bedrooms offer a fantastic way to travel with loved ones. They combine the comfort of a private space with the excitement of a train journey. Whether embarking on a long-distance adventure or a shorter trip, these rooms provide a unique and enjoyable travel experience for families and groups. So, next time you plan a trip, consider the Family Bedroom to make your journey as memorable as your destination.

Safe travels!

Kev