After traveling over 200,000 miles on more than 800 Amtrak trips since 2012, I have compiled this collection of Amtrak Long-Distance route guides to help you plan your overnight train travel. Each guide includes detailed daily schedules, equipment information, dining options, and links to archived PDF route guides highlighting the communities and landmarks you’ll encounter along the way.
Whether you’re booking your first sleeper car or comparing routes for a cross-country journey, you’ll find all the practical information you need here. Amtrak’s long-distance trains offer scenic views, along with some industrial stretches. I hope these Amtrak long-distance route guides help you plan your trip and confidently explore new destinations by rail.
About the PDF Amtrak Long-Distance Route Guides
Amtrak published route guides between 2010 and 2014, distributed on trains and at stations.
These travel guides are no longer available in print and are difficult to find, but I have discovered copies that can be downloaded or printed.
Although the information is over a decade old, it still provides relevant historical context about the communities you will encounter during your journey.
Amtrak System Map
Many map tools are available to help visually inclined people. The map above shows the routes and stops of most Amtrak trains; newer versions are also available.
You can use maps to view the route’s daytime and nighttime segments, as well as interactive planning maps.
Auto Train #52 & #53
The Auto Train operates daily between Greater Washington, D.C., and Orlando. It’s the only train that allows passengers to bring their cars.
The train travels between Lorton, VA, and Sanford, FL, with only one stop for refueling and crew changes. While the Auto Train doesn’t have a dedicated Amtrak route guide, it operates on the Silver Meteor route, where you can find pertinent information.
The Auto Train Broken Down By The Day
The only intermediate stop on this train is for refueling and crew changes. The northbound and southbound trains use the same schedule.
| Train | Days 1 & 2 |
|---|---|
| #52 Northbound | Sanford, FL – Lorton, VA |
| #53 Southbound | Lorton, VA – Sanford, FL |
Equipment & Accommodations
The Auto Train utilizes Superliner equipment and provides the following accommodations.
Food Options
The Auto Train features:
- All passengers are welcome to use the Café Car.
- The dining car offers Traditional dining for sleeper car passengers.
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #52 Northbound | Dinner | Breakfast |
| #53 Southbound | Dinner | Breakfast |
California Zephyr #5 & #6
The California Zephyr is a daily train service that connects Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area. This train journey is renowned for its breathtaking views of the Rockies and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada.
During the journey, you travel across the plains of Nebraska, cross the Rockies to Salt Lake City, and then pass through Reno and Sacramento before arriving in Emeryville or San Francisco via connecting service.
This train service also offers a Thruway Bus Service at Emeryville, California, providing a convenient connection between San Francisco and Oakland.
The California Zephyr by the Day
| Direction | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| #5 Westbound | Chicago, IL – Omaha, NE | Lincoln, NE – Salt Lake City, UT | Elko, NV – Emeryville, CA |
| #6 Eastbound | Emeryville, CA – Elko, NV | Salt Lake City, UT – McCook, NE | Holdrege, NE – Chicago, IL |
Equipment & Accommodations
The California Zephyr uses Superliner equipment and offers these accommodations:
Food Options
The California Zephyr has two food-service cars.
- All passengers are welcome to use the Café Car.
- The dining car offers Traditional dining and is open to all, but there is limited seating for coach passengers.
Scheduled Dining Car Meals for the California Zephyr:
These meals come with sleeping car reservations or, when a room is available, for a flat rate for coach passengers.
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| #5 Westbound | Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast & Lunch |
| #6 Eastbound | Lunch & Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast & Lunch |
Capitol Limited #29 & #30 – Now a Part of the Floridian
ROUTE UPDATE (November 2024–Present): The Floridian (#40/#41) is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star routes between Chicago and Miami. Currently, both the Capitol Limited (#29/#30) and Silver Star (#91/#92) are suspended due to the East River Tunnel rehabilitation project. The expected duration of this suspension is approximately two years.
The Cardinal is an alternative if your destination is Washington, D.C., or if you want to travel farther to stops along the route between D.C. and New York.
Cardinal #50 & #51
The Cardinal runs three times a week between Chicago, IL, and New York, NY.
You can take this train through the northern section of the South. Some stops include Washington, DC; Charlottesville, VA; Cincinnati, OH; Indianapolis, IN; and more.
The Cardinal rolls past gently rolling horse country, the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, and the wild white-water rivers of West Virginia. As you head westward, as the train rolls along the Ohio River bank, you’ll see the quaint towns of Ashland and Maysville, the skyline of Cincinnati, then onto Indianapolis, and finally northward to Chicago.
The Cardinal Route By the Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #50 Westbound | Chicago, IL – Indianapolis, IN Mo, Th, & Sa | Connersville, IN – New York, NY Tu, Fr, & Su |
| #51 Eastbound | New York, NY – Maysville, KY Tu, Fr, & Su | Cincinnati, OH – Chicago, IL Su, We, & Fr |
Equipment & Accommodations
The Cardinal uses Viewliner equipment and offers these accommodations.
Food Options
Food service on the Cardinal. There is only one food car on this train.
- All passengers are welcome to use the Café car.
- Sleeper car passengers receive flexible dining options, often served in their rooms, but they can also dine at the café.
Sleeper Car Meals Offered
Flex meals are available only to passengers in the sleeper class.
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #50 Westbound | Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| #51 Eastbound | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Breakfast |
City of New Orleans #58 & #59
The “City of New Orleans,” made famous by Steve Goodman’s song, runs daily between Chicago and New Orleans, making significant stops in Memphis, TN, and Jackson, MS. This train is a convenient way to travel between the Big Easy and the Windy City.
This train is a great way to travel between New Orleans and Chicago.
The City of New Orleans Route By The Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #58 Northbound | New Orleans, LA – Memphis, TN | Newbern-Dyersburg, TN – Chicago, IL |
| #59 Southbound | Chicago, IL – Effingham, IL | Centralia, IL – New Orleans, LA |
Equipment & Accommodations
The City of New Orleans uses Superliner Equipment and offers these accommodations.
Food Options
The City of New Orleans’ food cart.
- All passengers are welcome to use the Café car.
- This train offers flex dining in the café for sleeping passengers
- This meal service is not available to coach passengers.
Scheduled Sleeping Car Meals
See what flex meals are available each day, scheduled by the day.
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #58 Northbound | Dinner | Breakfast |
| #59 Southbound | Dinner* | Breakfast & Lunch |
Coast Starlight #11 & #14
The Coast Starlight is a daily train that travels along the West Coast between Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, and Los Angeles.
This train offers a great adventure between Los Angeles and Seattle. This train travels through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and Portland.
Along the Coast Starlight route, you can see the dramatic, snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush forests, fertile valleys, and long stretches of the Pacific Ocean shoreline, providing a stunning backdrop for your journey.
There is no better way to travel the Western seaboard than on the Coast Starlight.
Coast Starlight Route By The Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #11 Southbound | Seattle, WA – Klamath Falls, OR | Dunsmuir, CA – Los Angeles, CA |
| #14 Northbound | Los Angeles, CA – Sacramento, CA | Chico, CA – Seattle, WA |
Equipment & Accommodations
The Coast Starlight features Superliner Equipment and offers the following accommodations.
Food Options
The Coast Starlight has two food cars.
- All passengers are welcome to use the Café car.
- The dining car offers Traditional dining.
- This car is open to all, but seating may be limited to coach passengers.
Scheduled Meals
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #11 Southbound | Lunch & Dinner | Lunch & Dinner |
| #14 Northbound | Lunch & Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |
Crescent #19 & #20
The Crescent travels daily between New Orleans and New York City. Service from New York City to New Orleans offers travelers a unique window into the beauty and heritage of the American South.
The train allows you to tour Monticello, enjoy a wine tasting in Charlottesville, or explore the shopping and dining scene of Underground Atlanta. As you travel further south, you’ll reach New Orleans, where fun, food, and music await you.
The Crescent Route By The Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #19 Southbound | New York, NY – Danville, VA | Greensboro, NC – New Orleans, LA |
| #20 Northbound | New Orleans, LA – Spartanburg, SC | Gastonia, NC – New York, NY |
Equipment & Accommodations
The Crescent uses Viewliner Equipment and offers
Food Options
Food services aboard the Crescent
- The Café car is open to all passengers.
- Sleeper Car passenger meals are part of the Flex Dining program.
- The meals are served from the dining car and are available only to passengers in sleeping accommodations.
Scheduled Sleeper Car Meals on the Crescent
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #19 Westbound | Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |
| #20 Northbound | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast & Lunch |
Empire Builder #7, #8, #27, & #28
Embark on an adventure through the American West aboard the Empire Builder train. This historic route from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest offers stunning views of the Mississippi River, the Minneapolis skyline, the North Dakota plains, Glacier National Park, and the Columbia River Gorge. Choose to continue to Seattle or explore Portland, enjoying scenic vistas along the way.
The Empire Builder Route Broken Down By The Day
Train 27 decouples from 7 in Spokane, WA, and Train 28 couples with 8 in Spokane. Between Spokane and Chicago, both trains operate as one.
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| #7 Westbound | Chicago, IL – St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud, MN – Whitefish, MT | Libby, MT – Seattle, WA |
| #27 Westbound | Chicago, IL – St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud, MN – Whitefish, MT | Libby, MT – Portland, OR |
| #8 Eastbound | Seattle, WA – Ephrata, WA | Spokane, WA – Rugby, ND | Grand Forks, ND – Chicago, IL |
| #28 Eastbound | Portland, OR – Pasco, WA | Spokane, WA – Rugby, ND | Grand Forks, ND – Chicago, IL |
Equipment & Accommodations
The Empire Builder uses Superliner Equipment and offers these accommodations.
Food Options
The Empire Builder has two food cars.
- All passengers are welcome to use the café car.
- The café is not available between Seattle and Spokane.
- The dining car offers Traditional dining and is open to all, but there is limited seating for coach passengers.
- The dining car is not available between Spokane and Portland. The car attendant will deliver a meal to sleeping car passengers.
Scheduled Meals
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| #7 Westbound | Dinner | Breakfast, lunch, & dinner | Breakfast |
| #27 Westbound | Dinner | Breakfast, lunch, & dinner | Breakfast* |
| #8 Eastbound | Dinner | Breakfast, lunch, & dinner | Breakfast & lunch |
| #28 Eastbound | Dinner* | Breakfast, lunch, & dinner | Breakfast & lunch |
Floridian #40 & #41
The Amtrak Floridian offers a convenient, direct route from Chicago to Miami, replacing the temporarily suspended Silver Star and Capitol Limited trains.
With this new service, travelers can enjoy stunning scenery—from the Midwestern plains to the bustling cities of the East Coast and the tropical beauty of Florida, without needing multiple transfers. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, the Floridian offers a seamless, comfortable journey with stops in major cities such as Washington, D.C., Orlando, and Miami.
This train streamlines long-distance travel and enhances the onboard experience with modern amenities, including sleeping accommodations, dining options, and spacious seating. Amtrak’s Floridian caters to both seasoned train enthusiasts and first-time travelers, making it an easy and enjoyable way to explore new destinations.
If you want to visit Disney World, check out my article about taking Amtrak to Walt Disney World.
Alternative options:
- For travel between Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York City, consider the Cardinal.
- The Silver Meteor may be a great fit if your trip involves the East Coast.
The Floridian Broken Down By The Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 North/Westbound | Miami, FL – Jacksonville, FL | Savannah, GA – Pittsburgh, PA | Alliance, OH – Chicago, IL |
| 41 South/Eastbound | Chicago, IL – Toledo, OH | Sandusky, OH – Camden, SC | Columbia, SC – Miami, FL |
Equipment & Accommodations
Floridian uses Viewliner Equipment and offers:
Food Options
Food services aboard the Floridian
- The Café is open to all passengers.
- The dining car offers Traditional dining for sleeping passengers and is open to coach passengers with limited seating.
Scheduled Meals
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 North/Westbound | Lunch & Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast |
| 41 South/Eastbound | Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner* |
If you are traveling the entire route, you need two route guides for this train.
Lake Shore Limited #48, #49, #448, & #449
Experience the journey from Chicago to New York City, passing through South Bend, Cleveland, and Buffalo. As you travel, you’ll enjoy Lake Michigan’s scenic south shore, the Mohawk River’s winding path, and the historic Erie Canal, tracing the footsteps of a renowned Native American highway.
This train operates in two sections: one going to New York and the other to Boston. These sections converge (westbound) or diverge (eastbound) in Albany, NY. For more information, check out my article on trains that split.
The Lake Shore Limited Broken Down by the Day
| Trains | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #48 Eastbound | Chicago, IL – South Bend, IN | Elkhart, IN – New York, NY |
| #448 Eastbound | Chicago, IL – South Bend, IN | Elkhart, IN – Boston, MA |
| #49 Westbound | New York, NY – Rochester, NY | Buffalo-Depew, NY – Chicago, IL |
| #449 Westbound | Boston, MA – Rochester, NY | Buffalo-Depew, NY – Chicago, IL |
Equipment & Accommodations
The Lake Shore Limited uses Viewliner Equipment and offers
Food Options
Food services aboard the Lake Shore Limited
- The Café car is open to all passengers.
- Sleeper Car passenger meals are part of Amtrak’s Flex Dining.
- Amtrak serves meals exclusively from the dining car to passengers in sleeping cars.
- This car is not available from Boston to Albany. During that segment, meals are served from the café.
Schedule Meals for the Lake Shore Limited
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #48 Eastbound | No Meal | Breakfast & Lunch |
| #448 Eastbound | No Meal | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner* |
| #49 Westbound | Dinner | Breakfast |
| #449 Westbound | Lunch* & Dinner | Breakfast |
Palmetto #89 & #90
The Palmetto is a daily train service operating between New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA, and other intermediate stops. This train follows parts of the Silver Meteor route and is an honorary Silver Service train, at least in my mind.
The Palmetto Broken Down By The Day
| Train | Day One |
|---|---|
| #89 Southbound | New York, NY – Savanna, GA |
| #90 Northbound | Savanna, GA – New York, NY |
Food Options
- There is no dining car on this train because it does not have sleeper cars.
- The Palmetto features a café car open to all passengers, located between the coach and business cars.
Silver Meteor #97 & #98
The Silver Meteor operates daily, transporting passengers along the East Coast from New York to Miami.
The Silver Meteor serves New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charleston, S.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, Kissimmee, Miami, and more.
If you want to visit Disney World, check out my article about taking Amtrak to Walt Disney World.
The Silver Meteor Route Broken Down By The Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day |
|---|---|---|
| #97 Southbound | New York, NY – Rocky Mount, NC | Fayetteville, NC – Miami, FL |
| #98 Northbound | Miami, FL – Florence, NC (Myrtle Beach) | Fayetteville, NC – New York, NY |
Equipment & Accommodations
Silver Meteor uses Viewliner Equipment and offers
Food Options
Food services aboard the Silver Meteor
- The Café car is open to all passengers.
- The train has traditional dining; if space allows, the dining car is open to coach passengers.
Scheduled Meal Times On The Silver Meteor
| Train | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| #97 Southbound | Dinner | Breakfast, lunch, & dinner* |
| #98 Northbound | Breakfast, lunch, & dinner | Breakfast |
Silver Star #91 & #92 – Now Part of the Floridian
ROUTE UPDATE (November 2024–Present): The Floridian (#40/#41) is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star routes between Chicago and Miami. Currently, both the Capitol Limited (#29/#30) and Silver Star (#91/#92) are suspended due to the East River Tunnel rehabilitation project. The expected duration of this suspension is approximately two years.
The Silver Meteor stops at many of the former Silver Star stations.
Southwest Chief #3 & #4
The Southwest Chief runs daily. It allows you to experience the beauty of the American West on a journey between Chicago and Los Angeles.
The train takes you across the mighty Mississippi through eight states, passing wheat fields, ranches, missions, pueblos, mountains, and deserts. You will travel canyon passages only a few feet wider than the train and see vistas not visible from interstate highways.
This train runs daily, stopping at Chicago, Kansas City (MO), Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Los Angeles, and other locations.
The Southwest Chief Broken Down By The Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3 Westbound | Chicago, IL – Lawrence, KS | Topeka, KS – Kingman, AZ | Needles, CA – Los Angeles, CA |
| #4 Eastbound | Los Angeles, CA – Barstow, CA | Needles, CA – Garden City, KS | Dodge City, KS – Chicago, IL |
Equipment & Accommodations
The Southwest Chief uses Superliner equipment and offers these accommodations.
Food Options
The Southwest Chief has two food cars.
- All passengers are welcome to use the Café Car.
- The dining car offers Traditional dining and is open to all, but there is limited seating for coach passengers.
Schedule Meals By The Day
| Trains | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3 Westbound | Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast |
| #4 Eastbound | Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast & Lunch |
Sunset Limited #1 & #2
The Sunset Limited runs between New Orleans and Los Angeles, offering views of Mexico.
This train runs three times a week and stops in New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Tucson, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and other cities.
The Sunset Limited Broken Down By The Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Westbound | New Orleans, LA – Houston, TX Mon/Wed/Sat | San Antonio, TX – Yuma, AZ Mon/Wed/Sat | Palm Springs, AZ – Los Angeles, CA Wed/Fri/Mon |
| #2 Eastbound | Los Angeles, CA – Ontario, CA Mon/Wed/Sat | Palm Springs, CA -Sander, TX Tue/Thu/Sun | Del Rio, TX – New Orleans, LA Sun/Wed/Fri |
Equipment & Accommodations
The Sunset Limited uses Superliner Equipment and offers these accommodations.
Food Options
The Sunset Limited has two food cars.
- All passengers are welcome to use the Café car.
- The dining car offers Traditional dining and is open to all, but there is limited seating for coach passengers.
Scheduled Meals
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Westbound | Lunch & Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | No Meal |
| #2 Eastbound | No Meal | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |
Texas Eagle #21, #22, #421, & #422
The Texas Eagle runs daily with stops at Chicago, St. Louis, Little Rock, Dallas, San Antonio, and more, and three days a week to cities like Tucson and Los Angeles.
The Texas Eagle offers passengers views of the famous St. Louis Arch. The route provides a mix of urban and rural scenery in Texas and Illinois, with an overnight stop in Arkansas. A coach and sleeper car from this train will transfer to the Sunset Limited three days a week, reaching more communities.
The Texas Eagle By The Day
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day | 4th Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #21 Southbound | Chicago, IL – Poplar Bluff, MO | Walnut Ridge, AR – San Antonio, TX | – | – |
| #421 Southbound | Walnut Ridge, AR – San Antonio, TX | Walnut Ridge, AR – San Antonio, TX | San Antonio, TX, – Yuma, AZ | Palm Springs, AZ – Los Angeles, CA |
| #22 Northbound | San Antonio, TX – Little Rock, AR | Walnut Ridge, AR – Chicago, IL | – | – |
| #422 Northbound | Los Angeles, CA – Ontario, CA | Palm Springs, CA -San Antonio, TX | San Antonio, TX – Little Rock, AR | Walnut Ridge, AR – Chicago, IL |
Equipment & AccommodatiDay
The Texas Eagle utilizes Superliner Equipment, offering these accommodations.
Food Options
- The Texas Eagle café car is open to all.
- Sleeping passengers can enjoy flex dining between Chicago and San Antonio
- Traditional dining between San Antonio and Los Angeles.
Scheduled Meals For The Texas Eagle
*Indicate that it is a flex dining meal
| Train | 1st Day | 2nd Day | 3rd Day | 4th Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #21 Southbound | Dinner* | Breakfast,* Lunch,* & Dinner* | – | – |
| #421 Southbound | Dinner* | Breakfast,* Lunch,* & Dinner* | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | No Meal |
| #22 Eastbound | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast & Lunch | – | – |
| #422 Eastbound | No Meal | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast,* Lunch,* & Dinner* | Breakfast* & Lunch* |
Amtrak Long-Distance Route Guides Wrap-up
I hope this page provides the information and links you need to plan your next Amtrak adventure. Amtrak route guides are available for printing or for download to your mobile device. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact me; I will do my best to answer them.
To ensure this information stays online, consider supporting Travels with Kev. A significant amount of time and money is invested in producing and maintaining this information.
Safe travels!
Kev
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