I’ve enjoyed Amtrak travel for over a decade, and I believe it can be a fun adventure, especially with the right tools. I created this page as a starting resource for Amtrak’s long-distance routes. It includes links to schedules, accommodations, food, and old Amtrak Long-Distance Route Guides, which you can read to learn about the train’s route.
Amtrak travel is relaxing and enjoyable, offering fantastic views— and a few not-so-great ones. I hope this information helps you plan your next trip and inspires you to visit a new place!
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 contains relevant history 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 displays the routes and stops of most Amtrak trains, but newer versions are also available.
You can use maps to show day or night parts of the routes, as well as interactive planning maps.
Auto Train #52 & #53
The Auto Train is a daily service between Greater Washington, D.C., and Orlando. It’s the only train that allows passengers to bring their cars.
The train leaves Lorton, VA, and Sanford, FL, making only one stop for refueling and crew changes. While the Auto Train doesn’t have a specific Amtrak route guide, it operates on the Silver Meteor route, allowing you to find pertinent information in that guide.
Auto Train basics
The train uses Superliner equipment, offering sleeper accommodations and coach classes.
The cafĂ© serves food to all passengers, and a dining car with Amtrak’s traditional dining is available for sleeping passengers.
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
The Floridian route is a combination of the Capitol Limited and Silver Star. It now features Viewliner equipment and traditional dining. So, if you want to ride on what the Capitol Limited was, check out the Floridian page.
The Cardinal is an alternative if your endpoint is Washington, D.C., or you want to travel further to stops between D.C. and New York.
Cardinal #50 & #51
The Cardinal takes passengers between Chicago, IL, and New York, NY, three times a week.
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 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 for sleeper class passengers.
| 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 the Steve Goodman song, runs daily between Chicago and New Orleans, making significant stops in Memphis, TN, and Jackson, MS. This train is a convenient mode of transportation between the Big Easy and the Windy City.
This train is a great way to travel between the Big Easy and the Windy City.
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 cacafécaféor sleeping passengers
- This meal service is unavailable for coach passengers.
Scheduled Sleeping Car Meals
See what flex meals are available each day, scheduled by the day.
| Train | 1at 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.
While traveling 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, which provide 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 the Big Apple and the Big Easy. With service from New York City to New Orleans, it gives 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 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 |
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.
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 – Sandpoint, ID | Spokane, WA – Seattle, WA |
| #27 Westbound | Chicago, IL – St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN | Spokane, WA – Seattle, WA | Spokane, WA -Portland, OR |
| #8 Eastbound | Seattle, WA – Ephrata, WA | Spokane, WA – Devils Lake, ND | Grand Forks, ND – Chicago, IL |
| #28 Eastbound | Portland, OR – Pasco, WA | Spokane, WA – Devils Lake, 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 hand sleeping car passengers a meal.
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 ensures a seamless and comfortable journey with stops in major cities like Washington, DC, 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
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 between Chicago and New York City, passing through communities like 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 come together (westbound) or split (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 come from the cafécafér.
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 | One day train |
|---|---|
| #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 a Part of the Floridian
The Floridian combines the Capitol Limited and the Silver Star routes. It features Viewliner equipment and traditional dining options. Please note that the Floridian does not travel north of Washington, D.C., so you will need to take a regional train to continue your journey north from there.
The Silver Meteor does stop at many of the former Silver Star stations.
Southwest Cheif #3 & #4
The Southwest Chief runs daily. It allows you to see the beauty of the American West on an adventure 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 & Lunch |
| #4 Eastbound | Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast |
Sunset Limited #1 & #2
The Sunset Limited takes passengers between New Orleans and Los Angeles, offering them 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
| 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 three days a week to the Sunset Limited, 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 uses Superliner Equipment, and the train offers 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 helps and provides the necessary information or links to aid your research for your next Amtrak adventure. Amtrak route guides are available for printing or downloading to your smart device. If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to contact me, and 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
Love Train Travel?
🚆 Love Train Travel? Stay Connected in Two Easy Ways!
✉️ Join My Free Newsletter – Be the first to know about Amtrak news, insider tips, and exciting travel opportunities.
When you sign up for the newsletter, you’ll also receive a free Quick Reference Guide to Amtrak Long-Distance Trains—packed with details on train equipment, dining options, and more.
➡️ Sign up today and start planning smarter, smoother train adventures!
❤️ Want to support my work? Every bit of help keeps Travels with Kev rolling—check out my Support Page or join me on Patreon!
