Amtrak Texas Eagle: Schedule, Stops, & Route Guide

The Amtrak Texas Eagle is one of the longest train routes in the United States, connecting Chicago to Texas, with three-day-a-week service continuing to Los Angeles.

Is this train worth taking? What should you expect before booking?

In this guide, I explain the Amtrak Texas Eagle schedule, major stops, accommodations, and onboard experience to help you decide whether this train fits your travel plans.

Amtrak Texas Eagle at a Glance

• Route: Chicago → San Antonio (with through cars continuing to Los Angeles)
• Trip Length: ~32 hours to San Antonio; up to ~65 hours to Los Angeles
• Frequency: Daily, Chicago–San Antonio; through cars to Los Angeles operate about 3 times per week
• Major Stops: Chicago, St. Louis, Little Rock, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Tucson, Los Angeles
• Sleeping Cars: Yes (Roomettes, Bedrooms, Family Bedrooms, and Accessible rooms available)
• Dining: Flex Dining Chicago–San Antonio; Traditional Dining San Antonio–Los Angeles
  • A café car is open to all passengers.
• Best For: Long-distance travel, scenic journeys, and travelers who want to enjoy the experience—not rush it.

Amtrak Texas Eagle Schedule

This timetable is sourced from Amtrak.com, but schedules are subject to change without notice. I do my best to keep everything up to date. Still, I recommend double-checking your electronic ticket or online reservation the day before your trip to confirm the most accurate departure and arrival times.

The last update was checked and applied on May 11, 2026.

Amtrak Texas Eagle Schedule Abbreviations

Printable Amtrak Texas Eagle Schedule

Use the button below or print a custom schedule from Amtrak.com. Learn how to print a custom Amtrak schedule.

About Amtrak’s Texas Eagle route

My first Amtrak trip in a Superliner roomette was on the Texas Eagle, and that experience convinced me to get sleeping accommodations.

The Texas Eagle offers a journey through the heart of the Lone Star State. This train departs from Chicago and travels to San Antonio, with intermediate stops including Austin and Dallas. The route includes scenic views of the Land of Lincoln, the Mississippi River, the Ozarks, and the piney woods of East Texas.

After arriving in Dallas, passengers can explore the city’s vibrant culture. The train then continues to Austin, known for its dynamic atmosphere and thriving arts scene. The final destination is San Antonio, famous for the Alamo and the charming Riverwalk.

If you want to see the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and California, you can travel on the Texas Eagle to Los Angeles three days a week.

Along this route, part of the Eagle joins the Sunset Limited. From the train, you can see Mexico, the Prada store in the desert, and, if you’re lucky, a tasty burrito from the Burrito Lady in El Paso!

Buckle up and get ready to experience the best of Texas and the Southwest aboard the Texas Eagle!

For more information on the stops, refer to the Texas Eagle route guide, published by Amtrak. Although old, it still contains fascinating history and tidbits to enhance your journey.

Booking a Trip on Amtrak’s Texas Eagle

You have a few options for booking your trip on the Texas Eagle. You can book online at Amtrak.com, use the Amtrak app, or call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL.

When booking your train tickets, you may notice two train numbers for each direction: 21 or 421 for southbound travel, and 22 or 422 for northbound travel. You can choose whichever option is less expensive; both will take you to your destination. The key difference is that trains 421 and 422 are through cars that continue to or from Los Angeles as part of the Sunset Limited service.

Between San Antonio and Los Angeles, the Texas Eagle (trains 421 and 422) and the Sunset Limited (trains 1 and 2) operate as a single service. If you are traveling between these two cities, you can choose either train based on which one offers the best fare. Your experience and arrival time will be the same regardless of the train you book.

The Texas Eagle Host Railroads

Here are the host railroads that the Texas Eagle travels on for 15 miles or more:

• BNSF – 116 miles
• CN-IC – 35 miles
• UP – 1073 miles
• TRE – 33 miles: A commuter line

Equipment used on Amtrak’s Texas Eagle

The Texas Eagle uses Amtrak’s Superliner equipment, featuring bi-level cars designed for comfort and offering great views.

Onboard, you’ll find:

• Coach Class – Spacious reclining seats with leg rests and large windows.
• Sleeping Cars – Private accommodations, including Roomettes, Bedrooms, and Family Bedrooms.
• Sightseer Lounge & Café Car – This lounge car features floor-to-ceiling windows, offering an ideal vantage point to take in the breathtaking landscapes along the route.
  • Depending on the route section, the café is either on a lower level of the Sightseer Lounge or in a separate car.
  • The café serves snacks and beverages.
• Dining Car (Between San Antonio and Los Angeles) – Serving freshly prepared meals with communal seating.

You can discover more about these cars as you read this article.

Coach class on the Amtrak Texas Eagle.

The Texas Eagle has Amtrak coach seating,

• Upper and lower-level seating options
• Comfortable reclining seats with ample legroom
• A fold-down tray
• Individual reading lights
• Grounded (three-prong) 120V electric outlets on the wall.
  • Pack and extension cord.
• Coach storage
  • There are overhead luggage racks.
  • Additional luggage storage on the lower level
• Restrooms are in each car on the lower level.

Coach passengers do not have access to showers, but the Amtrak shower article offers tips for staying fresh during travel.

Sleeper Car (Rooms) on the Texas Eagle

Amtrak sleeping accommodations are my happy place on the Texas Eagle because they let me sleep horizontally, offer extra privacy, and more. 

The rooms on the Texas Eagle provide fresh linens, towels, and pillows to help you get a good night’s sleep. 

Your reservation includes all your scheduled meals.

As a passenger on the Texas Eagle, you can access station lounges in Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles. 

A dedicated car attendant will be at your service, ready to assist with any basic request.

For added privacy and comfort, each room has curtains on all windows. You can lock the door from inside your room, but you cannot lock it when you leave.

Your daytime seating transforms into a comfortable berth and becomes a cozy bed at night. Please note that if you choose a room with an upper bunk, someone will need to climb up to access it.

Amtrak provides hanging space for clothing, complete with hangers. For your convenience, a coffee and juice station is available, and each room has at least one 120-volt (three-prong) outlet. I strongly recommend bringing an extension cord, preferably with multiple outlets.

All sleeping car passengers have access to a shower. If you have reserved a bedroom, the shower is in your private bathroom. All other accommodations can use the lower-level shower. Amtrak provides towels, washcloths, and soap (bar or liquid). If you need more, you may need to pack them. 

If you are in a 421 or 422 sleeping car, your car is typically located at the end of the train when it connects to the Sunset Limited. You may need to walk through the coach cars to access the dining car and the Sightseer Lounge Car.

Accommodations offered

• Roomettes
  • Amtrak’s smallest accommodations
  • Great for solo travelers and comfy for two.
• Bedrooms
  • Twice the space of a roomette and more.
  • The room has an en-suite bathroom with a shower and a sink.
• Accessible room
  • Accommodation for passengers with mobility challenges.
  • To reserve this room, call Amtrak.
• Family Bedroom
  • Provides seating and berths for two adults and two smaller kids

Texas Eagle sleeping car layout

Bikes and Pets on the Texas Eagle

Bikes

• Amtrak has space 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 in the baggage car
  • Visit the Amtrak bicycle page for more information and the latest policy updates.

Pets

• You can bring your cat or dog aboard the Texas Eagle
  • Your cat or dog must weigh less than 20 pounds, including the pet and the carrier.
  • The journey must be under seven hours.
  • Amtrak requires reservations for your fluffy friend!
  • Pet owners must complete the paperwork that Amtrak will send electronically once the reservation process is complete. Passengers can also find the paperwork in the My Trip section of the website and app.
  • Before booking, read the Amtrak pet policy.

If you plan to bring a service or comfort animal, please review the Amtrak service animal policy.

Before booking, please ensure your animal meets the qualification requirements and review the booking instructions carefully.

Luggage: carry-on and checked

To check baggage, keep a few key details in mind.

• Amtrak allows two bags per person, each weighing up to 50 lbs. and measuring up to 75 linear inches, free of charge.
• You can check two additional bags for a fee.
• Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage.
• Not all locations can handle checked baggage
• Your first and last stations must offer checked-bag service.
  • Click the station links below to see if they offer checked baggage service.

Each passenger may carry on:

• One personal item, up to 25 pounds (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

Charges apply to additional and oversized luggage; see Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.

Accessibility aboard the Eagle

A wheelchair ramp and wheeled mobility device are available to help passengers board and disembark.

Accessible sleeping accommodations are available; however, other rooms may be available depending on your specific needs and abilities. Lower-level coach-class seating is also available.

A Daily Breakdown of the Texas Eagle

Note: 21 & 22 go between Chicago and San Antonio, while 421 & 422 go between Chicago and Los Angeles.

Train travel can take several days, and this table breaks down the route, including the first and last stops for each day.

The café car on the Texas Eagle.

The café car is open to all passengers during the route but is closed at night and during breaks.

• The café features:
  • A variety of hot and cold meals
  • Snacks,
  • Hot, cold, and adult beverages

When traveling between Chicago and San Antonio, the café car is between the coach and the sleeping cars.

Depending on what section of the route you are on, the café attendant may be found in a separate café car on the upper or lower level of the Sightseer Lounge Car.

For travelers between San Antonio and Los Angeles, the café is located on the lower level of the Sightseer car, positioned between the coach and dining car.

Texas Eagle Sleeper Car Passenger Meals

If you have sleeping-car accommodation, your meals are included with your reservation. Below are the meal times available while onboard.

*Indicate that it is a flex dining meal

Flex dining on the Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio.

Flex dining is a complimentary meal system for sleeping passengers. It includes prepared breakfast and dinner, along with complimentary beverages. Passengers can choose to eat the meals in their rooms or in the café car. Flex dining meals are not available to coach passengers.

Meals on trains 421/422 between San Antonio, TX, and Los Angeles, CA

Traditional Dining

• Meals are complimentary for sleeper car passengers
  • These are chef-prepared meals
• Meals come with non-alcoholic beverages
  • Your first adult beverage with dinner is on Amtrak.
• Offerings include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with selections for kids
• You can purchase an array of wines, beers, and spirits
• If space is available, coach passengers can eat in the dining car with reservations
  • Meals are a set price for coach passengers
  • You can eat your meals in the dining car or sleeping accommodation

A Few Last Tips for First-Time Amtrak Texas Eagle Travelers

When I first started traveling by train, I had plenty of questions. I hope this article has answered most of your questions! However, I’d like to share a few more tips and resources to make your journey as smooth as possible.

Booking Your Trip

You can book your tickets via Amtrak’s app or website—both are user-friendly and convenient.

Need assistance? Visit a staffed Amtrak station or call 1-800-USA-RAIL. Some travel agents can also help you book your trip.

Know Your Station

Not all Amtrak stations have staff, especially on routes such as the Texas Eagle. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the type of station you’ll be using. You can learn more about the different kinds of Amtrak stations.

Tickets and Boarding
Amtrak offers flexibility when it comes to tickets:

• Use digital tickets on your phone or print them out, whichever you prefer.
• Don’t forget to bring a valid ID—they sometimes ask for it! You do not need

If this is your first time traveling with Amtrak, or it’s been a while since your last trip, check out my article on boarding Amtrak trains. It covers everything you need to know to get ready for your journey.

Texas Eagle On-Time Performance

In June 2026, the Texas Eagle reported a Customer On-Time Performance (OTP) of 58.7%, compared to a trailing 12-month average of 57.2%. Both values remain below Amtrak’s minimum standard of 80% for long-distance trains.

In June, passengers who arrived late averaged a 100-minute delay. Over the last 12 months, late passengers averaged 87 minutes of delay.

Railroads between Chicago and San Antonio, and the main reasons for delays differ by segment:

• BNSF: In June, freight train interference caused the most delays, followed by temporary slow orders.
• CN-Illinois Central: Freight-train interference was the primary cause of delays, followed by routing and dispatching issues.
• Union Pacific: The primary issue was interference from freight trains, followed by temporary slow orders.
• Trinity Railway Express: Delays were primarily caused by interference from commuter trains, followed by routing and dispatching problems.

Freight traffic was the primary issue along most of the route. At the same time, commuter train congestion had the most significant effect on the Trinity Railway Express segment near Dallas and Fort Worth.

Some passengers traveling on the Texas Eagle continue west of San Antonio in cars attached to the Sunset Limited. Delays on either train can affect that segment of the journey, so allow extra time when planning connections or any time-sensitive activities after arrival.

These preliminary figures are sourced from Amtrak’s June 2026 Host Railroad Report. Customer OTP evaluates whether passengers arrived on time at their destination, rather than whether the train reached every station on schedule.

Amtrak Texas Eagle FAQs

Is the Amtrak Texas Eagle Worth It?

The Amtrak Texas Eagle may not be the quickest way to travel across the country—but that’s not really its purpose.

This train journey emphasizes the experience as much as the destination. You’ll travel through major cities, quaint towns, and vast landscapes of the country that most people never see from 30,000 feet.

If you go in expecting the “punctuality” of an airline, you might feel frustrated—especially on such a lengthy route. However, if you allow for some flexibility and take the time to enjoy the journey, the Texas Eagle can become one of your most memorable trips.

Whether you are traveling to Texas or continuing to Los Angeles, knowing the schedule, stops, and what to expect on board will help you get the most out of your trip.