Amtrak's Coast Starlight

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): It 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 travelers of all types.

The owners of the tracks that the Coast Starlight uses

As you are aware, Amtrak utilizes other railroad tracks for many of its routes, which are referred to as host railroads. The Coast Starlight uses four host railroads, each with a route of 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 April 2025 alone, the average on-time performance was 61.5%, with an average delay of 91 minutes.
  • From April 2024 to 2025, it was 56.0%, with an average delay of 88 minutes.

Information in this section is sourced from the Amtrak Host Railroad Report, April 2025.

If you’re interested, I have an article that lists all the on-time performances of Amtrak’s 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.
• A grounded 120V outlet is available at the seat.
• Upper and lower-level seating options
• Luggage storage
• Reading light available

Coach passengers enjoy access to the café car, which offers a variety of 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’re looking for activities during your ride, check out my post on entertainment ideas on Amtrak.

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 café car is closed

For those seeking added privacy or comfort, consider upgrading to a roomette or a bedroom, and more options will be available later.

Coach Starlight Coach Car Layout

Sleeper accommodations (Rooms) on the Coast Starlight

Amtrak’s sleeper accommodations are an excellent choice for travelers seeking extra comfort and privacy on their journey aboard the Coast Starlight.

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 Bedrooms 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 features a private restroom, ample space for wheelchairs, and accessible amenities for added comfort and convenience.

Learn more about Amtrak Accessible Rooms 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, offering a variety of 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 assists passengers by making their beds, helping them off the train, providing 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; however, if you have a roomette, you may also have a room in a transitional dorm. These cars have only roomettes and often house the staff.

Trip add-ons

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 must have the paperwork completed before boarding the train.
• Get the latest information and the necessary paperwork by clicking 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.
  • Click the station links below to see if they offer checked baggage service and to review Amtrak’s checked bag policy.
• Each passenger is allowed to check two bags, with a maximum weight of 50 lbs and a maximum linear dimension of 75 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, 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

If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at some point along your journey, the baggage size limit for that train is 28 x 22 x 11 inches per piece.

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, as well as accessible bedrooms for those seeking sleeping accommodations. 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 the first and last stop for each 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

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.

Café car

The café car is excellent for grabbing a tasty treat or beverage. I tend to purchase most of my food in coach class from the café. If I am in a sleeper accommodation, I will walk there to stretch my legs and buy something to treat myself.

The café is situated on the lower level of the Sightseer Lounge, located between the coach and dining cars, in the center of the train. It offers a variety of hot and cold meals, snacks, and a selection of hot, cold, and alcoholic beverages for sale. 

The café 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, please note 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 aspects of having a sleeper is the dining car meals, where you can enjoy good food without having to dig into your wallet (except for the tip). The table below outlines the meals available for you to enjoy during your travel on the Coast Starlight.

Coast Starlight Scheduled Meals

Train	1st Day	2nd Day
#11 Southbound	Lunch & Dinner	Lunch & Dinner
#14 Northbound	Lunch & Dinner	Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Amtrak Coast Starlight Timetable or Schedule

The timetable information is sourced from the official Amtrak.com website; however, it is subject to change 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 likely to be 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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