Amtrak Empire Builder: Schedule, Stops, & Route Guide

The Amtrak Empire Builder is a daily Superliner train that connects the heartland of the Midwest with the stunning landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. It provides service between Chicago, Seattle, and Portland, with notable stops along the route, including St. Paul/Minneapolis and Spokane.

The Empire Builder is unique because it splits or converges during its journey, depending on the direction of travel, to serve both Seattle and Portland. For more details on this topic, you can check out my article about trains with multiple route numbers.

An Overview of the Amtrak Empire Builder Route

The Empire Builder connects vibrant cities with breathtaking natural wonders along its route:

• Chicago, IL: Begin your adventure in a city famous for its world-class museums, deep-dish pizza, and historic Union Station.
• Milwaukee, WI: Experience the city’s vibrant brewing culture, Harley-Davidson’s legacy, and stunning Lake Michigan views that will leave you amazed.
• St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN: Discover the charm of the vibrant riverfront, the allure of historic neighborhoods, and the endless possibilities at the nearby Mall of America.
• Glacier National Park in Montana is a highlight of the journey, featuring stunning mountain views and endless outdoor adventures. Discover how to travel to Glacier National Park via Amtrak.
• Whitefish, MT, is a charming town ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, offering skiing, hiking, and a vibrant arts scene.
• Spokane, WA: Discover Riverfront Park, local wineries, and embrace a welcoming gateway to the Pacific Northwest.
• Portland, OR: Famous for its quirky charm, food carts, Powell’s City of Books, and the beautiful International Rose Test Garden.
• Seattle, WA: This city marks the northern terminus of the journey. It features iconic attractions such as Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, offering stunning views of Mount Rainier.

One of the intermediate stops could be a perfect place for you to relax or explore. The Empire Builder offers numerous destinations for your next adventure.

States served by Amtrak’s Empire Builder route

Learn more about Amtrak service in the states the Empire Builder travels through: Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.

Learn more about the Empire Builder.

If you want to learn about the history of the many stops this train travels through, check out this Empire Builder Route Guide. Note that Amtrak put this out in 2010.

For reference, a map shows the areas you will pass through during the day and at night. Take a look!

The Borealis – “The Baby Builder”

In May 2024, Amtrak launched the Borealis, a new daytime train service connecting Chicago and the Twin Cities.

The Borealis serves the same communities as the Empire Builder but also includes the Hiawatha’s intermediate stops between Chicago and St. Paul, MN.

If you plan a trip between these cities, the Borealis offers a convenient and comfortable alternative to the Empire Builder. Its daytime schedule makes it an excellent choice for travelers who prefer to journey during daylight hours.

While this train does not offer sleeper accommodations, it does have business class.

Consider the Borealis for your next trip and experience this exciting new addition to Amtrak’s services!

Empire Builder On-Time Performance

In June 2026, the Empire Builder recorded a Customer On-Time Performance (OTP) of 29.2%, compared to a trailing 12-month average of 49.6%. Both figures remain significantly below Amtrak’s minimum standard of 80% for long-distance trains.

In June, passengers who arrived late experienced an average delay of 151 minutes. Over the past 12 months, late passengers had an average delay of 131 minutes.

The Empire Builder runs on three host railroads, each with different major causes of delay.

• BNSF: Freight train interference was the largest delay category in June, followed by temporary slow orders.
• CPKC: The most significant delays were caused by temporary slow orders, followed by interference from freight trains.
• Metra: The main issue affecting commuter trains near Chicago was interference, followed by delays related to maintenance work on the tracks.

Due to the Empire Builder’s journey of over 2,000 miles between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, delays can accumulate during its two-night trip. Allow extra time when planning separate train reservations, flights, rental car pickups, or other time-sensitive activities after your 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 stopped at each station according to schedule.

The Equipment Used on the Empire Builder.

The Empire Builder operates using Amtrak’s distinctive Superliner cars, which feature a bi-level design with two stories.

• The Empire Builder has:
  • Coach cars
  • Sleeping cars
  • A Dining car
  • A Sightseer Lounge/Café car
    • This car is on the Portland side of the train
    • More about this later

Coach Seating on the Empire Builder

The Empire Builder’s coach seats offer a comfortable, convenient travel experience.

You will enjoy spacious reclining seats with ample legroom, footrests, a fold-down tray, and a convenient seatback pocket for your essentials.

Do you need to charge your devices? Each seat features a personal reading light and access to a 120V grounded wall outlet. An extension cord can be helpful if you’re seated in an aisle or need to plug in multiple devices.

There are no middle seats in coach class! Overhead storage is available for smaller bags; additional luggage space is on the lower level. On the lower level, you’ll also find the restrooms for this car.

Empire Builder Coach Car Layout

There are several layouts, but this is the most basic.

Sleeper Accommodations (Rooms) on the Empire Builder

Amtrak sleeper car accommodations provide an excellent option for travelers seeking comfort, privacy, and a more enjoyable train journey.

Key Features and Amenities

• Meals Included: All sleeper car reservations include traditional dining options. Please see the details below.
• Lounge Access: Show your sleeper car ticket to gain exclusive access to lounges in Chicago, St. Paul, and Portland, OR.
• Room Amenities:
  • Your daytime seating gets transformed into comfortable beds at night.
  • There are interior and exterior window drapes for privacy and light blockage.
  • Each room has a closet or clothing hook (hangers provided)
  • The space features convenient cup holders, a table, reading lights, and night lights.
  • Amtrak provides pillows, sheets, and blankets

Bathrooms and Showers

• Bathrooms: Both upper- and lower-level restrooms are available in the sleeper cars.
• Showers: Passengers can access a shared shower on the lower level, while bedrooms include private showers. Amtrak supplies soap, washcloths, and towels. (Bring a hair dryer or curling iron if you need one.)
• Shampoo: Amtrak provides shampoo, but availability can vary. It doesn’t hurt to bring some as a backup, or if you have a favorite.

Dedicated car attendants are available to assist you and your fellow travelers. Amtrak sleeper cars are a comfortable and practical way to travel by train.

Types of Rooms Found on the Empire Builder

You can reserve these accommodations for yourself or with a friend. If you book a room as a single, it will be reserved for you alone.

• Roomettes
  • Smallest of the rooms
  • Rooms 1-10 are located on the upper level, and rooms 11-14 are situated on the lower level.
• Bedrooms
  • Twice the space of a roomette
  • These rooms are only on the upper level.
• Family Bedroom
  • For two adults and two smaller kids.
  • On the lower level, there is access to a shower down the hall from this room.
• Accessible room
  • Accommodations for passengers with mobility issues.
  • On the lower level

The layout can vary, but these are the basics. If your roomette number is 20 or larger, you could be in a transdorm car.

How to Buy Amtrak Empire Builder Tickets

You can purchase Amtrak tickets through the Amtrak website or Amtrak app, by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL, at staffed Amtrak stations, or from ticket kiosks where available. You can also check with local or online travel agents.

For many travelers, using the Amtrak website or app is the easiest option. The Amtrak app allows you to store your eTicket, or you can print the PDF ticket that Amtrak emails to you. Conductors can also scan your eTicket directly from the email on your phone or another electronic device.

I recommend buying your ticket in advance, especially when traveling on weekends, during holidays, or at other busy times. Some trains, accommodations, and services can sell out quickly. It’s also a good idea to book early if you plan to travel with a bicycle or a pet, or if you want one of the limited premium accommodations on the train.

Luggage: Carry-on and checked

• Amtrak’s checked baggage service allows:
  • Two bags, each weighing up to 50 lbs and measuring up to 75 linear inches, are free per person.
  • Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage.
  • You can check up to four bags.
  • Not all locations can handle checked baggage.
    • Your first and last stations must offer checked bag service.
  • Click the station links below to check whether they provide 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

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

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

Pets and service animals on the Empire Builder

• Amtrak allows dogs and cats:
  • Up to 20 pounds combined weight of pet and carrier,
  • For trips up to seven hours.
  • Please ensure that your pet is included in your reservation.
  • Paperwork is required and must be completed before you arrive at the station.
    • After completing your reservation, Amtrak will email you an online form, available in the “My Trip” section on Amtrak.com or in the Amtrak app.
  • For more information, please refer to Amtrak’s pet policy.

If you have a service or comfort animal, please read the Amtrak service animal policy before booking.

Wi-Fi on the Empire Builder

The Empire Builder does not offer onboard Wi-Fi, and parts of the route traverse remote areas with limited or no cell service, particularly in the mountains and northern plains.

If staying connected is essential to you, here are a few tips:

• Mobile hotspots or phone tethering may work in some areas, but coverage is not guaranteed along the entire route.
• Download content in advance—like movies, podcasts, or eBooks—so you can stay entertained offline.
• Double-check your data plan if you plan to use mobile data, especially if you’re tethering. You don’t want a surprise bill after your trip!

That said, this is an excellent opportunity to unplug, relax, and enjoy the stunning views from your seat. The Empire Builder offers some of the most scenic landscapes in the Amtrak system—perfect for watching the world roll by.

Accessibility on the Builder

A Wheelchair Ramp assists passengers with wheeled mobility devices in boarding and deplaning. Lower-level coach seating and accessible bedrooms are also available for those with mobility needs.

A breakdown of the Empire Builder Schedule by day.

The graph below illustrates the daily route, highlighting each day’s first and last stop.

Food on the Empire Builder

The Empire Builder offers two food options on the train: a café car for grab-and-go food and a dining car for sit-down meals.

Amtrak Empire Builder Café Car

The café offers a diverse menu featuring hot and cold meals, snacks, and a variety of beverages, including both non-alcoholic and alcoholic options.

The café is open to all customers from early morning until late at night; however, it closes during the day for staff breaks. Please note that the café is unavailable on trains 7 and 8 between Seattle and Spokane.

For more information and to view current menus, check out my post about the Amtrak Café Car.

The Location of the Café Car

The café is located on the lower level of the Sightseer Lounge car. If you are in sections 7 or 8, head toward the back of the train. Passengers in sections 27 or 28 should move toward the front of the train. When you see the large windows, you’ll know you’ve reached the correct car.

Note: There is no café service between Seattle and Spokane. If you need a beverage, please check with the dining car.

Amtrak Empire Builder Dining Car

Dining car meals are complimentary for passengers with sleeping accommodations and available for a set price for coach passengers. Amtrak may limit coach seating based on availability.

The Empire Builder train provides a traditional dining experience. Chefs prepare meals served with table service, and passengers in the sleeping cars can also have their meals delivered to their rooms.

Dining options include

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Three-course dinner

Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages are included with meals, and Amtrak offers a complimentary first drink with dinner.

Sides are included with meals, and children’s options are available as well.

A variety of wines, beers, and spirits are available for purchase and can be enjoyed with meals or in your room.

For more information and to view the menus, check out my post on Amtrak Traditional Dining.

The location of the Empire Builder’s dining car

The dining car is between the coach and sleeper cars on the Seattle side of trains 7 and 8.

If you are on trains 27 or 28, you must walk to the front of the train. Pass the Sightseer Car and all the coach cars to the dining car. Be prepared for a bit of a hike, but it’s a great way to burn calories.

Please note that traditional dining is unavailable on trains 27 and 28 between Portland, OR, and Spokane, WA. If you are a sleeper passenger, your car attendant will provide you with food or further instructions.

Dining car meals are available by day.

This graph illustrates the daily meals served in the Empire Builder dining car.

Why does the Empire Builder have two starting and ending points on the West Coast?

You may wonder how the Empire Builder serves both Seattle and Portland. The answer is straightforward: the Empire Builder operates as two separate trains between Spokane and the West Coast. This unique characteristic makes it one of the few Amtrak trains that split and merge during the journey.

The Empire Builder travels as a single train from Chicago to Spokane, WA. There, it splits into two sections: one heading to Seattle, WA, and the other to Portland, OR. Similarly, on the return trip, the two sections merge into a single train in Spokane before continuing to Chicago.

For travelers between Chicago and Spokane, the schedule remains the same regardless of whether you take Train 7 or 27, or Train 8 or 28. Once you reach Spokane, your destination will determine which section of the train you board next.

Keep Travels with Kev on Track

In 2026, Travels with Kev turns 10 years old — and I appreciate everyone who has ridden along over the years.

Hop On Board — It’s Free!

Join the Travels with Kev newsletter and get my Quick Reference Guide to Amtrak Long-Distance Trains, packed with:

• Train equipment details
• Dining information
• Route tips
• Helpful travel resources for beginners

You’ll also receive Amtrak news, travel tips, and updates from my latest adventures straight to your inbox.

Want to Support Travels with Kev?

If my guides and tips have helped you plan your travels, you can also support the site through Patreon or my support page. Every bit helps keep new train guides, updates, and travel content rolling down the tracks.

And don’t forget to check out the Travel with Kev Podcast for more train travel stories, tips, and discussions.

Amtrak Empire Builder Schedule

See where the Empire Builder can take you (and when you get there, too)! The information in this section comes from Amtrak.com.

Amtrak reserves the right to make changes at any time. The information provided was last updated as of November 5, 2025.

Abbreviations

R = Receive passengers only

D = Discharge only

Learn About Amtrak’s Receive and Discharge Only Stops.

S = Seasonal station

* = Stations with Amtrak Connecting Services.

Printable Amtrak Empire Builder Schedule

Amtrak offers you custom schedules at no additional cost! You can get the needed times or a schedule that includes connecting trains or services. Learn how to print Amtrak schedules! You can also learn how to print out route schedules from that link.

Kev’s thoughts on the Empire Builder

The Empire Builder is a great way to travel between the Northwest and the Midwest. I’ve taken this train a few times and had a great time. I even met a local celebrity in the dining car. One of my favorite parts of the ride was traveling along the Mississippi and through my state by rail!

If you’re in the sleeping car on the Portland sections of the train (27/28), it’s a hike to the dining car. The same applies to Seattle sleeper-car passengers who wish to visit the café car (between Chicago and Spokane). Please note this when booking.

This page provides additional information to help you, including tips on boarding Amtrak, ways to save money when booking, and considerations to keep in mind when you receive a sold-out message.

Thank you for reading and allowing me to assist you with your research. If you enjoyed this post and found it valuable, consider supporting Travels with Kev.