Get the Amtrak Empire Builder Schedule, printable timetables, and the basics of this train with links to more detailed info.
This page may display best on mobile devices if you hold your phone horizontally. These are also guides, and Amtrak can change times at any time.
Amtrak Empire Builder Schedule Service Alerts and Notices
Every so often, there are changes to this train’s schedules or the stations it serves. Amtrak will issue notices on the page linked below to keep you up to date.
Accommodations Offerings for the Empire Builder
Coach Seating
Coach seating – features comfortable reclining seats with ample legroom and a fold-down tray, individual reading lights, and 120v electric outlets.
Sleeper Car (Rooms)
All rooms include:
- Fresh linens and towels
- Traditional Dining
- Lounge access in Chicago, St. Paul, and Portland, OR.
- Dedicated car attendant
The Family Bedroom provides seating and sleeping berths for two adults and two smaller kids. They also offer access to a shower down the hall from this room.
Bedrooms give you twice the space of a Roomette with seating by day, upper and lower berths by night, and an in-room restroom and shower.
Roomettes offer passengers seating by day that turns into upper and lower berths at night. Additionally, you have access to a shower in your car.
Accessible Room offers accommodations for passengers with a disability. The accessible bedroom is located on the lower level of the train and provides ample space for a wheelchair, with a sofa for two by day and an upper and lower berth for the night. The room has no shower, but the show is on the same level.
Bikes, pets, and luggage
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 coach passenger cars or baggage cars (if available). Learn about bringing your bike on your next Amtrak adventure.
Amtrak allows dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (combined weight of pet and carrier) for trips up to seven hours. Learn more about bringing your pet with you on your next Amtrak adventure.
Amtrak’s checked baggage service allows two bags up to 50 lbs, and 75 linear inches are permitted per person for free. Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage. Not all locations can handle checked baggage. Click the station links below to see if they offer checked baggage service.
You can carry two bags and two personal items. Learn more about Amtrak’s carry-on policy.
A Wheelchair Ramp is available to assist passengers in boarding and detraining with a wheeled mobility device.
Food offerings on the Empire Builder
You can find the Cafe on the lower level of the Sightseer Lounge, which features a variety of meals, snacks, and beverages for sale, and it is available for all customers from early morning until late at night. The cafe car is not open on trains 7/8 between Seattle and Spokane.
The Empire Builder has traditional dining, which offers chef-prepared meals with table service, selections for kids, and a wide array of wine, beer, and spirits. Sleeping passengers can have meals brought to their rooms.
The meals are complimentary for customers with sleeping accommodations or at set prices for coach passengers. Amtrak can limit seating for coach passengers.
Note: Traditional dining is unavailable on train 27/28 between Portland, OR, and Spokane, WA. Sleeper passengers will receive food from their car attendant or get further instructions.
2023 Amtrak Empire Builder Schedule
The Empire Builder is one of Amtrak’s trains that split/come together during its route.
Westward, the two trains run as one to Spokane, where it splits, one heading to Seattle and the other to Portland. On the return trip, one starts in Seattle and another in Portland, becoming one in Spokane.
Trains 7/27 and 8/28, traveling between Chicago, IL, and Spokane, WA, have the same schedule.
| Train 7/27 Westbound | Communities Served | – | Train 8/28 Eastbound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read Down | Daily Train | Miles | Last Stop |
| 3:05p | Chicago, IL Union Station (CHI) (CT) | 0 | 4:45p |
| 3:29p | Glenview, IL (GLN) (Metra) | 17 | 4:12p |
| 4:35p | 4:45p | Milwaukee, WI Downtown (MKE) | 85 | 2:57p | 3:05p |
| 5:55p | Columbus, WI (CBS) (Madison) | 150 | 1:47p |
| 6:24p | Portage, WI (POG) | 178 | 1:17p |
| 6:42p | Wisconsin Dells, WI (WDL) | 195 | 12:58p |
| 7:20p | Tomah, WI (TOH) | 240 | 12:16p |
| 8:04p | La Crosse, WI * Amtrak Station (LSE) | 281 | 11:37a |
| 8:34p | 8:40p | Winona, MN (WIN) | 308 | 10:54a | 11:01a |
| 9:42p | Red Wing, MN (RDW) | 371 | 9:44a |
| 10:56p | 11:13p | St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN* Union Depot (MSP) | 410 | 8:33a | 8:50a |
| 1:09a | St. Cloud, MN (SCD) | 486 | 6:32a |
| 2:10a | Staples, MN (SPL) | 552 | 5:27a |
| 3:06a | Detroit Lakes, MN (DLK) | 614 | 4:27a |
| 4:13a | Fargo, ND (FAR) | 662 | 3:21a | 3:29a |
| 5:34a | Grand Forks, ND (GFK) | 737 | 2:10a |
| 6:59a | Devils Lake, ND (DVL) | 822 | 12:44a |
| 7:53a | Rugby, ND (RUG) | 879 | 11:49p |
| 9:06a | 9:51a | Minot, ND (MOT) | 940 | 10:08p | 10:53p |
| 10:46a | Stanley, ND (STN) | 994 | 8:22p |
| 11:59a | Williston, ND (WTN) (CT) | 1061 | 7:21p |
| 12:34p | Wolf Point, MT (WPT) (MT) | 1168 | 4:32p |
| 1:20p | Glasgow, MT (GGW) | 1217 | 3:44p |
| 2:20p | Malta, MT (MAL) | 1283 | 2:43p |
| 3:54p | 4:15p | Havre, MT (HAV) | 1370 | 1:05p | 1:24p |
| 6:13p | 6:21p | Shelby, MT (SBY) * | 1475 | 11:20a | 11:28a |
| 6:51p | Cut Bank, MT (CUT) | 1499 | 10:27a |
| 7:28p | Browning, MT (BRO) W | 1532 | 9:52a |
| 7:48p | East Glacier Park, MT (GPK) W | 1547 | 9:36a |
| 8:44p | Essex, MT (ESM) Izaak Walton Inn | 1576 | 8:37a |
| 9:27p | West Glacier, MT (WGL) (Apgar) | 1603 | 7:57a |
| 10:06p | 10:21p | Whitefish, MT (WFH) | 1626 | 7:11a | 7:26a |
| 12:05a | Libby, MT (LIB) (MT) | 1728 | 5:11a |
| 12:55a | Sandpoint, ID (SPT) (PT) | 1813 | 2:20a |
| Train 7 | Train to/from Seattle For Portland Section Skip This Section | Miles | Train 8 |
| 2:49a | 3:24a | Spokane, WA * Amtrak Station (SPK) | 1879 | 12:37a | 1:15a |
| 5:34a | Ephrata, WA (EPH) | 1998 | 9:58p |
| 6:40a | 6:50a | Wenatchee, WA * Amtrak Station (WEN) | 2050 | 8:51p | 8:57p |
| 7:23a | Leavenworth, WA Icicle Station (LWA) | 2072 | 8:17p |
| 10:03a | Everett, WA (EVR) | 2171 | 5:55p |
| 10:35a | Edmonds, WA (EDM) | 2188 | 5:27p |
| 11:29a | Seattle, WA * King Street Station (SEA) (PT) | 2255 | 4:55p |
| Last Stop | Stations | Miles | Read Up |
| Train 27 | Train to/from Portland | Miles | Train 28 |
| 2:49a | 3:54a | Spokane, WA * Amtrak Station (SPK) | 1879 | 12:17a | 1:15a |
| 6:45a | Pasco, WA (PSC) * | 2025 | 9:06p |
| 8:40a | Wishram, WA (WIH) (The Dallas) | 2150 | 6:59p |
| 9:15a | Bingen-White Salmon, WA (BNG) | 2180 | 6:24p |
| 10:35a | Vancouver, WA (VAN) | 2254 | 5:09p |
| 11:17a | Portland, OR Union Station (PDX) (PT) | 2255 | 4:45p |
| Last Stop | Stations | Miles | Read Up |
Printable Amtrak Empire Builder Schedule
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. The train may leave early from this stop.
W = Seasonal station from October to April.
* = Stations with Amtrak Connecting Services.
Would you like train travel info in your inbox?
Consider joining the Travel with Kev email list for info, tips, and tricks for Amtrak travel.
Hi, there’s a typo in your Empire Builder schedule: the westbound LaCrosse time should be 8:04. Thank you for making these schedules accessible!
Matt
Thanks for letting me know, and I updated that info. I am glad I could help you!
Safe travels,
Kev