Amtrak's Empire Builder Schedule (Timetable)
Amtrak's Empire Builder Schedule (Timetable)

2023 Amtrak Empire Builder Schedule/Timetable & More

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.

Superliner Bedroom
The hallway for Amtrak Superliner Bedrooms

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 ServedTrain 8/28
Eastbound
Read DownDaily TrainMilesLast Stop
3:05pChicago, IL
Union Station (CHI) (CT)
04:45p
3:29pGlenview, IL (GLN) (Metra)174:12p
4:35p | 4:45pMilwaukee, WI
Downtown (MKE)
852:57p | 3:05p
5:55pColumbus, WI (CBS) (Madison)1501:47p
6:24pPortage, WI (POG)1781:17p
6:42pWisconsin Dells, WI (WDL)19512:58p
7:20pTomah, WI (TOH)24012:16p
8:04pLa Crosse, WI *
Amtrak Station (LSE)
28111:37a
8:34p | 8:40pWinona, MN (WIN)30810:54a | 11:01a
9:42pRed Wing, MN (RDW)3719:44a
10:56p | 11:13pSt. Paul-Minneapolis, MN*
Union Depot (MSP)
4108:33a | 8:50a
1:09aSt. Cloud, MN (SCD)4866:32a
2:10aStaples, MN (SPL)5525:27a
3:06aDetroit Lakes, MN (DLK)6144:27a
4:13aFargo, ND (FAR)6623:21a | 3:29a
5:34aGrand Forks, ND (GFK)7372:10a
6:59aDevils Lake, ND (DVL)82212:44a
7:53aRugby, ND (RUG)87911:49p
9:06a | 9:51aMinot, ND (MOT)94010:08p | 10:53p
10:46aStanley, ND (STN)9948:22p
11:59aWilliston, ND (WTN) (CT)10617:21p
12:34pWolf Point, MT (WPT) (MT)11684:32p
1:20pGlasgow, MT (GGW)12173:44p
2:20pMalta, MT (MAL)12832:43p
3:54p | 4:15pHavre, MT (HAV)13701:05p | 1:24p
6:13p | 6:21pShelby, MT (SBY) *147511:20a | 11:28a
6:51pCut Bank, MT (CUT)149910:27a
7:28pBrowning, MT (BRO) W15329:52a
7:48pEast Glacier Park, MT (GPK) W15479:36a
8:44pEssex, MT (ESM)
Izaak Walton Inn
15768:37a
9:27pWest Glacier, MT (WGL) (Apgar)16037:57a
10:06p | 10:21pWhitefish, MT (WFH)16267:11a | 7:26a
12:05aLibby, MT (LIB) (MT)17285:11a
12:55aSandpoint, ID (SPT) (PT)18132:20a
Train 7Train to/from Seattle
For Portland Section
Skip This Section
MilesTrain 8
2:49a | 3:24aSpokane, WA *
Amtrak Station (SPK)
187912:37a | 1:15a
5:34aEphrata, WA (EPH)19989:58p
6:40a | 6:50aWenatchee, WA *
Amtrak Station (WEN)
20508:51p | 8:57p
7:23aLeavenworth, WA
Icicle Station (LWA)
20728:17p
10:03aEverett, WA (EVR)21715:55p
10:35aEdmonds, WA (EDM)21885:27p
11:29aSeattle, WA *
King Street Station (SEA) (PT)
22554:55p
Last StopStationsMilesRead Up
Train 27Train to/from PortlandMilesTrain 28
2:49a | 3:54aSpokane, WA *
Amtrak Station (SPK)
187912:17a | 1:15a
6:45aPasco, WA (PSC) *20259:06p
8:40aWishram, WA (WIH) (The Dallas)21506:59p
9:15aBingen-White Salmon, WA (BNG)21806:24p
10:35aVancouver, WA (VAN)22545:09p
11:17aPortland, OR
Union Station (PDX) (PT)
22554:45p
Last StopStationsMilesRead Up
This schedule is a guide; check with Amtrak for current times. ‘

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.

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Kev

Kev has been traveling with Amtrak since 2012, celebrating over ten years of travel! Over those years, he has been on over 700 trains covering over 200k miles of rail. Kev enjoys helping others achieve their travel dreams by providing support and information. Outside of travel, Kev enjoys making music as an organist.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Matt Newberry

    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

    1. Kev

      Thanks for letting me know, and I updated that info. I am glad I could help you!

      Safe travels,
      Kev

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