Lonely PlanetOct 9
10 Best Rail Journeys in the USA
See the best of the USA with our picks of America
In Salt Lake City's former Union Station, built 1909.
25 things in this story
- Asher Adams hotelHotelIn Salt Lake City's former Union Station, built 1909.
- Golden Spike National Historical ParkSightSite of first transcontinental railroad meeting.
- Elsewhere
- Arches National ParkSightMoab, United StatesNearby national park accessible from Moab.
- California ZephyrPlaceChicago, United StatesRuns from Chicago to California, a 2438-mile journey.
- Empire BuilderPlaceChicago, United StatesConnects Chicago to Seattle or Portland through mountains.
- Rocky MountaineerPlaceVancouver, CanadaScenic train routes through mountain country from Vancouver.
- Coast StarlightPlaceSeattle, United StatesTraces Pacific cliffs from Seattle to Los Angeles.
- Durango & Silverton steam trainPlaceDurango, United StatesHeritage steam train through San Juan Mountains.
- Canyon SpiritPlaceDenver, United StatesScenic train through Glenwood Canyon and Utah deserts.
- California State Railroad MuseumMuseumSacramento, United StatesVolunteer guides narrate journey between Reno and Sacramento.
- Cascade RangeSightSeattle, United StatesSnowcapped mountains seen on the Coast Starlight route.
- Glacier Park LodgeHotelEast Glacier, United StatesHistoric log-cabin style lodge built in 1913.
- Columbia River GorgeSightPortland, United StatesNational Scenic Area with thick forest and cliffs.
- Sunset LimitedPlaceNew Orleans, United StatesSouthernmost Amtrak line, rolls along bayous and river.
- Huey P Long BridgeSightNew Orleans, United StatesCrosses Mississippi River 153ft above water.
- Pecos River High BridgeSightNew Mexico, United StatesOnce tallest bridge in the country, over Pecos River.
- Pacific SurflinerPlaceLos Angeles, United StatesOceanside train route from Los Angeles to San Diego.
- Amtrak CascadesPlaceEugene, United StatesRoute from Eugene, OR to Vancouver, Canada.
- Adirondack routePlaceNew York, United StatesTrain journey through vineyards and past lakes.
- Hudson ValleyNeighborhoodNew York, United StatesVerdant vineyards seen from the Adirondack route.
- Lake ChamplainSightNew York, United StatesWith a length of 107 mi (172 km) and surface area over 500 sq mi (1,295 km2), it lies mostly between the U.S.
- Glenwood CanyonSightDenver, United StatesWinding canyon in Colorado seen on Canyon Spirit.
- Puget SoundSightSeattle, United States
- Glacier National ParkSightEast Glacier, United States
- Lake GeorgeSightNew York, United States