The Rail Pass
- July 30 depart Pittsburgh at 7:30 a.m. on train 42 arrive in New York City at 4:50 p.m. on July 30
- July 31 depart New York City at 2:15 p.m. on train 19 arrive in New Orleans at 7:32 p.m on August 1
- August 3 depart New Orleans at 9:00 a.m. on train 1 arrive in Los Angeles at 5:35 a.m. on August 5
- August 5 depart Los Angeles at 3:05 p.m. on train 777 arrive in Santa Barbara at 5:40 p.m. on August 5
- August 7 depart Santa Barbara at 12:40 p.m. on train 14 arrive in Seattle at 8:12 p.m. on August 8
- August 9 depart Seattle at 4:40 p.m. on train 8 arrive in Chicago at 3:55 p.m. on August 11
- August 12 depart Chicago at 6:40 p.m. on train 30 arrive in Pittsburgh at 5:05 a.m. on August 13
The Amtrak Rail pass was a 15 day pass of 8 segments for $459 a person. The itinerary above is routes that I had decided to take but there are many different routes out there that and is available for customization. The trip we had went on only consisted of six segments because the travel time took up a lot of time and we were unable to make more stops and keep it under a 15 day trip. We managed to travel a total of 7,983 miles in 15 days which is approximately 8 solid days of being on the train. We definitely spent more time on the train then visiting the cities but it was still a very nice experience.
Somethings to consider before planning a rail pass is that most trains stop in each city once a day so you will most likely have to stay the night before boarding another train to your next city. Although through California there are multiple trains that pass through allowing for the opportunity to arrive in the morning and depart in the evening to speed up your travel time. Then there are some trains like the number 1 from New Orleans to Los Angeles which only runs a couple days a week so you will have to work out your travel time to their schedule.
The trains are cozy but can get pretty chilly in the evening when your trying to sleep. We tried to pack light so did not pack any blankets which made it very difficult to sleep through the night. We ended up needing to buy a blanket before our longest trip, so I do recommend finding room in your luggage for a blanket and maybe even a pillow for comfort. The seats do lounge back and there is a foot rest the comes up for added comfort. The rail passes are sold with standard coach seats but if you are willing to spend the big bucks there is an opportunity to upgrade your tickets for a sleeper. The sleepers give you your own private room with two seats that fold out into a twin bed with a bunk bed on top. Also with the sleeper all meals are provided and there is even a shower!
The bathrooms on our first two trains spoiled us because they were so spacious and clean, but once we boarded the longer distance double decker trains, reality hit us and they were even smaller than a porta-potty. The picture below is of a bathroom on our first train.
Somethings to consider before planning a rail pass is that most trains stop in each city once a day so you will most likely have to stay the night before boarding another train to your next city. Although through California there are multiple trains that pass through allowing for the opportunity to arrive in the morning and depart in the evening to speed up your travel time. Then there are some trains like the number 1 from New Orleans to Los Angeles which only runs a couple days a week so you will have to work out your travel time to their schedule.
The trains are cozy but can get pretty chilly in the evening when your trying to sleep. We tried to pack light so did not pack any blankets which made it very difficult to sleep through the night. We ended up needing to buy a blanket before our longest trip, so I do recommend finding room in your luggage for a blanket and maybe even a pillow for comfort. The seats do lounge back and there is a foot rest the comes up for added comfort. The rail passes are sold with standard coach seats but if you are willing to spend the big bucks there is an opportunity to upgrade your tickets for a sleeper. The sleepers give you your own private room with two seats that fold out into a twin bed with a bunk bed on top. Also with the sleeper all meals are provided and there is even a shower!
The bathrooms on our first two trains spoiled us because they were so spacious and clean, but once we boarded the longer distance double decker trains, reality hit us and they were even smaller than a porta-potty. The picture below is of a bathroom on our first train.
The trains have an outlet at each seat which made it nice for charging our phones and lap tops. We were told that all trains had wi-fi but we found that to be false, on our first two trains there was wi-fi although it was very slow, but on the double decker trains there was no wi-fi to be found. We were able to use our phones as hot spots when needed but as we started going in and out of the mountains we had very little service and could no longer do that. Not having cell phone service though can be a good thing because we were able to enjoy the views of the mountains, the deserts, lakes and oceans, views that we do not typically get to see.
The trains have other spaces for you to go so you do not always have to sit in your seat. There is a snack car, a viewing car, and also a dining car. The snack car is open most of the time and you can purchase candy, chips, drinks, and food that they microwave for you. The dining car is the more expensive place to eat and is open for breakfast lunch and dinner and you must place reservations in order to be seated. We only ate in the dining car once but it was pretty delicious.
The trains have other spaces for you to go so you do not always have to sit in your seat. There is a snack car, a viewing car, and also a dining car. The snack car is open most of the time and you can purchase candy, chips, drinks, and food that they microwave for you. The dining car is the more expensive place to eat and is open for breakfast lunch and dinner and you must place reservations in order to be seated. We only ate in the dining car once but it was pretty delicious.
I really enjoyed the rail trip, it allowed me to see our country through a way that I never had before. It was nice to not have to worry about driving across country and just relax. I am happy to have had this opportunity to create my own trip, with my own destinations and to slow down and enjoy my surroundings.