Scenic Train Routes Across America: Coast to Coast

Experience America's most scenic train routes spanning coast to coast across 43,002 km. Travel through the Colorado Rockies, Sierra Nevada mountains, and Pacific coastline via legendary routes like the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco and the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles.

Mode
Places
Start
California Zephyr
End
Portland
Stops
28
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. California Zephyr — Iconic transcontinental route connecting Chicago to San Francisco, traversing Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada with unparalleled alpine scenery.
  2. Coast Starlight
  3. Empire Builder — Northern route from Chicago to Seattle passing through the Continental Divide, Glacier National Park, and pristine mountain wilderness.
  4. Southwest Chief — Historic railway from Chicago to Los Angeles crossing the Grand Canyon region, High Plains, and Colorado Plateau with desert panoramas.
  5. Chicago — Major Midwestern transportation hub and starting point for the California Zephyr train route across America.
  6. Illinois Farmland — Flat prairie landscape with endless fields of corn and wheat stretching across the Midwest.
  7. Iowa — Midwestern agricultural region featuring rolling farmland and grain fields visible from the California Zephyr.
  8. Colorado Rockies — North America's most spectacular mountain range with dramatic peaks and foothills approached during the second day of travel.
  9. Ruby Canyon — Remote canyon inaccessible by car where the California Zephyr follows the Colorado River through towering red rock walls.
  10. Westwater Canyon — Deep canyon carved by the Colorado River with dramatic red rock formations rising hundreds of feet above the train tracks.
  11. Moffat Tunnel — 6.2-mile tunnel boring through solid rock beneath the Continental Divide, marking the transition between Eastern and Western Slope.
  12. Glenwood Canyon — Narrow gorge where the Colorado River flows between canyon walls rising nearly 2,000 feet on both sides with dramatic rock formations.
  13. Great Salt Lake Desert — Vast desert landscape in Utah where the horizon stretches endlessly with profound silence and minimal visible features.
  14. Sierra Nevada — Major mountain range featuring dramatic passes, tunnels, and engineering marvels as the California Zephyr climbs westward.
  15. San Francisco Bay Area
  16. Seattle — Pacific Northwest city and starting point of the Coast Starlight train journey south along the west coast.
  17. Cascade Mountains — Lush mountain range near Seattle featuring towering Douglas firs and cedar trees creating a verdant forest landscape.
  18. Mount Shasta — Massive volcanic peak rising 14,179 feet with snow-covered summit dominating the landscape for miles near the California coast.
  19. San Luis Obispo — Central California coastal town where the Coast Starlight turns toward the Pacific Ocean for a dramatic four-hour scenic run.
  20. Pacific Coastline — One of the world's most beautiful coastlines where the train runs feet from crashing waves, offering views of surfers and seals.
  21. Surf, California — Tiny coastal village without a post office but with one of California's most beautiful beaches visible from the train.
  22. Los Angeles
  23. Minnesota — Northern state featuring vast grasslands and prairie landscapes on the Empire Builder's westward journey.
  24. North Dakota — Great Plains state with expansive grasslands broken by occasional farmsteads and grain elevators rising from the prairie.
  25. Glacier National Park — Vast wilderness area in Montana where the Empire Builder runs along the park's southern boundary for nearly 60 miles.
  26. Marias Pass — Lowest pass through the northern Rocky Mountains at 5,213 feet elevation, following a route used by Lewis and Clark expedition.
  27. Columbia River Gorge — Canyon carved by the Columbia River through the Cascade Mountains featuring waterfalls, basalt cliffs, and dramatic landscape.
  28. Portland — Pacific Northwest city and northern terminus of the Empire Builder train route through the Columbia River Gorge.

Useful for your trip

Transport
California Zephyr runs daily between Chicago and San Francisco, covering 2,438 miles over 51 hours, crossing seven states and three time zones.
Timing
On California Zephyr, the Rocky Mountain crossing typically occurs around dawn on the second day when dramatic peaks become visible.
Tip
California Zephyr passes through Ruby Canyon and Westwater Canyon with red rock walls towering hundreds of feet—accessible only by train, not by car.
Transport
Coast Starlight runs daily between Seattle and Los Angeles, taking 35 hours, with panoramic windows larger than most routes.
Timing
Coast Starlight schedule is adjusted so the most scenic portions—mountain crossing and coastal run—occur during daylight hours.
Tip
Coast Starlight runs so close to the Pacific Ocean north of San Luis Obispo that passengers can see surfers, seals, and pelicans; waves splash windows during winter storms.
Food
Coast Starlight features the Pacific Parlour Car, a restored 1950s lounge car with a full bar and 360-degree windows.
Transport
Empire Builder runs daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest (Seattle and Portland), through Montana's Glacier National Park region.
Tip
Empire Builder runs along Glacier National Park's southern boundary for nearly 60 miles; for stretches through Montana, the nearest highway is 50 miles away.
Timing
Empire Builder offers exceptional wildlife viewing: mountain goats, eagles, deer, and occasionally bears visible from the train.
Transport
Southwest Chief runs daily between Chicago and Los Angeles, passing within sight of the Grand Canyon through American Southwest landscapes.

Video on this route

The Most EPIC Scenic Routes in America by TRAIN | 4K Travel Guide

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