Amtrak offers numerous spectacular train routes throughout the United States, but travelers tend to agree that the California Zephyr between Emeryville and Chicago is the most beautiful trip available. The iconic long-distance route makes for a gorgeous multi-day journey through some of the country’s best natural scenery, with the added benefit of connecting two major U.S. cities.
San Francisco travelers can hop aboard an Amtrak Thruway bus running straight to the Emeryville station across the bay. From Emeryville, the California Zephyr will embark on a 2,438-mile journey to Chicago lasting about 52 hours (3 days and 2 nights). Trains take off from each end of the route once a day.
Stops and scenery on the California Zephyr route
Key stops along the route include Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Omaha. Whether you disembark somewhere in the middle or make it to Chicago, you’re in for a treat along the way.
Soon after leaving the bay, watch for some of the best scenery through the Sierra Nevada and Donner Pass, with a great vantage point over Donner Lake. From there, the route passes through dramatic parts of the Rocky Mountains, including the canyons of the Colorado River valley.
In Utah and Nevada, passengers marvel at vast landscapes including the Bonneville Salt Flats and the Humboldt River valley. The journey then proceeds through Nebraska’s prairies, the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and the rolling hills of Iowa.
What to expect on your journey aboard the Zephyr
The Zephyr uses Amtrak’s double-decker Superliner cars, which feature both coach seating and sleeping accommodations. There’s also a dining car and an observation car with panoramic windows, which is a popular lookout spot as the train passes through the Rockies and Sierras. Keep in mind that there is no WiFi on board.
Visit the official Amtrak website to book a trip aboard the California Zephyr, with your choice of coach seating, a small private roomette, or a larger bedroom. If you book in advance, you can find one-way coach tickets costing between $150 and $250, but meals are not included. Sleeper accommodations include meals but are significantly more expensive, with one-way prices around $600 for a roomette, and larger rooms sometimes exceeding $1,000.
Next time you’re booking flights, consider checking out the California Zephyr route for a relaxed and beautiful alternative that showcases some of the best natural scenery that our country has to offer.