Epic 2,438-Mile Train Journey: Experience Unmatched Views of the Rockies and Sierra Mountains

The 51-hour California Zephyr train journey also stops in Salt Lake City, Denver, and Omaha.

With a reputation for being one of the most beautiful train routes in North America, Amtrak’s California Zephyr travels daily between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area on a 51-hour, 20-minute trip traversing 2,437 miles.

“The California Zephyr passes through two mountain ranges that are gorgeous,” Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari told iBestTravel, referring to the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas. “In some places, you can see views that can’t be seen from the road because a lot of the railroad tracks were there well before cars were invented and roads were paved.”

Passengers can take any portion of the route during its daily journeys through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California, which include stops in major cities like Chicago, Omaha, Denver, Grand Junction, Salt Lake City, and Reno, as well as Naperville, Lincoln, Fraser, Glenwood Springs, Davis, and Truckee. Although the Bay Area stop is on the East Bay in Emeryville, connections to both Oakland and San Francisco are available on the Thruway bus service.

Throughout the journey, there are plenty of stunning viewpoints. “Climbing out of Denver, you can look down from the train and be above the Mile High City as you first make your way through a whole series of tunnels that bring you up to a place called Fraser and Winter Park,” Magliari said. “The train continues on winding its way through the mountain. You pass through Salt Lake City in darkness, but pop out in time to be through Reno when you’re in the Sierras.”

During this stretch, he said the charm comes in riding on the hand-built railroad between Reno and Sacramento, which is “part of the original transcontinental railroad route built during the Civil War to unite the country.” That’s not the only historical aspect of the route — the name California Zephyr also dates back to the train that ran from 1949 to 1970, before Amtrak even began.

Amtrak Train 5 leaves Chicago’s Union Station at 2 p.m. each day and pulls into Emeryville at 4:10 p.m. two days later, while Train 6 departs Emeryville daily at 9:10 a.m. and arrives in Chicago at 2:50 p.m. two days later. Both have lunch and dinner service the first day, three meals the middle day, and breakfast and lunch the third.

Travelers can choose from a variety of accommodations aboard the train, from coach seats to private bedroom suites. Five types of Superliner rooms are available across two levels, starting with the Roomette, measuring between six-foot-six to six-foot-eight in length and three-foot-six wide. It has two seats by day that transform into an upper and lower bed at night, with access to a shared restroom and shower in the car.

Those craving more space and a private bathroom can upgrade to the Bedroom with twice as much space, measuring seven-foot-one to seven-foot-six long by six-foot-six to six-foot-eight wide. This accommodation sleeps two adults, has a sofa and separate chair that convert into an upper and lower bed at night, as well as an in-room sink, restroom, and shower.

Families can enjoy the spacious Bedroom Suite, which can accommodate up to four adults. This suite consists of two Bedrooms joined together, providing ample amenities. There’s also a Family Room designed for two adults and two children, with seating for four during the day and two upper beds and two lower beds at night, plus a private restroom and shower. Passengers with disabilities can opt for the Accessible Bedroom, which can accommodate two adults in upper and lower beds and features accessible facilities in the private restroom, with more space measuring up to nine-foot-five long and six-foot-nine wide.

All Superliner rooms are equipped with newly updated bedding, pillows, towels, and linens, and passengers have a dedicated first-class attendant, lounge access, and priority boarding.

For those preferring standard seating, Amtrak’s coach class is available, featuring reclining seats equipped with tray tables, reading lights, and electric outlets — and with two-by-two seating, there are no middle seats.

Passengers in private rooms enjoy all meals included in the dining car, where seasonal menus present a variety of entrees, like omelets and quesadillas for breakfast, alongside burgers and salads for lunch. The three-course dinners, which include wine, feature appetizers like caprese skewers and coconut shrimp, entrees like flat-iron steak and Atlantic salmon, and desserts like chocolate toffee mousse and lemon cake. Depending on availability, coach passengers may also purchase dining car access once on board. Guests can opt to have their meals served in their rooms as well.

All passengers have access to the cafe, which offers food a la carte, ranging from breakfast items to burgers, tamales, and hot dogs throughout the day.

The California Zephyr also provides checked baggage service and trainside checked bicycles, and allows small cats and dogs on board (check for restrictions).

No matter what portion of the route you choose, the California Zephyr offers a remarkable way to experience America’s diverse landscape, particularly through some of the nation’s greatest mountain ranges, making it a glorious journey. Magliari noted, “The difference between the California Zephyr and some of the other Western routes is simply more miles in the mountains.”