Amtrak Map Explained! Understanding Amtrak Routes & Travel Planning

[@GotoHere]

Living in Chicago area and going to school at SIU Carbondale, I got to use Amtrak. Way, way, better than the 6 hour cramped boring drive by car. I believe my ticket was $20 one way. Dropped me off in downtown Carbondale and I could walk to the dorms from there. Miss that adventure.

[@DisneyNever]

Great tool! Thank you so much. You are truly the Amtrak Ambassadors. If not a paid position, at least an honorary title. Amtrak, are you listening?

[@DavidSmith-uz7sq]

gonna go check out your map for sure, I can't make heads or tails out of Amtrak website.

[@ShekeynaBlack]

Grounded Life Travel is so helpful and informative. The Amtrak route Map is greatly appreciated. Plus, you are an adorable couple!

[@sharonsatchell329]

Loved your info on train travel, just came across it, very helpful.Great job!

[@BxCortez2050]

awesome ...I just bought the train rail pass and plan on a few trips across country

[@magacuellarmonraz1956]

CONGRATULATIONS on this video!!!! Very useful and very well explained!!!

[@YevetteGooden]

This is so much clearer than the other guides, thank you! 🚂 🗺

[@scottdorsey8220]

Especially Amtraks guides and site.

[@214sims]

I’m planning a trip from Philly to la! I’m excited I ❤️ traveling by🚆.

[@Ilovemesomemj1]

Omg this map explains it so well. It looks like to get to San Diego from New York, it would be 3 trains. I think. I'm going to check this out more. You guys make train travel look so easy. Thank You so much

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Yes, 3 trains, the Pacific Surfliner, then one to Chicago, then one to New York!

[@momvanup]

So glad to have found you! I'm planning a rail pass trip asap!

[@stevenroshni1228]

Thank you for putting in all the work. Much nicer than Amtrak's main map that includes the bus routes.

[@bhushaaa4244]

Thank you for your videos! I just got back from doing a weeklong vacation on the California Zephyr, Empire builder, and the Coast Starlight. Your videos were very helpful!

[@RomonaFoster]

This entire channel is so good! Thank you!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thank you so much

[@RomonaFoster]

@@GroundedLifeTravel you're very welcome!

[@midlifetravelers6151]

So in depth for travel planning. Especially for hotel accommodation at each stop. So valuable. Thank you!!

[@katrinascreationscrafting]

Great travel tool! Thank you! I have been traveling vicariously by watching your channel.

[@matthewhildebrandt1901]

This is really cool. Thanks for sharing! I'm ready for another rail trip, so this will help with planning.

[@kathleenburnett3539]

Thank you, we have been watching the videos, but this make so much more sense as to where trains start and end.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aureliacornelia79adgracchu29]

If this brilliant guide had been available in 2017, I would'nt have made the disastrous mistakes that I did! Thank you!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

You're very welcome!

[@joshcarty6832]

Great seeing you guys on the streets of Manhattan! Thanks for all the wonderful advice from your videos. Safe travels today!

[@EmmyKat22]

What an amazing resource! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@deborahsnyder9199]

We used your help along with Amtrak to go from PA to two national parks out west. Zion and our ultimate destination the GRAND CANYON,! Wonderful 11 days.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

That's awesome!

[@djburland]

We did NY to Bakersfield, via Chicago. It was great !

[@satisfiedcustomer2444]

I'm about to retire and this tool is going to be super helpful. I had an amazing birthday trip one year we flew to Seattle and then took the Amtrak to LA. I have been patiently awaiting my next train trip. This tool will help with the planning. Thank you

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Fantastic!

[@mistiinseattle]

Thanks! I know I found this on your site earlier but could not find it again! Now I will go and look. Your channel and website are the BEST tools ever for planning my trip! I am trying to figure out what train goes from St. Louis to Chicago. Also, people should know that the Seattle terminal is in a very dangerous part of town; so much so that I am planning on riding on through to Everett and get off there instead.

[@TheUsername777777]

Thank you for doing this! I'm planning my train journeys for some time next year and this is a huge help!

[@SWITCHMASHER]

Just when I think you guys have hit the top, you fool me with another good video. BRAVO, keep them coming.,

[@boojersey13]

I'm not even planning anything, just living vicariously through you guys haha! Thanks for the vid

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Our pleasure!

[@deborahwold8842]

This map is really helping me to plan out and buy tickets/with Roomettes😊

[@blueskies848]

Wow. This is so informative. Thank you.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@susanmijares1212]

Fantastic video👍 very helpful! Thanks 😊

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

You're very welcome!

[@MyMoneyChronicles]

Awesome video. I'm planning a cross-country Amtrak trip next year, so this info will come in handy.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@shumonjohnson6077]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@carolyngreen1673]

Thank you for this very helpful information. Love your site. Happy travels!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Our pleasure!

[@manhattanrats]

I took a screen grab of this map and printed it out to keep somewhere near the top of the pile of papers on my desk. Great visualization. Thanks. Robert in NYC.

[@catherinemccollister2103]

We're leaving on our first long train trip today and I just wanted to thank you for all the videos and tips over the last year -ish. I've learned so much from you and feel quite prepared for this trip. :)

[@matthewgarcia1499]

You guys are very helpful! I always wanted to plan and explore this great country further.... Thank you for sharing!

[@spenciegirl9630]

I have learned so much from your videos! Great job!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@viatravelers]

Thank you for the comprehensive and informative travel guide in Amtrak routes. I sincerely appreciate it!

[@skiparkcityut]

Pretty cool that Amtrak travels to canada. Looks like three routes

[@tammydennison1025]

Thank you so much for doing this. My sister and I were planning a trip last April to Seattle and San Francisco (out of Chicago) and was disappointed that we had to cancel. Now we're looking for another trip, about the same time but going south, and these maps help so much in planning where we want to stop. (We changed destinations because of temperature differences and we didn't want to pack for 2-3 different climates!) Thanks again, this is so helpful!

[@deniset2173]

Thanks so much! Very helpful,great tips!

[@stevenking3222]

taking a trip from dallas to providence on the 23rd. 3 trains texas eagle, capitol limited and the acela. never travelled by train before and your videos have been very helpful in what to expect. im not a great traveler do to some spinal injuries and hoping this is more pleasant for me. thank you and safe travels

[@pgtrish]

So valuable!!!

[@mrsmucha]

Very helpful in planning a cross country route. Thanks for the video!

[@mikequinlan9585]

Thank you this is very helpful

[@auroranite]

New to channel, really interesting content. This map episode very helpful. btw the coral dress looks great on you😉.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel

[@Tonymanero1960]

I am in the early stages of planning my Rail Pass trip. It does seem that the best deal is to get on a train at a major hub and stay on it the whole way,....however,....as a ''newbie'' it may be a bit too bold to do that multiple times..Most likely I will use my home base (Washington Dc) for a couple of ''practice' Northeast runs,.....and save my remaining segments for 1 longgggg!! scenic trip.

[@barbhobe6231]

Fantastic! Thanks so much.

[@mitchlanier884]

Thank You for helping to understand the maze of trying to plan a trip via Amtrak. I am planning a trip to no specific location, just to decompress and regenerate myself. Again thanks a I will viewing more of your helpful tips.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tonymorales5275]

I would like to thank you very much for all your fine instructional videos. I have not yet visited your web site as I still have a few more of your videos to watch. I am really a newbie to AMTRAK and have yet to take an AMTRAK train. I have very limited experience traveling by rail. Light commuter rail and subway rail are not the same as long distance travel, much less cross county train trips. With your help I am planning to hop on the California Zepher. :-) thank you.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Awesome, hope you have a great trip!

[@SJJsolomonSJJ]

THANK YOU BOTH SOOO MUCH. Your blogs are greatly appreciated

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thank you!

[@jeandaniels7626]

this information was so helpful

[@lifestyle936]

Thanks! I usually take the train from Meriden to milford, new york,and jersey. The transfer in new Haven is annoying but manageable. (Amtrak to metro north back to amtrak)

[@feliciablack3290]

Thank you so much on what u do

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

You are so welcome

[@TheQUBANQT]

This map is epic! Thank you for taking the time to research. I find the 🚊 situation in the 🇺🇸 incredibly confusing.

[@belindaat35]

Fascinating!🧐

[@MaraLatorre]

This is SUPER helpful!!! Ive been trying to figure how to book a train trip from my florida city to virginia and the search rests on amtraks booking site are never available. I wish booking amtrak tickets were just as easy as booking plane tickets (my assumption was it would include comnecting train stations/ train routes)-but that doesn't seem possible

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

It can be easier to call in if you are making multiple changes

[@thunderverna]

Just found this, awesome!! I live in Vancouver Canada and want to do a train trip across the US but Amtrak's website is not very helpful (its very like the VIA Rail sit up here... actually, its better😮) this is gonna change everything. Thanks 🎉🎉🎉❤

[@larchlarch9851]

I love you guys !

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thanks!

[@coziii.1829]

What’s the best round trip around the US . Starting at Oklahoma City . To California up to Washington around etc . Like that best sites etc

[@susanwalker9615]

Great map. Thanks for your great website. I’ve always wanted to do a train vacation, This will surely help planning it.

[@Scott__C]

Great info. I've only taken work related shorter commuter trips to and from Philly or NYC. Would be interesting to do a longer leisure trip. Thanks!

[@deborahwold8842]

Thanks!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thanks so much!

[@ruchika5502]

It’s a cool tool!!! I would love your thoughts on other train companies

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thanks!

[@Sally-up8xe]

This was so informative and helpful in explaining how to choose and coordinate! Especially "how to get to Florida?" as I'm in SE Michigan and am sad there's not a route that follows I-75 down. 😀 Very helpful. Have you guys considered doing trips in Canada, say from Chicago or Detroit to Toronto, Niagara, or Montreal? I went from Windsor to Montreal on ViaRail to board a cruise ship, then Boston back to Detroit to get home. Kind of a "Great Akes Tour" tour so to speak. Some videos on using Amtrak & ViaRail together in this part of the country - especially during leaf-peeping time! - might be something. Love your channel, keep ridin' the rails!

[@amandacousins928]

Can you book the train route in coach or sleeping cars

[@ctech24]

Thx. Great website. Hoping to take a amtrak trip soon!

[@seprishere]

I am alas too used to GB rail travel and changing at Crewe, or crossing London from Paddington to King's Cross. And maybe having a 10 minute (sometimes a lot more, even an hour), or sometimes VERY quick (run down the stairs, through the tunnel, back up the stairs, board at the first door) connection. I did have once have a very quick connection like that at Norwich (getting back to Cambridge).

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

We had some very different but great experiences on our train trip in England!

[@puskyfam]

Many thanks

[@harryborsalino1276]

Very informative video as always! I do have one question....I recently went on the Amtrak website for the first time in quite a while, and I can't find where to download the timetables for the various routes in pdf format.. Do they no longer offer that on the website? I don't remember seeing it on your website either, but in both cases, I might have missed it. Thanks for another great video!

[@hermanchan2794]

Here the biggest Amtrak city hubs are New York City, Chicago, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Most Amtrak routes operate in New York City and Chicago.

[@rickporvaznik5030]

Amtrak planning to go to the Poconos and Scranton, PA.

[@GloriaWatson-i5c]

Perfect for helping plan the best routes on Amtrak as a new roaming traveller, thank you so much.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brianferrick1447]

What a great map; Thank you! Do you think the rail pass is a good deal?

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

It is if you plan to ride coach for long distances

[@naturespy5585]

This map is fabulous! My husband and I are doing the MOTHERLOAD of train travel at the end of this year! We are taking Downeaster to Lakeshore LTD to Empire Builder to Coast Starlight to Sunset LTD to Crescent to Acela to Downeaster.....all starting and ending in Brunswick, ME. THE BIG LOOP. 191 hours (before delays), 8433 miles, 38 states. KZbin video series to follow. You on any trains at the end of Dec?

[@thunderverna]

Link for your videos??? Please 😊

[@lindamiller1921]

I do not know if you have covered this in other videos. I want to take multiple long distance trips. Info that I cannot easily find is, which direction is best due to the time the train, normally, would pass through the most scenic areas. I have heard, for instance, that the Empire Builder probably is better going from west to east. If traveling from east to west and the train is running behind schedule, you would miss seeing Glacier National Park. Another hint that would help to know for these long distance trains is which side of the train is best for seeing the scenery too.

[@scottmccloud2894]

The one big thing that is needed for station information is availability of rental cars. Where and how to obtain.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

We just search an app like orbitz to see if anything is close. Sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. We've ended up taking an uber to the rental car place quite a few times. Since they are not airport locations, they often close at 5pm, so watch out for that.

[@nellgrill3845]

Enterprise car rental , may pick u up different locations,. Train station. Etc

[@kellybryson7754]

Awesome! I just left a comment/question on your video

[@AlexCab_49]

From this map it seems that train travel is more reliable in the Northeast, Chicago, the west coast and maybe even Florida based on the coverage and options.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

The northeast has the most and the most reliable trains by far

[@richardc488]

Thank you very much

[@sabrinakeating1761]

Thank you so much!

[@hazellee4336]

Thanks for great video. We planning to take Amtrak from Portland to San Franciso, stay couple of days, then continue the trian from San franciso to Los Angles. How to check prices for a bedroom price?

[@troys6965]

Travel between the southeast and northwest must be inconceivable to Amtrak.

[@fraslavko1]

I AGREE ! I'm trying to do that route. NW to SE, from their map I can see it would take several trains yikes !

[@chrisdobrowolski2783]

@@fraslavko1 I think it would take 4 trains at the least since I would say the Northwest is Seattle so from there take the Coast Starlight to LA, from there take the Sunset Limited to New Orleans, from there take the Crescent to New York, and then take the Silver Star or Silver Meteour to Florida which is the South east.

[@PeterAlmenar]

Have you folks blogged or KZbind on the Amtrak bus connectors and what to expect on those? Thanks.

[@richardestes4259]

There was a dotted line on the old map. I would like to see a route from Jacksonville to New Orleans

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

We would too, it would make getting to Florida a lot easier

[@georgeannbraden5065]

Challenge. I want to get from South Florida to Seattle. Seems almost impossible.

[@chrisdobrowolski2783]

Not Impossible you will need to take 3 trains the most conveinet. First train is I forgot which one who need will be the Silver Star or Silver Meteor to New York. Then you can take the LakeShore Limited or the Cardinal into Chicago, from there you take the Empire Builder all the way to Chicago. That is the quickest way, although the first 2 trains will not have an observation car if I remember correctly and flexible dinning on those train if in sleepers and last train will have an observation car only to Spokane and traditional dinning you will have all the way to Seattle on that train. If you want to take a longer trip and that way you can have more of the observation car will be 2 options, 1rst option get to New York and than take the Crescent from New York to New Orleans, then you can take the Sunset Limited to LA and then take the Coast Starlight all the way to Seattle, or if you want to take the very best train get to Chicago and then take the Zephry to Emeryville and then take the Coast Starlight to Seattle. Depending on the connections you might need to spend a night at a hotel/motel, or friends house.

[@allisonkemp8593]

I noticed 2 cities that are not on the map: Houston and San Juan Capistrano. I know they both have an Amtrak station.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

This map only has cities where routes begin and end, but there is hopefully one coming for all stations too.

[@brendalogan6281]

which big train do you think have the most comfortable trains, seats roomettes? I plan to do a trip from Chicago to the West Coast either LA or Seattle. Is Empire Builder more comfortable or California Zepher...and is it easier to get tickets during the week or on weekend travel...thanks for the amazing videos and information.

[@chrisdobrowolski2783]

Zephry is a train tthat only goes to Emeryville not LA so from there you will need to take 1 additioanl train which is the Coast Starlight from Emeryville to LA. If you have lots of time off and many they are all about the same comfortable I bed do the Zephry and the Coast Starlight Those are the 2 best or 1 and 3 best depending where you put the Coast Starlight. Or if you want to travel the more norther route who can take the Empire Builder to Portland or Seattle but them remmeber if you take the Seattle portion the Seattle station does not have a metropolitan lounge and when train splits in Spokane your train will not have an observation car but will have traditional dinning, on the other head if you take the Portland portion you will have flexible dinning past Spokane, but you will have the observation car and there is a metropolitan lounge in Portland. /f you just 1 train from Chicago to LA you can take the Southwest Chief or Texas Eagle although Texas Eagle will have flexible dinning and no observation car from Chicago to San Antonio, then you should have an observation car (unless problems with it) and traditional dinning all the way to LA.

[@martharetallick204]

The Texas Eagle comes through Tucson?

[@ajo5602]

The Texas Eagle runs combined with the Sunset Limited from San Antonio to Los Angeles.

[@jbevill4085]

What kind of cost does these cross country trips cost on average?

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

On average, $750 for sleeper car or $200 for coach as a guess.

[@donnacapuano4585]

I'm waiting for the next rail pass sale and then I want to travel as much as I can with it. I'm in Baltimore/Washington DC area. What would you recommend?

[@zionuorah3056]

Which east coast train trips are your favorites? Are any of the east coast train rides scenic?

[@ajo5602]

The Cardinal from Chicago to New York is by far the most scenic train in the east. It runs through the New River Gorge National Park through West Virginia. I’d recommend taking the train in October when the leaves have turned bright orange, yellow and red, it’s truly stunning.

[@billligon4005]

So when will AMTRAK resume the Sunset Limited? It would be nice to have that line again.

[@markmcfrederick8932]

I have a question that I can't find an answer to. Is Amtrak going to return to hauling private cars at the rear of regular trains? It seams like a good source of revenue for Amtrak. All they would have to do is require that all private cars meet the same as the Amtrak fleet has to meet. I don't know what Amtrak charges but if you can afford owning a private car, you can afford the fee Amtrak charges.

[@elssaugsburg5950]

Can I take a name train and not go to the end destination, but instead get off somewhere along the line?

[@ajo5602]

Of course. On many routes there are dozens of stops and you can get on at any stop and get off at any stop.

[@nembird]

Hey, have you noticed a glitch in Amtrak’s mobile app- I travel from Michigan to San Diego sometimes. Try to find book it on the app and it will only offer you the zephyr?! Not the SWC. My guess is that the problem is- it offers you the next available connection but not the shortest trip. And only one option. But is this a problem for other connections? Like your map!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Yes, there are several situations like that, so you really need to know you options before trying to book. We've run into it a few times.

[@marybethmartin1476]

In 1999 I took a train from Tucson to Florida. It traveled the southern route.. What happened to that train? By the way I loved the Sunset Limited.

[@gail8241]

Hurricane Katrina damaged the tracks east of New Orleans and it has sadly never been restored. I believe the tracks would need to be upgraded for passenger trains and the freight railroad that owns the tracks doesn’t really want Amtrak there. I live in San Antonio and would love to take the train all the way to Orlando for my Disney trips but now I would have to take three different trains to get there. now that I’m retired, I may try and do that.

[@brendaharris7092]

I live near Davis, CA so will be leaving from there to San Francisco then to LA. I want to go to Ft. Belvoir, VA so I guess that's the CA Zephyr to Chicago then to NY then to DC, then smaller trains to Woodbridge, VA. Does that make sense?

[@marieclark7582]

Can a sleeper passenger travel to the end of the line and just stay in the room and come back? I want to see a New England autumn but don't need to get off the train. I'm in Sac, so looking at taking the CA Zephyr to Lake Shore limited and back. Thoughts?

[@nathaniely.236]

No, you must leave the train at the end of the line.

[@FirstSergeant]

My wife and I have never travel via train, but are considering it. I really have enjoyed several of your videos and find them very good and and geared to a novice like myself. I was just toying around with setting up a trip so I signed up on the Amtrak website and started searching. Honestly, I was not impressed by Amtrak's website, but it might be that I am just new to it. One thing I was wondering about and can't seem to find an answer when searching for a trip...is there a way to put a flexible start and end date in between a destination just to see what is available? Meaning lets say I may want to take a one or two week trip sometime between June and September, and have a flexible schedule, could I somehow search that entire period to see how many trips area available between those dates? Hope that make sense. Thanks.