13 Most Scenic Amtrak Routes in the US

Forget the stress of airport security and highway traffic. The best way to see the real America from its mountain peaks to its ocean shores is through the panoramic window of an Amtrak train.

But with dozens of routes, how do you choose? It’s easy to accidentally book a trip that passes the best scenery at 3 AM.

This 2025 guide details the 13 most scenic Amtrak routes in the US. We’ll go beyond just the list. We will give you actionable tips on how to book, what to look for (like the all-important observation car), and the specific landmarks you can’t miss.

This is your guide to the best Amtrak trips for scenery and a better way to do US train travel.

Here are the following:

1. California Zephyr (Chicago to Emeryville)

If you can only take one train trip in your life, make it this one. The California Zephyr is consistently named the most scenic Amtrak route in America, and for good reason.

2. Coast Starlight (Seattle to Los Angeles)

A close contender for the top spot, the Coast Starlight is the other most famous scenic route. It’s a trip of dramatic opposites.

• Route: Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Los Angeles
• Duration: ~36 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: Your journey starts in the north with the lush, green forests and mist-covered mountains of the Pacific Northwest. As you travel south, the landscape changes completely. The undeniable highlight is the 100-mile stretch of track between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, where the train rides right along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
• Key Landmarks: You’ll see snow-capped Mount Shasta, the Cascade Range, and Cuesta Pass. But the star is the Pacific coastline, where you are just feet from the waves.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: As 2025 travel reports confirm, if you are traveling south (Seattle to LA), book a seat on the right-hand (west) side of the train. This gives you unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean.

3. Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle/Portland)

This is the classic northern route that follows the path of early pioneers. It has one major highlight that makes the whole trip worth it.

• Route: Chicago, St. Paul, Minot, Glacier National Park, Seattle/Portland
• Duration: ~46 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This is the only train route in the US that travels directly along the southern edge of Glacier National Park. For hours, you’ll have incredible views of the mountains and forests of this national treasure.
• Key Landmarks: Amtrak Glacier National Park is the main event. You’ll also cross the massive Gassman Coulee Trestle in North Dakota and see the Mississippi River. The train splits in Spokane, with half going to Seattle and the other to Portland.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: This route is best in summer (June-Sept). The days are long, so you are guaranteed to pass Glacier National Park in the afternoon daylight. You can even get off at the park’s station and explore for a few days.

4. Southwest Chief (Chicago to Los Angeles)

• Route: Chicago, Kansas City, Albuquerque, Los Angeles
• Duration: ~43 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This train shows you the classic American West. You’ll see vast deserts, high plains, and stunning red-rock canyons that look like an old Western movie.
• Key Landmarks: The train climbs through the steep Raton Pass and curves through tight Apache Canyon. You will see landscapes that are totally hidden from the interstate.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: This is the perfect route for a “rail and drive” trip. Get off the train in Flagstaff, Arizona, and take the connecting bus service to explore the Grand Canyon.

5. Adirondack (New York City to Montreal)

• Route: New York City, Albany, Montreal, Canada
• Duration: ~10 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This is one of the best day-trips by train in the world. The route follows the Hudson River Valley for hours, passing by vineyards and historic mansions. It then runs along the edge of the beautiful Lake Champlain.
• Key Landmarks: You’ll see The Palisades (cliffs along the Hudson), Bannerman’s Castle on its own island, and the West Point military academy.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: Book this trip in mid-October for world-class fall foliage. When heading north from NYC, sit on the left (west) side of the train for the best, non-stop river views.

6. Pacific Surfliner (San Luis Obispo to San Diego)

• Route: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego
• Duration: ~5.5 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This route has the best coastal views in the entire Amtrak system. For much of the ride, the train is right on the sand, just feet from the Pacific Ocean. You’ll pass surfers, beach towns, and stunning cliffs.
• Key Landmarks: The ride through the Del Mar cliffs, past the San Clemente Pier, and along the Gaviota Coast (north of Santa Barbara) is perfect.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: This is a regional route, not a long-haul, so it’s perfect for a day trip. The tip is simple: sit on the west (ocean) side of the train.

7. Vermonter (Washington D.C. to St. Albans, VT)

• Route: Washington D.C., New York City, St. Albans, VT
• Duration: ~14 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This train is pure New England charm. After it leaves the big cities, it winds through the quiet, rolling hills of the Green Mountains. You’ll see quaint villages, white church steeples, and dense forests.
• Key Landmarks: The best parts are not single landmarks but the overall feel of rural Vermont and passing through towns like Hartford.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: This is another top-tier fall foliage route. In winter, it’s also known as the “ski train” because it stops near several major ski resorts in Vermont.

8. Cardinal (New York City to Chicago)

• Route: New York City, Washington D.C. , Cincinnati, Chicago
• Duration: ~26 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This is Amtrak’s “hidden gem” route. It’s a Viewliner (no observation car), but the scenery is incredible. It cuts directly through the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, offering views you cannot get any other way.
• Key Landmarks: The train passes through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. The absolute highlight is crossing under the massive New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: This train only runs 3 days a week, so you must book it well in advance. The views of the New River Gorge are spectacular.

9. Crescent (New York City to New Orleans)

• Route: New York City, Atlanta, New Orleans
• Duration: ~30 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This is a journey through the heart of the American South. You’ll see the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and watch the landscape change from the forests of Virginia to the swamps of Louisiana.
• Key Landmarks: The train passes through Atlanta, rolls through Alabama, and finally crosses the 5.8-mile-long Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi River as it enters New Orleans.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: This is more of a cultural and historical route than a pure nature one. It connects 13 states, giving you a true cross-section of the South.

10. City of New Orleans (Chicago to New Orleans)

• Route: Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans
• Duration: ~19 hours
• Why It’t’s Scenic: This train follows the mighty Mississippi River. You start in the flat plains of the Midwest and end in the lush bayous of Louisiana. The change in scenery is dramatic.
• Key Landmarks: The route stops in Memphis, Tennessee (home of the blues), and Jackson, Mississippi. The final stretch through the Louisiana bayous is a highlight.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: This is the “music route,” famous for its history. It’s a great way to link three of America’s best music cities: Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans.

11. Sunset Limited (New Orleans to Los Angeles)

• Route: New Orleans, San Antonio, Tucson, Los Angeles
• Duration: ~48 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This is Amtrak’s southernmost route. It’s a trip of unique landscapes you won’t see on any other train. You’ll go from Louisiana bayous to the vast plains of Texas and the saguaro cactus-filled deserts of Arizona.
• Key Landmarks: You’ll see the Texas plains, the border city of El Paso, and the Sonoran Desert.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: Like the Cardinal, this train only runs 3 days a week. It connects with the Texas Eagle route in San Antonio.

12. Downeaster (Boston to Brunswick, ME)

• Route: Boston, MA Portland, ME Brunswick, ME
• Duration: ~3.5 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This is a short, lovely trip through coastal New England. It’s a relaxing way to see the salt marshes, rivers, and quaint towns of the Maine coast.
• Key Landmarks: The route passes through coastal marshes and historic towns. The stop in Portland, Maine, is a destination in itself.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: This is the perfect train for a weekend getaway from Boston. Get off in Portland for its famous food scene or in Freeport to visit the L.L. Bean flagship store.

13. Texas Eagle (Chicago to Los Angeles)

• Route: Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles
• Duration: ~65 hours
• Why It’s Scenic: This is the longest train route in the United States. It’s an epic trip for true train lovers. You’ll see the Ozark mountains, the skyline of Dallas, and the vast wilderness of West Texas.
• Key Landmarks: The train passes through Austin, Texas, and the Sonoran Desert.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: The train joins the Sunset Limited route in San Antonio to continue to Los Angeles. Be sure to book a Superliner Roomette for this trip; 65 hours is a long time to be in a coach seat.

How We Chose These Routes

This list is not random. It is based on 2024 and 2025 traveler reports, YouTube vlogs, and rail fan forums to get current, real-world data. We picked routes based on three main points:

1. Unique Geography: Routes must pass through unique American landscapes (mountains, oceans, deserts) not easily seen from a highway.
2. Observation & Service: Priority was given to routes with Superliner Sightseer Lounges (observation cars) that offer the best viewing experience.
3. Traveler Feedback: These routes are consistently rated highest for scenery by actual passengers. These are the beautiful train rides in the US that people talk about most.