U.S. Coast-To-Coast Amtrak Trains Just Got More Affordable

Traveling across the entire US by train harks back to times when writers like Kerouac reigned supreme. However, Amtrak’s Coast-to-Coast route is bringing back that form of slow exploration across 15 days.

Amtrak is on somewhat of a roll at the moment with its Downeaster route hitting 100 million passengers and their Cascades route upgrade on track for 2026. The case could be made that these ever-popular Amtrak routes are set to replace the great American road trip, except for one thing – the cost.

Historically, a Coast-to-Coast ticket has cost almost $3,000 per person for 15 days of travel. That’s a lot of money for most people, making it inaccessible for the majority of us.

However, Amtrak has come through with the winter travel sales with some great savings on some of their most popular multi-day routes. Let’s dive in and find out more.

Amtrak’s Coast-to-Coast Route Is Currently On Sale

Save up to $500 on this amazing cross-country ticket

So, one of the most popular tickets for rail enthusiasts has to be Amtrak’s Coast-to-Coast. This 15-day journey takes you from the East Coast to the West, stopping off in some of the US’s most beloved cities along the way. You’ll also experience breathtaking views of the mountains, plains, deserts, and other countryside views as you travel. It’s a bucket-list trip for many people!

The route takes you on three of the key Amtrak multi-day routes: the Northeast Regional, Capitol Limited, and California Zephyr. The latter, the California Zephyr, has been posited to be the most scenic train route in the US.

Along the 15-day journey, you’ll stop at seven different destinations, mostly cities, to explore and spend time, before embarking on your next adventure.

This bucket-list-worthy trip usually starts at around $2,809 per person, which feels like a lot, especially if you’re traveling as a couple. At the moment, Amtrak has slashed the price by $500 per person down to $2,309 per person.

This works out at just over $150 per person, per day, which is more in line with standard vacation prices. So, if you want to see the US in comfort and love train travel, this is the perfect time to book the Coast-to-Coast package. For the current prices and inclusions, check out the official Amtrak page.

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Where Do You Go On The Coast-to-Coast Route?

Span seven key destinations over 15 days

One of the most important things to know about any trip is the itinerary. You want to know where you’re going and how long you have in each place, right? Well, there are seven stops on Amtrak’s Coast-to-Coast route.

You’ll start off with a two-night stay in New York City, where you can enjoy and explore the Big Apple before boarding the train to Washington D.C., where you’ll spend a further two nights.

Enjoy one night onboard the train before spending the night in Chicago. From here, it’s another night onboard before you arrive in the Mile High City, Denver, Colorado.

During your two nights here, explore the Rocky Mountains National Park and get out in some of the finest nature in the country, before the short hop to Salt Lake City, UT. Spend two nights here, before your last night onboard the train. Arrive in stunning San Francisco where you’ll leave the train behind and spend your last two nights.

So, you can see that this itinerary is jam-packed and full of action. If you’re interested in sleeper trains, you’ll get to spend a total of three nights onboard Amtrak’s sleeper models, allowing you to wake up in an entirely new place and have the full day to explore!

What Tours And Excursions Are Included In This Ticket?

This price is like a cruise – it includes more than just the journey

As the Coast-to-Coast is essentially the rail version of a cruise, there are some added excursions that are included in your ticket. Some of these include the classic hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours in New York City, as well as other favorite one-day tours.

The tours included in your ticket package are:

• Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of New York City
• Multi-day hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of Washington, DC
• Monuments by Moonlight tour of Washington, DC
• Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of Chicago
• Sightseeing tour of Rocky Mountain National Park (Seasonal)
• A combination of city and mountain parks tour (when the Rocky Mountain tour is not running)
• Sightseeing city tour of Salt Lake City
• Multi-day hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of San Francisco

Of course, the ticket also includes 11 nights’ worth of hotel accommodation as well as the three nights’ onboard travel. At the standard price, all the reservations are made in Coach Class. These inclusions and added excursions can change depending on seasonal availability, so for up-to-date info, check out the Amtrak website.

You can always upgrade your journey during the booking process if you prefer a more luxurious feel. It’s worth noting that this package is available pretty much every day, except for March, when the schedule switches over.

As this is essentially three route passes stitched together with accommodations and some tours, it’s a flexible trip to book.

If you’re looking for a convenient way to experience seven major US cities and mindblowing landscapes in between, check out the Amtrak Coast-to-Coast package. With Amtrak currently offering $500 off the ticket price, it’s the perfect time to treat yourself!