Posted in Triplett & Carothers on August 3, 2026
Increasingly, more Americans are deciding to skip crowded airports and the frustration of delays and turning to a more comfortable, reliable and sustainable travel experience — traveling by train. In fact, last year Amtrak saw record-setting ridership, serving 34.5 million riders logging nearly 7 billion miles. Presently, train travel only represents about 1% of all long-distance vacation and leisure trips. However, that number is growing and Amtrak is investing $5.5 billion in new infrastructure projects, including improvements to major bridges, tunnels and stations.
Why travel by train? The short answer is that a long train ride does not come with the stress, hassle and, for some, anxiety of flying. Unlike flying, there are no long check-in lines or security to pass through before boarding. Airports are usually located outside of the city, making them harder to get to. Train stations are conveniently located within the city and connect to other cities. Train travel allows you to disconnect from the everyday and watch the scenery change as you travel along in a roomy seat. You can sit back, read a book, and eat and drink when you like. Some trains have glass-domed observation cars that provide an immersive panoramic experience. When you travel by train you see more and have a better appreciation for the vastness of the American landscape.
For long-distance train travel that requires an overnight trip, you may consider booking private sleeping accommodations. Amtrak offers several choices, from a Roomette — a compact two-person bunk — to a Bedroom Suite perfect for two passengers. The latter combines two rooms and includes an en suite bathroom with a shower. The sleeping accommodations include meals as well.
Many choices
Amtrak offers 15 long-distance routes to fit a wide range of tastes and budgets. They also offer a discount for senior travelers on most trips. Prices will vary depending on the season and time of booking. Following is a sample of three of the most iconic and scenic train trips to consider.
Considered the best train trip, the California Zephyr will take you from Chicago to Emeryville, California, along a 52-hour route. The journey starts in the evening so that passengers wake up just east of Denver and in time to be awed by a route winding through deep canyons and red rock country that is inaccessible to cars. The Zephyr finally rolls into the San Francisco Bay Area near the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Canadian is run by Canada’s national rail service, VIA Rail. This four-day transcontinental journey crosses from Toronto to Vancouver, British Columbia, on the Pacific Coast. The train boasts breathtaking views of lakes, forests and prairies, as well as an epic climb into the Rocky Mountains.
Amtrak’s Crescent journeys from the heart of New York City into the Deep South before arriving at its destination in New Orleans. Travelers get to experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This 30-hour trip covers some of the most iconic sites of the Civil Rights Movement, including Greensboro, North Carolina; Atlanta; and Birmingham, Alabama.
Train travel lets us experience the pleasures of a simpler time when the journey was as important as the destination. As the famed travel writer Paul Theroux once wrote, “I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it.” And to paraphrase the immortal words of John Donne, ask not for whom the train whistle blows, it blows for thee. Safe travels.
Reach out to Roz Carothers and her team at Triplett & Carothers to learn more.
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