15 amazing train rides across the US

This Canadian train company is most famous for its Rocky Mountain route from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Jasper, Alberta. However, a few years ago, it started running a U.S. route from Moab to Denver that provides breathtaking views of Utah’s canyons and Colorado’s mountains. The standard route is a two-day journey.

In Bryson City, North Carolina, you can board a railway that will provide a unique experience in one of the country’s most popular national parks. Enjoy a riverside journey to parts of the mountains that can otherwise be difficult to access. And if you’re an autumn-lover, don’t miss the annual Fall Foliage Train.

Multiple routes accurately serve the state known as “The Last Frontier,” and it’s a wonderful way to see Alaska. From the winter wonderland that is Denali National Park to the fishing haven of the Kenai Peninsula and the town of Seward, there’s something for everyone! Just note that you’ll want to rent a car at the start and end points to explore further.

The just over three-hour journey from Seattle to Vancouver follows Puget Sound and eventually the coast until you reach the border. Enjoy a ride along the water, with glimpses of the quintessential Pacific Northwest mountains. This ride never disappoints, no matter the time of the year.

New Hampshire is known for amazing leaf peeping come fall, and one of the preeminent places to view it is Mount Washington. However, if you’re not into hiking the highest peak in the northeast, a train ride is the ideal solution! This 45-minute ride will take you through fantastic viewpoints and the foliage haven in this area.

Napa Valley’s solution to needing a designated driver, you can now ride in comfort and style to and from the most popular wineries. The route follows a historic railroad revived in the '80s for passenger trains like this one.

This company on Massachusetts’ most spectacular shore has a few different route options for train enthusiasts. You can choose from couple-hour sightseeing routes, leisurely brunch trains, or themed holiday options, such as the Polar Express route or Easter Train.

New York and Quebec are known as great fall destinations, and one of the easiest ways to see the leaves change between NYC and Montreal is on the train. You’ll pass through the quaint upstate towns of Hudson and Albany, as well as New York’s wine region. If you can’t manage a fall trip, the route is still magnificent under a blanket of winter snow or in summer when wildflowers bloom.

Step back in time and board an old steam locomotive in West Virginia. You’ll chug along slowly, making this the perfect way to sightsee in Appalachia! Climb to the top of the area’s peaks via two route options. The longer one is 22 miles roundtrip and takes four and a half hours to complete. The short route is eight miles roundtrip and lasts two hours. 

At just under 48 hours, this Amtrak route from Chicago to Seattle and Portland is arguably the most efficient way to visit eight states. You can board in either Illinois or Oregon and pass through Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Along the way, you’ll pass through the Cascade Mountains and Glacier National Park and follow the Mississippi, among other sites. 

The West Coast has come to be synonymous over the years with epic road trips. But if you don’t like to drive or just want to try out something a bit different, the Coast Starlight from Seattle to LA is the best way to do so! Enjoy views of the coast and inland Washington, Oregon, and California as you relax and don’t need to worry about being behind the wheel.

On a classic Amtrak long-haul journey from New Orleans to LA, you’ll pass through multiple national parks in Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and California. Enjoy expansive desert, expansive golf courses, and western mountains on this route.

This northeastern trip on Amtrak travels between Boston, Massachusetts, and Brunswick, Maine. Travel along the Atlantic coast through some of the cutest seaside towns in the country!

Instead of flying the next time you need to get between New York and Toronto, consider Amtrak’s Maple Leaf route. It’ll take all day, as a 12.5-hour journey, but it will take you through the lovely countryside of upstate and along Lake Ontario. You can also break up the journey by stopping in Albany or Niagara Falls.

In northern Georgia, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway takes passengers on a four-hour journey through Georgia, Tennessee, and the Toccoa River. You’ll board in the town of Blue Ridge and have stopovers in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, before returning to where you started. A fun way to spend a day down south!