Amtrak's Southern Chief railway route cuts through the American West along routes similar to those taken during the expansion times of the country. The train starts in Chicago and runs through to the Pacific Coast at Los Angeles. Along the way, the train stops in major hub cities such as Kansas City and Albuquerque, in addition to a number of smaller towns between. Riding the Southern Chief will allow guests to visit a total of eight states. The train stops at the southern end of the Grand Canyon, where you can continue by bus the short way to the natural site. At Santa Fe, take a shuttle ride from the train's stop in Lamy. In addition, the train stops near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in Colorado, Pecos National Historic Site in New Mexico and Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico.
Chicago Union Station
225 South Canal Street
Chicago, IL 60606
312-756-0934
amtrak.com
Los Angeles Union Station
800 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-683-6897
amtrak.com
Kansas City Union Station
30 West Pershing Road
Kansas City, MO 64108-2459
816-460-2020
unionstation.org
Albuquerque Amtrak Station
320 1st St. SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-243-4435
amtrak.com
From as far south as Miami, along the southeast coast up to New York City runs Amtrak's Silver Service/Palmetto route. Another starting point in Florida is Tampa. The train runs north through Florida, stopping in Orlando and Jacksonville as well, then through Georgia, splitting into two routes through South Carolina (one stops in Charlotte; the other in Columbia). The route continues up through Selma and Raleigh, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore and finally New York City. As a coastal route, the train ride offers views of the ocean in some parts and the mountains off to the west in others, especially when it passes through the Carolinas.
Miami Amtrak Station
8303 NW 37th Avenue
Miami, FL 33147
800-872-7245
amtrak.com
Tampa Amtrak Station
601 North Nebraska Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602
800-872-7245
amtrak.com
The Coast Starlight train route offered by Amtrak is generally considered to offer some of the best scenery to view during a train ride. It includes the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Range, forests and valleys and the Pacific Ocean coastline. The route runs between Los Angeles and Seattle and hits cities such as Portland, Sacramento, Oakland and Eugene-Springfield. In total, it stops at 28 different locations throughout California, Oregon and Washington. The train employs guides from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to speak to guests about the historic significance of the surroundings and a number of the towns the train stops in.
Los Angeles Union Station
800 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-683-6897
amtrak.co
Seattle King Street Station
303 South Jackson Street
Seattle, WA 98104
206-382-4125
amtrak.com
