This is an unpopular opinion but the Zeohyr was not my favorite Amtrak line. The views certainly are stunning but I think the staff and the food are superior on the SW Chief over the Zephyr (even though the menu is the same on both lines). The train ran on time and the only small delays were relayed to us. We ran into a beautiful snowstorm in the Donner pass and the conductor kept us posted and it only delayed us 75 mins which to me, is on time considering we were traveling across the country from Chicago to LA. Knocked off one star because the salmon dinner was not what it's supposed to be but I wasn't told that, and it was scant. And dinner never had rolls even though it's supposed to. Additionally , usually on Amtrak dinner comes within 20-30 mins. But our meals the first night took a full hour despite other tables being finished with their meals before we were served at all. No explanation. The portions of steak and chicken dinners my table mates ordered, were so large, they wouldn't finish them whereas the salmon was so meager I went to bed hungry. Otherwise, things were good. My bedroom was clean and everything functioned as it should. read more

See all

Traveling by train on an overnight was something I've wanted to do for quite some time. Amtrak was having a sale on sleepers so I decided to jump on that and finally do it. After some research I settled on the Zephyr. We embarked in Denver and took it to Sacramento. It was a 30 hour trip. We had a bedroom and I'm glad we did. I feel the roomette would have been a little too small for the hubby and I. The meals were better than I expected and we met some cool people in the dining car. The observation car was tough to get a seat in at times and people were saving seats. We spent a lot of time just watching the view from our room. The nice part was being able to see out both sides, even though that did mean standing in the hallway at times. This was our first time sleeping on a train, and it was rough, at least for me on the bunk. It's a tiny space and a pretty hard surface. We did get some sleep and on the plus side we were up to watch the sunrise! Our SCA was great! As was the dining car staff. The views from Denver were amazing and the reason I decided on this route. We had absolutely perfect weather. No snow flurries so perfect views the whole way with sun and blue skies. I would totally take this trip again and suggest it to anyone. read more

See all

We really enjoy traveling by train. It's similar to taking a cruise but without the Petri dish effect. Lots of great people, great sights and travel experiences. The train crew are, by and large, wonderful folks. The car attendants are especially great. Amtrak chefs are some of the best. You can bring alcohol aboard if you are in first class and consume in your room. The Roomette is fine for a couple of days. We like a hotel room between legs to do laundry and sleep in a big, stationary bed. The issue on this trip was that the grill was inoperative which took out all the menu choices that involved grilling (about 40%) . No Flat Iron Steak or Artisan Chicken. No breakfast out of Emeryville. That is my biggest complaint. We have already boarded our next train. Southwest Chief to Los Angeles read more

Great adventure! A million thanks to all the staff. I loved the printed schedule posted. My first time riding in lower reserved, was a little odd facing the rear. Hope to cruise forward facing next time. Had to get go taking pictures reversed read more

What a fantastic trip starting out in Chicago and we will end in San Francisco. We had a sleeping room with private toilet and shower. Beautiful views throughout Colorado and the train went through over 30 tunnels. Food was very good and service was excellent. read more

California Zephyr - Beautiful Colorado mountains - Trains Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We took the California Zephyr from Chicago to Seattle in a Roomette. The trip took 2 nts, 3 days. We left on time from Chicago but arrived in Seattle about an hour later than expected. Our car steward was wonderful. The dining car staff were also wonderful, personable and professional. The dining car meals were good and portions were large. Ifs almost restaurant quality. For example, we ordered steak the first night and it tasted like it came from a steakhouse. They're implementing community seating in the dining car so we ate dinner with 2 different sets of people. If you want to avoid sharing a table with strangers, either make your dinner reservations for very early or at the end of the dining hours. You don't need to make res for breakfast or lunch. The beds in the Roomette were incredibly uncomfortable. The mattresses were thin, the pillows were flat and I could feel every bump and movement on the tracks. The first night was the worst. I was awake when we pulled into Fargo, ND at 3am. The tracks on the first night are very rough. The 2nd night was better but I'm sure I only fell asleep from exhaustion. The temperature control in the room was non-existent. That means it got cold, esp at night, there's no way to get more heat and the blanket was very thin. I requested and received an extra blanket from the steward. Temperature wasn't consistent throughout the sleeper car. We spoke to a couple at dinner who said their room was too hot and they couldn't get it to cool down! The scenery during the day was fantastic, tho. We spent a short amount of time in the observation car just for the experience but felt more comfortable and relaxing just sitting in our Roomette. Toilet was tiny, similar to ones in an airplane. Showers were also small but water pressure was good and they provided soap, towels and washcloths. However, both the showers and bathrooms got messier and dirtier the 2nd and 3rd day. Our steward was responsible for all the sleeper car passengers and he just couldn't keep up with cleaning the showers and toilets. Overall, it was a great experience but we won't be repeating it unless Amtrak seriously upgrades their sleeper car accommodations. read more

As a life experience FIVE glorious stars. The opportunity to experience the History, Beauty, and Scale of this country over the rails is an experience well worth having. Food is decent, service is decent, comfort and reliability of service not so decent. For long overnight trips such as this going with the roomette upgrade, at minimum, is crucial. Being able to view the passing country while your meal is delivered is indeed special - the cattle car coach not so much. But it is what it is and an experience I will treasure. read more

See all

From beginning to end this was a wonderful journey. The scenery was spectacular. The food amazing. The service from all the employees aboard the train was top notch. The shower aboard the train was even hot. I look forward to taking another Amtrak rail journey. read more

See all

I recently took an Amtrak train for the first time. The train was the California Zephyr from Omaha to Chicago and back. The staff was friendly and professional. The train cars while dated were cleaned and reasonably comfortable. I spent a lot of time in the observation car watching the world pass by. The train to Chicago was delayed four or five hours due to a storm that blew through right before we were scheduled to depart. The train out of Chicago was on time. My recommendation is to bring something to keep you busy because it takes considerably longer than a flight. Also, bring your own food. You don't want to be that person eating a microwaved hot dog or hamburger. Overall it was a good experience. read more

I was very disappointed with Amtrak's disregard with the fact I made a reservation Dec. 2021 with a departure date of Sept. 13th. 2022. On Sept. 8th. I received an email from Amtrak it said that I was bumped from My sleeper car and put in Coach. Because the car I was assigned to was removed from the train. On the trip I found people that made reservations after I did and were still in a sleeper car. I feel that Amtrak treated Me Unfairly. P.S. Being in Coach for 3 days was pure Hell. read more

Don't waste your money. The food was horrible - apparently they have laid off all their chefs and are serving airplane food. We took three separate trains - all were two nights on the train and the menu was the same for lunch and dinner every day on every train. Apparently the head of Amtrak has ties with Delta ..... Also the trains were very old and had no wifi. Very inconvenient to say the least. I wish we had spent the $4,000 and gone to Europe. Very, very disappointing. read more

We rode from Denver to San Francisco. Absolutely marvelous scenery! We booked a Bedroom for the two of us. Pros: -Gorgeous scenery through the Rockies. -A excellent car steward who brought our meals to us in our bedroom. Cons: - the lower bed is too small for two average sized adults (5'3" and 5"5", both slender). Compare the pictures I've attached. The top hald is the official Amtrak image. The bottom half is my real world picture. Notice the two Amtrak pillows fitting nicely on the bed in the top official picture. Then examine my own picture with the two Amtrak pillows hanging off the bed. Real pillows, even their own, do not fit on the bed. Neither did we. That bed measures 3' 4" across. But what it doesn't show is that the round tubular cushions on the backrest of the "couch" hang down over the end of the bed, nearly grazing your head, making sleeping impossible. We even tried sleeping with one head next to the other's feet. That didn't work either. One of us had to sleep on the chair. If a good night's sleep is important to you try before you buy. Measure out the 3'4" mattress size on your own bed and see how comfortably you fit. - insufficient tables in the dining car for the large number of riders. For example, the first dinner seating was at 6 PM and the last at 9 PM. Despite lack of sleep for one of us we enjoyed the ride. The scenery made up for the lack of sleep. I've also posted a picture of the toilet/hand-shower combination, uh, closet. We realized that if you used the shower the floor would remain wet, so we did without. That room does have a door. Also, and this may be yucky, the toilet paper is the thinnest I've ever seen. It almost dissolves in your hand. The next time we book an Amtrak trip it will be with two roomettes across from each other so that both of us can sleep. I do recommend the trip because of the scenery. However, I cannot recommend the bedroom for two adults. read more

See all

I feel really sorry for the cafeteria attendant. The was angry, rude, fed up, and truly seemed to hate her job. She yelled at passengers. She denied a mother hot water for her 3 month old baby. But her perseverance and willingness to suck big parties dck was the highlight of my trip. Truly inspirational how she managed to take a deep breath and greet "her best friends!" despite not wanting to even hand the rest of us some water. At one point she told me to hurry up and eat bcs I was dragging. She denied little kids meals bcs they "didn't make it into the train" but somehow managed to pull items out of her as for drinkers/big parties. I wouldn't suck so hard for a dollar tip, but to each their own. Either get the lady a raise or help her find another job. She is not happy there. The rest of the scenery was also pretty dope. I would share a pic of my meal and the mountains behind, but she told me to hurry up and eat and put my phone down. My favorite part of the trip was when we switched conductors and the new one said "listen up everybody, cus I'm not gonna repeat myself again and I'm not joking". This was humiliating and traumatizing. I am still disgusted with the fact that I put myself through 3 days of this. read more

I write this as we sit, over 9 hours behind schedule, in Sacramento--on our way to Emeryville from Chicago. Barring any number of possible reasons for further delay, we hope to be at the end of what will be our first and last trip aboard the California Zephyr. I think delays are a regular thing for this train. Everyone is excellent at apologizing. Not that it does any good, since nobody has offered to compensate us for the tremendous inconvenience. I guess we are fortunate in a way. We have no deadlines to meet other than a good night's sleep. Other passengers have it worse than us, and the crew has to make a u-turn and deal with unhappy passengers that have been waiting a half day to get on. Nevertheless, this trip has sucked for us, due to the delay. BUT the food was excellent, our Attendant, Robert, has been friendly and professional, and the people-watching has been comedic, to say the least. We stayed in a sleeper car, and while the quarters are small, it is reasonably comfortable given everything else. It is a surprise to learn that there is no wifi, but that's not really a big deal. And we took a lot of good pictures. But did I mention the 10-hour (by the time we arrive) delay? Let me see, what caused it? 1. Brakes went out in one engine 2 hours out of Chicago. We sat for at least 90 minutes and continued onward with only one engine for many many miles. 2. Replacing railroad ties in Nebraska cost probably another two hours. 3. Switching out crews two or three times probably cost at least another two hours along the way. 4. I think there were problems refueling. 5. The new second engine caused a delay whenever it arrived. I think that happened while we were asleep. 6. There was a fight on board in Reno. They had to call the cops to settle things down. I think that took the better part of an hour. I haven't accounted for everything as I don't know what else occurred, but, well, it sucked overall. Which us a shame, as it took away from the good food, the friendly service, and the fun of meeting friendly passengers. And like I said earlier, the people-watching was a welcome distraction. I've killed a half hour or so waiting this, so there's that. Did I mention AMTRAK has a lot of excellent apologizers? That is a strength. I think the crew is more disappointed than we are. We won't do this again. I would recommend you not do it at all, but if you do, pack a good book and a bottle of scotch. By the time you finish both, you might have reached your destination and can giggle over it all after you look back in retrospect... read more

I went to to Chicago from California by air. On way back home my daughter gave me an idea to take train while coming back, since she knows I love trains. First I thought 51 hours is too much to ride from Chicago to Martinez California. But then I thought, sure, you can but you miss a lot of really special landscape. Seeing the little towns and cities really was a privilege. The landscape transforms from plains to dry and rocky mountains to desert to lush green mountains then again to farming land. Rocky Mountains,Sierra Nevadas Moffat Tunnel Colorado's Gore, Byers and Glenwood Canyons. The train cuts through many parts of the country that aren't around roads and can't be seen while driving. Some of them so remote, that you have to be on the train to see them! So, I took route through the Rockies, called the California Zephyr, a decision I do not regret. The train is a really comfortable way to travel. I was surprised by the sheer size of the coach seats. Seriously! It was a class unrivaled by any domestic airline or regional rail service. The seats basically turn into recliners because of how much they can recline. They have lifting leg rests and the lot too. Being that I spent three days in one of these, I have no complaints whatsoever. As far as the ride goes, it is comfortable for the most part. Going through farming land, crossing Mississippi river, entering Iowa, Nebraska, Rocky mountains in Utah & Colorado, riding along Colorado River almost whole day, very spectacular. Another thing about the train is meeting people. A lot of people meet up in the Observation/Lounge car playing card games and drink. Amtrak's Observation car with lots of windows and places to sit. People are pretty social in this car and like to enjoy the view with each other. It offers a nice panoramic view of the countryside. The observation car sits right about the Café car, so snacks were plenty close by. Amtrak staff were great ONBOARD only. At Union Station Chicago staff was very rude. I was surprised to walk onto the train to a kind, helpful coach-car attendant, made my three days pleasant. I asked car attendant about Wi-Fi onboard, she said on Zephyr route no. It was little upsetting, but after half an hour I forgot that I need Wi-Fi or signals from my mobile carrier. Overall I would say 51 hours passed like a short distance car ride. My personal recommendation, don't miss this train. Love it read more

See all

Our train was supposed to arrive EMY around 4pm but when we finally got there it was already 7:30pm, so around 3 - 4 hours behind schedule for our train. And they had no dinner prepared because it was supposed to arrive earlier. Almost missed my flight. For those people who have their schedule screwed up due to the delay, well, you won't get any compensation for it. We had a superliner roomette, the space was so limited, not to mention the bathroom that I can barely turn around in it. Due to the pandemic, all the meals are prepared beforehand but that's fine. The crew were nice and the sights were OK. But overall it was not a pleasant experience. So, if you plan to take the train, be prepare for an over 4 hours delay. Bring something to kill time like a book or your tablet. You'll probably want to bring a power bank with you if you're a group of 2 and going to stay in a superliner roomette, since there's only one power outlet. But my best suggestion for taking the train is NOT taking it. read more

We were extremely pleased with our train ride. I was worried about the accommodations but our sleeper was very clean and our attendant was so helpful! The shower was quite small but we adjusted. The food was more than adequate, but not gourmet. Our service in the dining car was excellent! The waiters were attentive, courteous and all had a sense of humor. Mark (one of our servers) made us feel at home! We wish the train was updated. Having said that...we realize it was a train not a 5 star hotel. Be prepared to see amazing scenery and meet many interesting people!! The experiences we had were very, very memorable and given a chance we'll go again. read more

I have to tell you about two amazing Amtrak employees. Their names are Janet and Barb. They work in the metropolitan Lounge and they are definitely two people who are doing what they should. Both helpful , outgoing, wearing a smile. As I walked around looking like a lost puppy waiting for an early train Janet picked up on that and made sure I was where I was supposed to be. Barb also working her position made it easy for me to relax and they both made sure I had all the info I needed and knew where I was going Thanks ladies you're truly amazing people Keep up the great work read more

On my recent tour of the US I wanted to try a little of everything, including taking the train. I chose to take the Amtrak California Zephyr for the leg from Denver to Chicago. The trip was approximately 19 hours in total. I boarded in Denver at 19:30 and arrived in Chicago at approx 15:30 the following day. It cost me about the same as it would have for a flight plus a nights acommodation so there was no additional expense by choosing the train. As it was an overnight journey I chose to go a roomette. This little room provides a bit of added comfort and privacy. The two reclining seats fold down flat to make a bed and there is a fold down top bunk should you be travelling with some one else. Dining was pleasant and provided an opportunity to meet fellow travellers. There was ample opportunity to get up and wander around. A sightseeing car and cafe provided the chance to get out of the room and watch the world go by over a cup of coffee. For our journey the train ran on time and we pulled in to Chicago at the scheduled time. I'm glad I chose the train. It's a form of transport that is being used les and less frequently these days. I can recommend making the effort to adding a train leg to any journey. It's a great way to see the country! read more

See all

One thing we've found about riding the train; you can't be in a hurry, at least on the California Zephyr anyway. Since it's such a long run from SF to Chicago a lot of things can delay it; weather, sharing tracks with freight trains, mechanical or passenger problems, etc. So don't count on being on time always. On the Zephyr ride we recently took (from central Iowa to Chicago) the train ran 2 hours late. But you can check the status on their handy app. Plus there are no security checkpoints to delay your departure. We recently took a lengthy train trip, riding three different Amtrak routes (and trains) over 5 days, some in coach and some with sleeper compartments. The trains are all a little different and unique from each other. The Zephyr we rode had older cars which were showing the wear of a 2,000 mile journey already. They were out of many of the dining car meals, ice was not available, and the restrooms needed some attention. But the six-hour ride in coach was still fun, and there's something peaceful about riding the train that's hard to explain, watching the scenery go by, and on this route if you ride from SF to Chicago you'll see some beautiful scenery. In the summer expect more families and kids, during the school year the passengers tend to be older. If you haven't ridden a train on a journey before as opposed to commuting, try it before some of these long runs possibly are eliminated. Bring along a cooler, or buy drinks and snacks from the mini-store on the lower level of the observation car (which is kind of a cool alternative to sitting in your assigned seat the entire trip). In most areas you can get cell phone service for entertainment, or just read, play cards, or nap. Spend some time exploring the cars, and eat a meal in the dining car. If there are less that four of you you'll be seated with someone you don't know and that itself can be a fun experience. All aboard! read more

I haven't ridden on the Amtrak in a long time. The bathrooms are a bit grody, but the trains were on time (or ahead and we had to wait a few minutes at the station), and the food was decently priced. The best part is the employees - I don't know if they are paid really well or if it is just an amazing place to work? They were all so nice, knowledgeable, and they enforced the lines. Which was nice because there were people trying to sneak in - not on Amtrak's watch! Thank you!!! read more

This is our 2nd trip on this train. The living rooms are comfortable. There is no toilet or shower in the Roometts however. The dining car food is decent, but the deserts were stale the whole way. The staff is very friendly. The lounge car has a nice view, but people will camp out there day and night, instead of using their purchased seats, so it can be hard to find a seat. Still, it beats driving. read more

California Zephyr - Trains Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Tl;dr, the trains is not worth the ticket price. We booked a roomette for two of us, and I was shocked when I first saw the actual room. It's so tiny for two adults, especially when you have to stay 2 days inside the car. Cons: 1.Expensive! Two adults, roomette, Chicago to Emeryville, $1276 2.Boring scenery, nothing very attractive. Only several sights are ok, such as Rocky mountains and Moffat tunnel, but they're pretty sparse and definitely not worth the price. There is nothing but corn fields between Chicago and Denver, so avoid that route. 3.The train is always running late, we've experienced a 4 hrs delay and it seemed the crew got used to it. No one took any action to compensate us. 4.It's very bumpy, be prepared for that, or just don't take the train, it's a really bad idea to sleep on Zephyr. 5.Again, it's very bumpy, so you can't actually do anything like reading a book, using your tablet or whatever needs a stable place. All you can do is either seating there watching outside or lying down. 6.The space is limited, it's hard to walk through the car, the bed is small, restroom is small, not enough storage in the room. There is no pro at all, so don't be fooled by those beautiful pictures on their website. Just choose another way of traveling, Zephyr is not recommended. read more

This was my first time riding the Amtrak, since I was a teenager. I did not know what was going on or how this would work, but I completely loved the experience of riding Amtrak from Chicago to Omaha. We had an attendant, Lynn, who was the most amazing person you will EVER meet. She went above and beyond for every single person on that train. I enjoyed the viewing cart, which was gorgeous and a really nice way to get away from the quiet tired people, and have something to look at, while being able to walk. I enjoyed the dinner cart also, though expensive, I got to meet a few great people and enjoy dinner there. The food was actually very excellent, taste and quality wise. Service was slow, but it was enjoyable since I had such great conversations. :) I would love to do this trip again, great job Amtrak and Lynn, you rock!! read more

Riding the California Zephyr from Emeryville to Chicago or Chicago to Emeryville makes for a fantastic vacation....scenic and beautiful. Staff is nice; food is good (not gourmet - but adequate and tasty). Stayed at the roommette - but treat the train as your waking grounds; your drinking grounds; your restaurant; and your sleeping. The roommette with the comfy bottom bed works well (the bunk customer has the more trouble sleeping.). Check your baggage but take enough stuff to your room for 3 days - I bring alolng some books - which stay unread - but I do read the newspaper delivered to your roommette in the morning. waters and coffee available in roommette. If you have the time - do it a bit at a time (for night travel roommette - for day travel only just book coach). The great places to stop from Emeryville to chicago (just reverse it if going in opposite direction) are: 1) Reno - Gambling, Lake Tahoe, Reno festivals such as Hot August Nights (check what is going on). Ride by coach from Emeryville. Harrahs, El Dorado Hotel are close to Amtrak station. 2) Salt Lake City - easy taxi ride to Hotel Monaco (which is walking distance to Mormon temple square; perfect location for free bus to other areas of Salt Lake City; included wine social hour at night; good restaurant at hotel; snacks, and more. It arrrives in the middle of the night so if money not an issue roommette; if ok with just sleeping in your chair (sort of like an international flight) - get coach. 3) Grand Junction - Arrives late morning the next day if comine from Emeryville. This is an older station - call for a taxi and rent a car from Hertz at Sears (or other rental car in area). Then drive to Moab - Arches National Park, Canyonlands, Dead Horse State Park is nearby. Take a boat ride on the Colorado River. its about a 2 hour drive from Grand Junction. Stay in Moab - many restaurants, lodging, etc. 4) Glenwood Hot Springs - if you love hot springs; stop here. Take your luggage across the street to Hotel Denver, check in; get your swimming gear and enjoy Glenwood Hot Springs for 2 or more hours. Warm, relaxing - nice dinner in town - get on the train the net day and be on your way. There is a good brew pub adjacent to the hotel. 5) Denver - Mile High City; sports; museums; restaurants; if you rent a car easy drive to Pikes Peak area, Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. 6) Chicago - Big cities with museums, lodging, shows, sports, and more. Given that you would have been in small train stations on the route, you will also be amazed at how huge Union Station in Chicago is. There are rental cars on site if you are driving to some whese other than Chicago; for chicago just take a taxi to your hotel. read more

Next time you have to go to Denver.. take the train! I recently moved to Denver. Was planning on flying, but was traveling with a sick infant and thought flying would just be unfair to the rest of the plane. So, I took the California Zephyr and it was fabulous! I got one of those over-night cars which included a basin, bathroom, towels, and even a shower. The ticket was $97 per person and an additional, maybe $500 for the over-night luxury treatment which would have accomodated two. It was such a treat. Chugged over the Mississippi at dusk, had dinner in the dinner car; salmon which wasn't my favorite but not bad considering. Sandi, the rail attendant put the bed down, I watched a movie, went to sleep, Sandi then brought breakfast the next morning, which included freshly squeezed OJ and then we pulled in to Union Station in Denver mid-morning the next day. The train continues on through Salt Lake to the Bay Area, so you could catch it any where along the way for a truly memorable trip. Just make sure you give Sandi a big tip when you board and she'll take care of you. read more

We rode the Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville in a sleeper cabin. The journey was fun, comfortable and most importantly, scenic!! This was a great trip to make- one gets to see the country and spend time with friends/loved ones. The accommodations are adequate. Make sure you take your own shampoo- they provide clean linens, towels, and soap but no shampoo. The meals (3 a day) were average, but filling... better than I had expected. The train attendants were friendly and helpful. Try to get good seats in the "viewing car" for the journey through the rockies (west of Denver) and through the sierras (west of Reno)- you will be happy you did! I would recommend this to anyone interested in seeing our great country up close and personal. read more

A detective from the Reno PD boarded our train and asked me, per "intelligence" FROM AMTRAK, whether I was smuggling drugs. I thought he was kidding. Apparently I was supposed to find this completely normal, because customer service said I'd need to call back after the train reached its destination. No apology from the company. read more

I could say I don't know what possessed me to take the train from Chicago all the way to California but that would be a lie. I know exactly why I wanted to take this train. To go through middle America without paying for hundreds in gas. Granted I probably wasn't quite prepared for this trip in that I didn't consider carrying enough food in my luggage for 2 days but this train is SO convenient. They sell all sorts of food and snacks. I could buy a Cup o Noodles for the super low price of $2.25. But I resisted the urge to conveniently purchase all my food needs on the Zephyr with the exception of breakfast and dinner. For train food I had low expectations but the dining car served up some pretty tasty herb chicken. I'm not much of a red meat person but I was told by various people I dined with the steak was nicely done too. For the most part it was a pretty comfortable ride, all things considered. You could walk about the train at your leisure, sit in the observation car and read a book or have a chat with a fellow commuter in the lounge or dining car. And going through most of the Midwest you aren't going to get much cell or 3G reception so it helps people make friends. The train crew was super friendly as well. I wasn't too sure about the restroom situation at first because you can really smell people's, um business all throughout coach. But every morning one of the train's staff restocked and cleaned the bathrooms. There was even Lysol wipes conveniently placed in all of them and in the lounge car. That definitely made the experience a bit more pleasant. Our train did run a few hours late and if I had better forethought I would have taken public transportation to get into the city center rather than their shuttle service on a weekend when all traffic was being forced through the Golden Gate Bridge on account of the Bay Bridge being closed. But someone from Amtrak even called me 2 weeks ahead of time to let me know they'd be re-routing my ticket through another town. With great customer service I really can't complain. Although I had an awesome time and got to see the sights I probably wouldn't do it again as flying would have been cheaper and quicker. But I'd be more than happy to recommend this trip to someone who hasn't taken this journey before and has a good chunk of time on their hands to experience the journey and enjoy the ride. read more

We took the Zephyr from Chicago to Salt Lake City, we didn't have time to do the whole trip. This was part of a month-long vacation in the US and definitely one of the highlights. We had a roomette which, as someone else has said is small so you really need to take in just what you need for the trip and check the other luggage you have. Also if you're a large build or not flexible you might not be able to shimmy up to the top bunk. The roomette is a nice mix of privacy and comfort, you still have the choice to spend time in the public parts of the train. The bed was comfortable and we both slept well, although the temptation is to poke your head up at the stations during the night to check out the local scenery. The car attendant (Donna) was friendly and helpful. All the staff were good but don't expect to be pandered to, you're not paying for the luxury of Orient Express or anything. I guess that would be my best piece of advice. It's very clean and comfortable, you don't rough it, but if you're looking for luxury you are in the wrong place. The scenery was great. We checked out the observation car but were quite happy to spend most of the time in our room and only see half the scene, that was still plenty. There was no WiFi on board which was a surprise after having been on West Coast Amtrak. I didn't have a map so wished I had downloaded the route map before we started. Nothing like that was available on board so I was in the dark a bit on where we were most of the time. We would definitely do another Amtrak journey. There's something about it that you can't put your finger on - totally relaxing, no driving, no airport hassle, lots to see. read more

Thank you AMTRAK staff for all of your help on our recent round trip on the California Zepher. Special thanks go to the sleeping car attendants (both east bound and west bound). Yes, the west bound train did run a little late, but we made our connections and the communication from the staff to the passengers was extraordinary. The sleeper, shower and restrooms were very clean - and the food was as good as any chain restaurant. This was our 5th Zepher trip and many more will follow. Thanks again. Joe K., Elmira, NY read more

So, one of the last things on Moms bucket list was to ride the California Zephyr. So we did, from Denver to Emeryville and back. The ride out on#5 was great- we were in lower coach. Comfortable enough, beautiful scenery, and great staff(special shout out to Martin and Dan) We arrived early and everything was smooth... traveling with a mom in a wheelchair requires plenty of juggling, but on the trip out I got a lot of help. My reason for only 2 stars? The trip back... Half the reason for taking the train is for the scenery, right? Well, the #6 currently has an advertisement 'wrap' on the coach car, which covers the windows :( Mom already has vision issues, add a grey blurry film... she couldn't see a thing, and it actually was messing with MY eyes. Mom can't do stairs very well, so it was hard to get up to the observation car for her. What a letdown for her, she wanted to see what she missed the first time. Also, this staff isn't nearly as... fun? Helpful? I had to do the juggling myself this time, no one offered to assist. read more

What an incredible journey-- I traveled from Denver to SF. I'll start with the cons before turning to the positives: --Roommettes and rooms are expensive-- sometimes costing more than airfare or a night in a five star hotel. -- Trains sometimes run late. My train was about an hour late arriving, although we made up most of that time before we got to Emeryville. --Some of the employees seemed overwhelmed. --Not luxurious by any stretch of the imagination, and the rooms definitely show wear and tear. So why four stars? Because the positives far outweigh the cons: --The views from this train are nothing short of spectacular. From the Rockies to the Sierra Nevada, the views were simply breathtaking, and for this alone the trip is worth taking. Words simply cannot describe these views. Everyone spent their time glued to the window, pointing out wildlife (bald eagles, wolves, mustangs) and simply admiring the view. The views were simply unforgettable. - The people that I met on the train also made the experience memorable. Amtrak forces you to eat meals with random strangers. For an introvert like myself, this would seem terrifying but it was a really rewarding experience. Hearing stories and perspectives from people from across the country really gave a different perspective to travel--something you'd never get from flying. People also congregate in the observation lounge car, where it is also very easy to strike up a conversation. read more

I normally don't do reviews but I'll go for it here. Reading reviews of people that dont give this train ride 5 stars are a bit off. My wife and I took the Zephyr from Emeryville, Ca. To Denver. I had taken this route solo years ago. I took coach in February when I was going solo. That was from Chicago all the way to Denver. That was great, no problems. But this review is based on my trip with my wife in July... I understand the time we live in now, douche is the norm... we did this round trip.. it was $1214 round trip for a roomette.. absolutely worth it 100%. This is a train, it is NOT the Four Seasons, this is not a 5 star hotel, this is not even motel 6, so I am unclear what people are expecting. Again, it is a train. The roommate was perfectly fine for 2 people with our luggage in roommette with us... we weren't just locked in our room, that would be weird.. we slept in there. My wife slept on lower bed, and I slept on upper berth.. it was great. Bathrooms are down hall in same train car. Coffee was available all day in same train car, bottles of water available also. We didn't sleep together, we didn't get a full night sleep, BUT THIS IS A TRAIN! On to the food, it was all inclusive with our roommette, again this isn't a Michelin rated restaurant, it was absolutely fantastic considering WE WERE ON A TRAIN.. the fact that we shared tables for meals was quite cool... my wife and I are completely normal, we can carry on a conversation with another couple, we aren't weird. We spent 90% of our time in the observation car to see the UNREAL views, UNREAL. The snack car down below the observation car is a bit pricey but a little perk of having a roommette is that you can have your own booze so we had a nice bottle of scotch and a 12 pack of cans... a couple movies on your iPad, some music, the outstanding scenery, some good conversation with other travelers and most importantly doing this with someone you enjoy, even better. If you want no conversation, no scenery, a 5 star hotel, a Michelin rated restaurant, fly... if you like adventure and some socializing, TAKE THIS TRAIN ROUTE. 100% WORTH IT... read more

An awesome journey recommended for every young American Great way to see 7 states. The journey between Sacramento and Denver is a treat. Take the roomette... all meals are included and you will meet some great people read more

See all

Train sleeper cars are filthy and noisy, need repairs to roomettes. Attendants are outstanding. Food was good, not great! Overall uncomfortable trip. read more

This route is the best and most scenic. Superliner cars need to be replaced, showing their age. Sleeper is essential on overnight trips, coach gets noisy and ripe. This route should have 2 sightseer/lounge cars. One for coach one for sleepers as people from coach camp out and take up all seats. Dining car food good but some waitresses have attitude. Our sleeping car attendant was mostly absent after first introduction. Room on first night was clammy/stuffy. Public washrooms should be cleaned more often. Lets update our Amtrak fleet! Or kill long distant trains altogether. It is used a lot by foreign tourists which was a little embarrassing. read more

The station is classic - but not open all night. If you take Amtrak, go first class. Coach is actually more like steerage. I expected to see chickens and pigs stuffed under the seats. First Class lets you hang out in the Metropolitan Lounge. Its a new version of the old, run-down one. Its great. Free wine, cheese and veggies around noon. Other goodies at other times.The furniture has not been worn out yet and Wifi is very good. They also have showers and provide towels, soap and shampoo. However the station staff varies - from wonderful to bloody awful. My train was 11 hours late and got stuck here - they gave us a very nice hotel room but the woman in charge of helping riders...was awful! We rolled in a 12:30 am. We had a few people with special needs and Rider Services did not take care of them. The cabs they promised - never showed up. We were all standing on the curb at 2:00 am. Some people were not dressed for the cold. Everyone ended up paying for a cab. As for the trains...they often are late. They are DIRTY! WORN OUT AND DIRTY. Did I mention the trains are dirty? The porters vary - I have yet to get one that does anything...except expect tips. The only time I see porters are when I am getting off and they have their hand out. They basically do not do their job. The food on the trains is pretty poor quality, but included in First Class. Otherwise its brutally expensive. Hope you like $8 hotdogs.. prepackaged and microwaved. Did I mention that the trains were DIRTY? I mean nearly 3rd world dirty. The car with the large bedrooms on the California Zephyr smelled of sewage. I suspect the holding tank had failed or was leaking. The Bathrooms are worse than many low-end gas stations on the interstate. They are a microbiological carnival. Bring hand sanitizer. I recommend about a gallon per day and a box of rubber gloves. You will need them. You know..the trains are really dirty. read more

Our first leg of our journey was on the Coast Starlight, then the Empire Builder to Chicago and then back on the California Zephyr to Emeryville, Ca., and then the last leg home on the Coast Starlight again. First, I have no idea what the costs were. At the time my credit card miles could be converted to Amtrak miles. The actual Amtrak travel cost me nothing. The credit card was linked to Continental Airlines (now defunct) and my wife and I got an amazing deal. I have read most of the reviews of the various links and have to admit it's a "hit and miss" proposition as to what kind of room steward you get. We had horrible (we over-tipped him) to fantastic. It's the luck of the draw. We had the full bedroom and I would recommend going to YOU TUBE as many people have posted "documentaries" as to what the rooms include. A little inside information. In the sleeping areas there is a room the attendants call "the last resort" rooms. They shave off a whole corner to make the walkway into the car larger. These sleeper rooms (even though they still have the shower, etc.) are markedly more cramped. Amtrak has room layouts on their site. Meals are good, and if experience is a teacher, Amtrak does a remarkable job of poorly planning the meals needed for a trip. In the Zephyr and the Empire Builder menu selections were down to bread, water and toothpicks by the time the train arrived (actually, there was food, but no one's first choice). Another hint. Even if you have as room as nice as ours was, stake out a place in the observation cars for trips along the CA coast in the Coast Starlight and through the Rockies, Cascades, etc. in the Zephyr and EB. We brought along lots of books and games, and never used them. We spent all our time looking out the window. Someone said "bring shampoo." Every train we traveled on had plenty of toiletries. Including shampoo. Meal time being sat with strangers was a highlight. We sat with an office mate of Stephen Hawkings (I asked him a question about physics and he told me he hadn't expected to lecture for free--subject dropped), the head football scout for Ohio State (he said they'd never win a game after the sanctions, and they did quite well). We met a mother and daughter who were headed to So. California for 10 days and were going to spend all of them at Disneyland. They were Germans. I tried telling them about other attractions, like the beautiful beaches. They would have nothing of it. We sat across from a morbidly obese couple who gave us hints on how to sneak alcohol onto the train (a shot of liquor in the lounge car is $7 so we'll follow their advice). All our seat-mates were interesting. I hope they thought the same of us. I love train travel, and could almost be considered a "rail fan." I was stopped a couple of time from taking pictures of my own train engines because of TSA rules. Every person I tell about our rail adventures says, "I've always wanted to do that." My advice: DO IT! read more

Word to the wise. My wife and I have travelled the California Zephyr a total of 3 times. First I can say in Amtrak's defense, AMTRAK does not own or control the rails. NO, those are owned and maintained by the FREIGHT TRAINS. So when you board with this in mind, delays that is, you can just relax and enjoy our trip. We make a practice of taking pre-recorded movies and just enjoy each other's company and the new people we meet along the way. The crew's are pleasant and the food "used" to be good, but that too has now changed. Alas all good things must come to an end at some time I guess. This years we plan on taking our cross country trip, by car this time. Now we are going to do it over almost 3 months, so we can travel at our leisure. We have made this trip by auto many times, but not in the past 3 years, so it will be a new experience for us. Possibly some of the road construction has been completed since our last cross country auto trip. I would always recommend people always make at least 1 cross country trip by train and just enjoy seeing this great country we live in! read more