Want variety? A railroad that crosses nine states, some of the nation's major cities, beautiful farmland regions, and rocky mountains? The Vermonter travels from Washington, D.C., via Vermont communities to the Canadian border.
The Coast Starlight, which sails from Los Angeles to Seattle along the western US coast, stops at Portland, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara. The daily, two-way train makes numerous adventure-prime stops.
VIA Rail, Canada's national rail service, offers several attractive train routes, including the Canadian, which crosses varied landscapes from Toronto to Vancouver. The first two days of the journey pass through eastern Canada.
The Denali Star, Alaska Railroad's premier summer train, connects Alaska's two largest cities and passes through Denali National Park. The train crosses the Knik River, which forms a broad valley of alpine meadows.
Other U.S. rail companies exist besides Amtrak. The Rocky Mountaineer, a premium train service previously employed for Canadian Rockies picturesque routes, began U.S. trips in 2022. The two-day Rockies to Red Rocks train from Moab to Denver.
Think two full days on a train is too much? Not when you re traveling through eight different states, tracing the U.S./Canadian border, and hitting Glacier National Park.