- Travel
- Trains
These eco-friendly journeys take you through some of the most stunning scenery in the States.
By
Matt Meltzer, and Hugo McCafferty
Just as the great American road trip has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, train travel is finally getting the attention and adoration it deserves. Here, the journey itself is a draw. Rail travel in the US isn’t exactly bullet speed as in Asia, but the point of choosing to journey by train is exactly the opposite. Sure, you'll end up in spectacular destinations like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, but the true highlights are the the towns and parks you'll (slowly) chug through along the way. Not to mention, it's eco-friendly.
Whether you want a shorter jaunt through the mountains, a cross-country trip through deserts, or simply plan to hop on board for a luxurious dinner with a view, here are some of the most scenic train rides throughout the country that are every bit as romantic as something like the Orient Express—but at a much more realistic price point.
Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska
Distance: 358 miles
Many around the world recently were able to witness the spectacular northern lights from their backyard. For those who didn’t, it might be time tomake a plan to travel to them in style. This seasonal Alaska Railroad train allows you to roam freely about the cars as you wind through a greatest hits of Alaska's beauty. You'll travel through metropolitan Anchorage, vertigo-inducing mountain passes, over expansive bridges, and into the heart of the wilderness, where you're prone to seeing celestial light dancing in the sky and reflecting off the snow. Feel free to stop off for a hike into Denali or just ride it out for 12 hours. The catch? The route only runs in the winter. The bonus is that “winter” here runs from September through May. And if that window doesn't work, you can skip the lights and hit the summertime Denali Star Train.
Salt Lake City, Utah to Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 360 miles round trip
This five-day trip begins and ends in Salt Lake City, Utah, and takes you through mountains to untouched wilderness in the lower part of Yellowstone National Park.At Yellowstone, geysers and steam vents spew vapor into the icy air and you’ll see crowd-pleasers like Firehole Canyon, Isa Lake on the Continental Divide, and of course, Old Faithful. There are options for summer and winter months; the natural beauty is possibly even more impressive when covered in snow. With virtually no other tourists around, you’ll get to witness nature in its primordial glory and spot wildlife surviving the elements, like the wolves of Lamar Valley.
Denver to Winter Park Resort, Colorado
Distance: 67 miles
Colorado is beautiful any time of year, but it’s particularly breathtaking when decked out in all its winter finery. Amtrak’s Winter Park Express brings you from Denver’s 1914 Beaux-Arts station through majestic, snowy Colorado—along the state’s famed Flatirons mountains, through the Rockies, and across the Continental Divide via the 6-mile-long Moffat Tunnel—to the Winter Park Resort, one of the country’s top ski areas. While it’s nicknamed the “ski train,” the vistas alone are worth the trip even if you’re not planning to hit the slopes. The double-decker train cars offer maximum comfort, and an upper-level Sightseeing Lounge provides the perfect vantage point to take in the magnificent panoramas.
Chicago, Illinois to Emeryville, California
Distance: 2,438 miles
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, the eye candy seen from the California Zephyr was so striking that it led to it being the first transcontinental train to make regular use of dome cars. And if you want to do the entire route and retrace the trail pioneers took when settling the American West, the 50-plus-hour ride is a great way to appreciate not doing this in a covered wagon. While you can kick off in Chicago, the main event starts in Denver, where the train journeys through the towering Rocky Mountains, into the red rocks of Utah, through Ruby Canyon, the Sierras, Donner Pass, and, finally, San Francisco Bay. It's the best way to take in the grandeur of the West short of renting an RV.
Eugene, Oregon to Vancouver, British Columbia
Distance: 156 miles
Naming the train “Cascades” sets the bar pretty high as far as scenery goes, but this ride through America's Pacific Northwest is a worthy contender. The trek from Eugene to Seattle is a long trip through evergreen forests, which expertly hide the dense masses on the I-5 corridor. Once you reach Seattle, though, the real fun starts. The train travels along Puget Sound, where you’ll see a shipwreck, possibly orcas, and, on a clear day, passengers on the western-facing side get a front-row view of the Olympic Mountains. It's a four-hour moving postcard that'll have you researching real estate on the in-train Wi-Fi.
Anchorage to Grandview, Alaska
Distance: 356 miles
Another of Alaska Railroads’ stunning routes is the summertime Glacial Discovery, which brings you through a countryside only accessible by train, to the ends of the earth, where you can admire imposing and majestic arctic glaciers. Depart from Anchorage and travel south through Girdwood and Portage, where travelers can stop off at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to spot everything from bears to adorable adoptable porcupines. Or continue to Whittier, where you can connect to a glacier coastal cruise. Or stay on the train and head to the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, where the stunning Spencer Lake and Glacier await at the end of a short trail. But wait, there’s more. As the train makes its way along the Placer River Valley you’ll find what many consider the most scenic stretch of the ride, as the train approaches the Bartlett Glacier and Trail Glacier.
Cass, West Virginia
Distance: 8 miles
John Denver once called West Virginia “almost heaven,” and it's hard to argue with the guy who foresaw cannabis legalization in Colorado decades in advance (that's what “Rocky Mountain High” was about, right?). The scenery in Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is breathtaking, and this quick jaunt is the best way to soak it up. These original steam locomotives with refurbished logging cars were once used to transport lumber to mining camps. They now haul passengers up a four-mile, 11%-grade slope on the lower part of Cheat Mountain along Leatherbark Creek, to an overlook with sweeping views of the mountains below. At the top of the ride is Whittaker Station, a restored logging camp. Aim to visit in October, when the fall foliage is at its best for leaf peeping.
Hyannis to Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Distance: 27 miles
Take in the charm of this seaside community with a ride on this railroad through salt marshes, oceanfront trails, and cranberry bogs, complete with an audio explainer on how cranberries are harvested, should you wish. You’ll also pass through picturesque towns like Sandwich, founded in 1637 and though named by its founders for its British counterpart, leans into the culinary side of its name with its annual June Sandwich Fest. You can opt for either the narrated sightseeing tour or the dinner train, where you’ll be served a gourmet, five-course meal at a white linen-clad table in traditional rail fashion. Both options take you through areas of Cape Cod that can only be seen by train.
Williams, Arizona
Distance: 130 miles round trip
The Grand Canyon is one of those American landmarks that is easily ruined should you find yourself stuck in traffic behind 30 tour buses. To skip the hassle entirely, hop on this throwback train with restored locomotives and vintage cars, departing from Williams, about 65 miles south. It starts in the dense pine forests of Northern Arizona before settling into an expansive plateau of high desert, speeding past Native American reservations, elk, bald eagles, and condors. You'll go through the San Francisco Peaks and near the highest point in the state before arriving at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. While onboard, you’ll be entertained by musicians and cowboy characters (come early for a cowboy shootout before you board). Opt for Locomotive No. 4960 and you’ll be riding on the French Fry Express, a train that runs exclusively on recycled oil collected from restaurants in Williams and the South Rim.
Bryson City, North Carolina
Distance: 32 or 44 miles
It's tough to take in all of the Great Smoky Mountains in just one train ride, which is why this outfitter based out of nearby Bryson City offers two options. The 32-mile, four-hour Tuckasegee River Excursion takes passengers through lush green valleys and over historic bridges into the quaint town of Dillsboro for an hour-and-a-half stop. The 44-mile Nantahala Gorge Excursion journeys along the Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers, over Fontana Lake, and into the gorge. It's more scenery and less history than its counterpart, but both are equally excellent ways to experience some of America's greatest wilderness.
Los Angeles, California to Seattle, Washington
Distance: 1,377 miles
Driving up the Pacific coast is about as classic as American road trips can get. That said, if you're the lucky one behind the wheel, it's difficult to really take in the sights, which come fast and frequently around every extremely tight bend in the road. Launched in 1971 going between Seattle and Los Angeles by way of Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area, the 35-hour trip on the Coast Starlight hits all the highlights: the dramatic cliffs along the PCH, Mount Shasta, the San Francisco Bay, Oregon's Cascade mountains, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound. There’s no internet on board so you’ll be fully immersed in your surroundings.
New Orleans, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California
Distance: 1,995 miles
If you're partial to grand vistas of red rocks and cacti, this desert-heavy itinerary just might be the most scenic train route in America. Beginning in Louisiana bayou country, it chugs through the expansive Southwestern deserts of West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona all over the course of 48 hours. During peak season, national park guides are on board to explain the history and geography of the region, and you're welcome to step off at Big Bend or Saguaro National Parks if you want a closer look.
Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Distance: 9 miles
The oldest rail line on this list is a quick trip through Lancaster County's Amish Country, with farmhouse-pocked expansive countryside and rolling hills in the distance. It was once used to transport goods from the industrial heart of Pennsylvania to the coast, before being restored in the 1960s as a passenger train. The first-class and president's trains are outfitted to look like Gilded Age luxury, and options also include musical date nights and a Murder Mystery Train experience. Though the ride to Plymouth is brief, the family-friendly excursion is definitely jam-packed.
Chicago, Illinois to Seattle, Washington
Distance: 2,206 miles
To see the Great Plains in all their splendor—and spend the most scenic eight hours of your life crossing the peaks, forests, and lakes of Glacier National Park—get yourself on the Empire Builder. This 46-hour ride traverses through Lewis and Clark's expedition route and the footsteps of early pioneers; Whitefish, Montana; a couple of mountain ranges; and a seven-mile tunnel cut through the Cascade mountains. It's a long trip for sure, but if you spend your time in the observation lounge, it might be the most exciting ride of your life.
Skagway, Alaska
Distance: 120 miles round trip
As you cruise along the side of frighteningly sheer cliff-drops on this narrow-gauge railway, you can't help but wonder who in their right mind actually built this thing during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. The train departs from Skagway on three different excursions, all of which take you up 3,000 feet in 20 miles, past glaciers, mountain lakes, and thunderous waterfalls. The signature trip travels the original miner supply route to Carcross, Yukon, and stops at a restored station house in Lake Bennett. Or, you can take the train past Bridal Veil Falls and Dead Horse Gulch to White Pass Summit, a 40-mile round-trip journey that traverses massive trusses that are not for those with a fear of heights.
Matt Meltzeris a contributing writer for Thrillist. Follow him on Instagram.
Hugo McCafferty is a freelance writer for Thrillist.
