With gas prices soaring, lingering hesitancy to book international trips, and concerns about the environment—Amtrak trains are 47% more efficient than traveling by car and 33% more efficient than domestic air travel—domestic train travel is having a moment. 

With the world’s largest railway infrastructure, hopping aboard an Amtrak can deliver you to destinations all over the in the United States. On the way, you’ll traverse through–not above–amazing landscapes like the Great Plans or Lousiana’s Bayou. Because you can sit back and relax on the ride, you’re free to take it all in without the hassle of driving or planning stops for food and rest. Book a room for more privacy and a place to sleep or ride coach to save more cash.

Booking tips. Download the Amtrak app to book tickets, check status, and access your ticket information. If you have the flexibility, midweek trips often come with a discount. Booking early will save you even more. When you book more than 21 days in advance, you can sometimes save as much as 50%. Booking 14 days in advance can save you 20% on a coach fare. 

Packing tips. Pack light if you can. Experienced train travelers recommend a backpack rather than a suitcase because most train stations feature a flight of stairs and offer less overhead baggage room than an airline. If you need it, though, major stations offer complimentary luggage assistance.

Destination tips. Wonder where you can go? Where do you want to go? With more than 500 destinations in the U.S., the possibilities are vast. Check out some of these popular routes to spark your imagination:

• Coast Starlight. One of the most beautiful train rides in the U.S. you’ll travel more than 1,000 miles from Seattle Washington to Los Angeles, CA with stops in Portland, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, and Santa Barbara.
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• California Zephyr. Another gorgeous ride across the U.S., this trip begins in Chicago. This route courses over plans, mountains, canyons, rivers, and lakes to Emeryville/San Franciso.
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• · Empire Builder. Quintessential American West, the Empire Builder travels between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest (Portland/Seattle), along the path of early pioneers and major portions of the Lewis and Clark trail.

Need more ideas? Want to plan your own route? Check out Amtrak’s interactive map to get going!

Thrive on!