Coast Starlight to Seattle - a good idea?
 

Hi,

We are thinking of taking the Coast Starlight to Seattle from SFO (it would be my husband, myself and our 3 year old). We are considering stopping either at Crater Lake or at Bend for a day and continuing to Seattle. Do you think the journey is too long?
1. Is this even a good idea with a 3 year old?
2. If so, which way is better - Seattle to SFO or SFO to Seattle?

Thanks very much!

Personally I wouldn't do it. It's quite long, and while it's scenic in a few places, some of them are passed at night, reducing their appeal. The trip takes 24 hours more or less, but the train is notoriously late-running, and if your child starts getting fussy there's no place to go.

Plus, wanting to stop at Bend or Crater Lake implies the train goes there. It does not. You'd need to disembark someplace like Klamath Falls or Eugene, get a car and drive to those places, then back to connect with the train, having driven a couple hundred miles or so in the process.

If you really want to take the train somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, I'd recommend either flying into Portland and taking the train to Seattle - which is a fairly scenic route, or else flying into Seattle and taking it to Vancouver, which is also scenic. In both cases the trip is around 4 hours, way better than 24.

Otherwise I'd drive and have the freedom to pick (or change) your own route, or else fly and use that 24 hours (each way) to better ends.

I agree. Our favorite routing is Highway 101 to Eureka, Highway 1 to Lincoln City or Cannon Beach, and then on to Seattle.

Our favorite places to stay on the Oregon coast are Brooking, Bandon, Yachats, Newport, and Cannon Beach.

HTTY

The train has a reputation for running late especially going north- however, I hear it has been running closer to schedule recently- some friends just took the train from Eugene to SFO and return and they enjoyed the trip.

It might be a long trip with a 3 year old although I think there is a play area on the train.

My friends all had sleeper cars so that makes things a bit more comfortable- and expensive.

I had 1 bad experience when my train was 5 hours late getting into Eugene which is pretty typical.

Starlight is more likely to be somewhere near on schedule going south, than coming north.

Have ridden the Starlight 3 times. Always late. But am planning to ride again in Dec. since DW and I like the train. That said, the best part of the ride is from Oxnard to the Bar Area. From OAkland to Portland there is some nice scenery, but nothing spectacular. DW and I always get sleeping compartment. If you don't mind the close quarters of the top bunk at night, you pay the same for the sleeper for 2 people as for 1.

Thank you everyone!! Guess we'll fly to Portland, spend a day there, and take a train to Seattle. Much appreciate all the suggestions.

When you arrive in Seattle, I believe you will conclude that you made a good decision about how to travel there.

HTTY

On Sundays and Thursdays Allegiant flies from Oakland to Medford. http://www.allegiantair.com/aaRes/aaBookingFlow_1.php
This would be the cheapest way to get from San Francisco to where you can rent a car to get to Crater Lake.
The Coast Starlight leaves Oakland every night at 9:42 or later.
Even if it is an hour late, you will be in Klamath Falls before 10AM.
Allegiant also flies to Eugene and Redmond from Oakland.

Thank you Happytrailstoyou and Tomfuller.

Even just between Portland and Seattle, don't use the Starlight. I think the regular train is called "Cascade"?

Yes there are 3 Amtrak Cascade trains from PDX to SEA every day before the Coast Starlight arrives in Portland.
The Coast Starlight is scheduled into Seattle at 8:45PM but it is hard to avoid delay on a train that starts in Los Angeles.