thursdaysd-- I agree with you; if you consider that you're getting room & board for 3 nights, if you consider that you're seeing many fascinating slices of America along the way with park rangers telling about the scenery in parts, if you consider that the train is getting you from east coast to west coast, with the added benefit of 3 days of not having to do household chores and simply relax, sometimes enjoying the company of occasionally quite interesting fellow train travellers with wine & cheese tastings and periodic games in the cafe car, $789 actually doesn't seem such a bad deal. Many people pay that for the privilege of 3 nights in a city hotel.

I do get though for those that only think of the ride as a way from A to B or for those who can't sleep on a train or those who can't get past the faults in the train experience, then it seems expensive.

I find it interesting that the Chicago-Seattle route is more expensive as the length of the ride is actually 6 hours shorter than the Chicago-SF route!

Of course, it is annoying for a single traveler that there is only a choice of a two-person roomette for one at the same price as for two, or a coach seat. In Europe and Asia I have the option to save money by sharing.

But I did enjoy the cross-country trip enough to put the other routes on my things-to-do list.

@Daniel_Williams thanks dude! I'm thinking I'll have to take the trip about 5 times to make sure I get all the routes in they all sound fantastic. I think I'll opt for the one passing by the Grand Canyon and then I'll see the Rocky's some other time!

All these ideas give me butterflies i have to say i can't believe I'm actually gonna be doing this, of course, I'm also gonna be studying, but still this seems like it's gonna be an awesome year with some great trips.

Hi, I would like to celebrate my 70th next year with a train trip across the Country and back. I will be travelling on my own, in a Sleeper. As I will leave from Boston, I am thinking Boston to Chicago, then the California Zephyr to San Fran. I would like to return to Boston via the South ~ somehow ~ I have not looked at those routes yet. What do you guys think ?

Southafricangirl~

Welcome to Fodor's forums. Hopefully people will chime in and see your question, but this thread was started 3 years ago.

You might get more helpful replies if you make a new one with your questions.

(See Post New Topic in the orange balloon at the top of the page.)

best, suze

Welcome to Fodors Southafricangirl. You have tacked on to a very old thread. It would be better if you started a new thread of your own. See the orange 'Post New Topic' button up top . . .

What the others said. But also see:

https://www.seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm

Southafricangirl--

Enjoy those trips! Going cross country by the southern route, you'll have to plan carefully as the Amtrak LA to New Orleans train (called the Sunset Limited) only runs 3 times daily last I checked. I took the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to San Antonio a few years back, actually arrived in San Antonio early! It's not as scenic as some of the other routes but I still found it interesting seeing the Louisiana Bayou by train through the window.

I'd probably opt to spend a day or four in New Orleans before getting on the New York City bound train, known as the Crescent. Be aware that sometimes the freight lines do track work for the winter months beginning maybe a week after New Year's Day between New Orleans and Atlanta, so the Crescent Train runs only from New York City to Atlanta for this period. Make sure the train is expected to run out of New Orleans before booking!

From New York City to Boston, there's the Northeast Regional and the much more expensive Acela as options.

Hope the trips go off without a hitch! Daniel

"Amtrak LA to New Orleans train (called the Sunset Limited) only runs 3 times daily last I checked."

Err, think that should be weekly, not daily!

Thank you all ~ and for the tip about starting my own new thread ~ I'm sure you will be hearing from me again, soon.

Thanks thursdaysd, I meant 3 times weekly!