California Zephyr

The California Zephyr covers 3,924 kilometres between Chicago Union Station and Emeryville (across the bay from San Francisco) in approximately 51 hours, making it a two-night journey across the American Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada. The route passes through Denver, Salt Lake City, Reno, and Sacramento, with the Colorado Rockies section between Denver and Grand Junction considered one of the finest rail journeys in the world.

The westbound Zephyr enters the Rocky Mountains through the Moffat Tunnel at 2,820 metres above sea level and then follows the Colorado River canyon for several hours through towering red rock walls and dramatic gorges. The Sierra Nevada crossing on the following evening includes the snow sheds at Donner Pass before descending into California's Central Valley.

Onboard accommodation options include Coach (reclining seats, no bedding), Roomette (private room for two with fold-down beds and meals included), and Bedroom (larger private room with an en-suite toilet). Coach passengers purchase food from the Dining Car or Café Car at their own expense. Sleeping car passengers receive all meals included in the Dining Car as part of the accommodation price.

Book California Zephyr tickets at amtrak.com. Long-distance fares fluctuate by availability and are significantly cheaper when booked months ahead. The Auto Train accepts vehicles if you are travelling to the East Coast from Florida instead. A USA Rail Pass provides unlimited long-distance journeys for a fixed period and can be good value for multi-leg itineraries.