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| Above, the Southwest Chief arriving at Gallup Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Four years ago, I took an overnight round-trip aboard Amtrak's Southwest Chief train from Gallup, New Mexico to Riverside, California to attend my aunt's funeral. Although I've been on trains in Japan and taken short trips on "amusement" and historical trains such as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, this was the first time I've ridden on an overnight train in the U.S.
It was an enjoyable trip and very affordable.
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| Above, the Southwest Chief's café car. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
TheTravel has posted an article on seven affordable overnight train trips in the U.S., which includes the aforementioned Southwest Chief.
They begin it with:
In America today, most travelers who want to get out and explore the country will likely plan their vacation in terms of either a flight to a distant destination or perhaps any of the lengthy cross-country road trips along America's vast interstate highway system. Sure, while these options certainly provide exciting and memorable journeys, travelers in the United States may overlook some of the incredible adventures by train that are available all around the country.
Many of Amtrak's busiest and most popular routes are shorter trips between major cities in close geographical proximity. However, Amtrak also offers many longer overnight train journeys between destinations in different parts of the country (some even venture into Canada, too!). These scenic overnight train journeys in North America allow passengers to travel across the country (or even into Canada) in only two or three days while experiencing the unique thrill of a scenic train trip.
What's more, these train journeys often get passengers right up close to some incredible scenery. Unlike road trips, these trains let passengers get as many pictures of the scenery as they want without having to worry about keeping their eyes on the road. Yet, the best part is that many of Amtrak's best overnight train journeys are also quite affordable for most travelers. Here are some of the most affordable overnight trains in the United States, their average cost (from $51 to $183), and what passengers can hope to see along the way.
Riders do not have to be stuck in their seats. They can walk to observation and café cars.
To read more, go here.
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