Originally published on Travel + Leisure.

This Beautiful 2,438-mile Train Route Crosses Most of the U.S.

All aboard for an unforgettable trip by rail.

By Iona Brannon

Iona Brannon is a journalist with a love for food and travel. Her work has appeared in Afar, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider, among other publications.

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A long train traversing a rural and hilly landscape with mountains in the background

Amtrak's California Zephyr traveling across the U.S.Credit: 

Amtrak

  • The California Zephyr is one of the longest train routes in the U.S., traveling 2,438 miles from Chicago to the Bay Area through the Rockies and Sierra Nevada.
  • The train passes some of the country's most dramatic scenery, including Gore Canyon, Ruby Canyon, and Donner Pass.
  • Key stops like Denver, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, and San Francisco offer ideal opportunities for overnight breaks, sightseeing, and restaurants.

It's hard to separate the impact and the legacy of the railroad from the United States itself. According to the Association of American Railroads, there are nearly 140,000 miles of track in the U.S.—the most extensive rail network of any country in the world. But there's one passenger train route that outshines the rest in both scope and beauty.

One of the longest train routes in the U.S., Amtrak's California Zephyr runs for 2,438 miles between Chicago and the San Francisco suburb of Emeryville. During the ride, it passes through some of the most iconic stretches of the American West, traveling through the heart of the Rocky Mountains before continuing west through the Sierra Nevada. The route covers about two-thirds of the country, stopping in cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, and Sacramento, with connections via Amtrak bus service to San Francisco from Emeryville in the Bay Area.

There is no Wi-Fi on board, so passengers who need internet access should consider bringing their own hotspots. Since the journey takes more than 51 hours, there are private sleeper cars with private roomettes and bedrooms, which can include complimentary meals in the dining car and access to lounges at major stations, depending on your ticket fare.

Here's what you need to know before riding Amtrak's California Zephyr, including recommended attractions, hotels, and restaurants along the way and the best time to travel.

Salt Lake City

A scenic view of a large grassy park with trees mountains in the distance and a few scattered clouds in the sky

View of the mountains around Salt Lake City.

Courtney Childers/Travel + Leisure

Between the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake stands Salt Lake City, another brief servicing stop that makes a wonderful overnight break. About half an hour from downtown, the lake itself is one of the Western Hemisphere's largest and saltiest inland bodies of water.

For accommodations, The Grand America Hotel and Kimpton Hotel Monaco bring a boutique approach to downtown. The five-block complex Temple Square anchors the city center, with well-groomed gardens and architecture. The Natural History Museum of Utah holds the world’s largest display of horned dinosaur skulls, and cat lovers won’t want to miss Tinker's Cat Café, which has adoptable cats.

Red Iguana serves enchiladas covered in house-made mole sauces, while Takashi is the place to go for great sushi. After dinner, stop by Post Office Place, the small tapas bar next door. 

Visit Salt Lake (VSL) is the private, nonprofit Destination Sales & Experience Organization (DSXO) dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and activating conventions, meetings, sporting events and leisure travel that fuels the region’s visitor economy. In partnership with Salt Lake County, hoteliers, members and public-sector stakeholders, VSL helps generate $6.15 billion in annual visitor spending, $575 million in direct tax revenue and $1,700 in household tax savings while supporting more than 56,000 jobs. By championing Salt Lake's authentic urban-meets-mountain identity, VSL creates transformative experiences that benefit the community and visitors alike. For more information, visit www.VisitSaltLake.com.