When my sister and I began planning a trip from Maine to California, we knew we wanted to make it one we’d never forget. At first, we thought about road-tripping across the country, but honestly, it seemed like too much to take on.
Instead, we decided to fly to Chicago and take the 53-hour Amtrak California Zephyr train the rest of the way. It felt like the perfect compromise — we’d still get a chance to see new parts of the country, just without the stress of driving.
To make it even better, we booked a roomette on board, imagining a comfortable and scenic journey.
By the time we finally arrived in California, though, one thing was certain: this train trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience — because it was one I only needed to do once.
The roomette was great during the day, but sharing one at night was a challenge
Traveling in our roomette during the day was a breeze. The seats were large and comfortable, and we had plenty of space to stand up and stretch our legs.
However, nighttime was a different story. When it was time to go to sleep, our seats folded down into a twin-size bed, which took up the entire footprint of the space.
Then, another twin bed slid down from the ceiling to create a top bunk, which is where I slept. Even with a safety harness on, I felt like I was going to tumble off the bed every time the train wobbled.
It was a little less harrowing on the bottom bunk, but since we were on the second level of a double-decker car, every shake still felt perilous. Although logically, I knew I was safe, my brain was too panicked to sleep well either night.
Another downside of the roomette was that we had to share a bathroom with other passengers. I’m not the biggest fan of public restrooms to begin with, but several days of only having access to an airplane-sized bathroom sent me way past my comfort zone.
If I were to take another long Amtrak trip, I’d plan to upgrade to the larger room with a private bathroom.
However, I loved watching the scenery change from state to state
On a more positive note, traveling on the California Zephyr was a unique way to see the country.
Watching the scenery melt from the urban setting of Chicago to the seemingly endless cornfields of Iowa, the steep red cliffs of Colorado, and the sparkling ocean off the coast of California was an incredible experience.
Seeing these varied landscapes was one of the best parts of the trip.
The food on the train was really good, too
Three meals a day were included in the price of our tickets, but we made sure to stock up on snacks beforehand, since I assumed the food on the train wouldn’t be very good.
However, I was surprised to find that everything I ate in the dining car was delicious. For breakfast, we had basic options like yogurt and cereal, as well as hot dishes like omelets and French toast. The patty melt and grilled cheese seemed to be popular selections at lunch.
For dinner, I had a delicious roast chicken with gravy, and my sister said her steak was fantastic.
Plus, mealtimes meant we got to meet lots of interesting people. We were typically seated with strangers in the dining car, and I loved hearing the different reasons we had all ended up on the same train.
Overall, the trip was great, but 53 hours on a train is just too long for me
Even though I enjoyed many parts of the trip, I’d never take this particular route again. Why? Mostly because I really underestimated just how difficult it would be to stay in the same place for 53 hours.
Once the novelty of being on the train wore off, I was ready to have my own space again.
Overall, though, the food was surprisingly good, we enjoyed getting to know the other passengers, and it was a unique and fun way to travel.
I’d happily look at taking another, shorter train trip in the future. But another 53-hour journey? Been there, done that.
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