Last year, while visiting a friend in California, I decided to stop in Seattle to see my sister before returning home to Texas.
Instead of booking another flight, I decided to go an alternative route: Amtrak’s Coast Starlight, a 32-hour train ride from Santa Barbara to Seattle.
At the time, my social media feeds were flooded with videos of flight delays and air traffic control disasters, so taking a train felt like an easy choice.
Plus, I thought a solo travel journey all the way up the West Coast with my own personal roomette sounded like the perfect main-character moment.
The ride was an unforgettable experience full of breathtaking views, but in the end, I’m not sure the scenery was worth the nearly $500 price tag.
When I boarded, I noticed the roomette was pretty bare bones.
Once on the double-decker train, I was eager to see the roomette I had booked on the second floor. Even though I chose the smallest private room available, my ticket still cost nearly $500.
The roomette wasn’t fancy — just two seats facing each other with a fold-down tray table. There wasn’t a toilet or sink in the room, but luckily, the shared bathroom was located just downstairs.
Overall, it was sparse, but the roomette had all the essentials I needed, including a door lock and conveniently placed outlets.
Additionally, an attendant was available to assist with any of my needs throughout the whole journey — truly making me feel like I was getting VIP treatment.
The roomette was expensive, but the views were incredible.
Paying nearly $500 for a solo train ride wasn’t ideal for me, but I was truly delighted to see that my window faced west, offering consistent views of the Pacific Ocean — and occasional glimpses of dolphins — throughout the journey.
Watching the changing scenery was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
I didn’t have WiFi, but still enjoyed working while traveling up the coast.
After I got settled into my roomette and opened my laptop, I quickly learned there was no WiFi, something I had forgotten to check before hopping aboard.
Had I not been working, I think the romantic notion of disconnecting and living in the moment would have been appealing. But since I have a full-time job, I prayed my hotspot would hold up.
Despite the lack of internet, it was a lovely afternoon, passing stunning coastlines and seashores and sinking into the privacy of my own little world.
I loved talking to fellow passengers while in the dining car.
When it was time for dinner, I headed to the dining car, since my roomette fee included three meals.
I enjoyed roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables that tasted like a step above airplane food.
The train staff sat four people to a booth, no matter the size of your party, allowing me to meet other people on board and see where their journeys were headed.
I ate next to a couple en route to the Pokémon convention in Vancouver, and a woman traveling for work.
Sleeping was a challenge, but having a full roomette to myself had its perks.
After countless hours of sketching, watching TV, journaling, and editing footage for a TikTok video about this very Amtrak journey, I decided it was time to get some sleep.
To create my bed, I folded down the table in my roomette and did my best to push the two seats into their reclined positions. However, I needed a bit of help from the attendant to get it right.
Since a roomette is meant for two people, and I was traveling solo, I was able to use both sets of pillows and blankets, a perk that gave the somewhat stiff cushions a little give.
Once my bed was ready, I gathered my toiletries and headed downstairs to the bathrooms, which felt slightly more roomy than an airplane bathroom.
I was scared I would get motion sickness lying flat, but as soon as I put on my jammies, climbed into bed, and saw the starry sky out my window, I was cozy.
I’ll never forget the cinematic scenery in the observation car.
The next morning, after breakfast, I went to the train’s observation car, where I caught glimpses of hundreds of snow-covered trees. It looked like a scene straight out of a movie.
When the train stopped, my fellow passengers and I would step out for a fresh-air break and a stretch.
I exchanged some smiles and pleasantries, but I didn’t even need to chat at length with others to feel a sense of camaraderie, making the ride feel more like a community than just a commute.
It was at this point that I wished I had more time aboard.
Getting off the train was bittersweet.
Overall, the Amtrak Coast Starlight gave me a wonderful new experience, incredible views, and the opportunity to travel the country in a way I’ve never experienced before.
However, I don’t think I’d use a long-distance Amtrak train for routine travel. Instead, I’d love to hop aboard again once a year or for special occasions, since the price and time commitment are not feasible for frequent excursions.
Was it faster, cheaper, or more luxurious than a plane, or even a car? No. Was it worth it? Yes.
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