How Long It Takes To Go Cross Country on a Train
When planning a journey cross-country, there are many options and routes, ranging from the direct to the scenic, the cheap to the luxurious. Planning such a trip can therefore be somewhat difficult. However, a few Amtrak options provide possibilities for such a trip at a range of prices and lengths. For the purposes of illustration, the trips listed here will be from Los Angeles to New York, but understand that as New York and Los Angeles are easily reached by train from anywhere on their respective coasts, the journeys work for nearly any point.
The shortest and the cheapest trip are one and the same, making things convenient for those who just want to get from one side of the US to the other. The prices vary with the season, but are around $250. One takes the Southwest Chief train from Union Station in Los Angeles to Chicago, changing trains there onto the Lake Shore Limited. Depending on departure time, there might be a gap before the transfer, allowing for a nice meal and some exploration of Chicago. The Lake Shore Limited then goes straight to Penn Station. The trip takes around three days - not at all a bad turnaround for crossing the country.
For a more scenic route, there are multiple options. One of them first goes up the coast on the elegant Coast Starlight, which offers an unmatched view of the ocean and the natural beauty of California and Oregon. From Portland, one then takes the Empire Builder to Chicago, continuing on the Lakeshore Limited as before. Another route involves first taking the Sunset Limited to New Orleans, spending the night there and exploring, and then heading on the Crescent to New York. There are many small alternations possible with these routes too, of course, and stopping at the various cities along the way is of course possible if you're willing to pay a little extra.
There are many more routes than these, of course, and the Amtrak trip planner on their website can be invaluable in planning any journey like this. Still, whether scenic or direct, luxurious or economical, travelling across the country by rail has advantages for everyone. If you plan to take a trip across the United States, why not do it by rail, saving yourself gas, money, and effort?