Traveling from California (in our case, San Francisco) to New York takes about six hours by plane. But by train, with delays and transfers included, it can take a full four days. That’s when I realized this journey might be a lot more challenging than I had imagined.
To my surprise, the train was actually more expensive than a budget flight, and booking everything turned out to be quite complicated. I also worried whether my mom, at her age, could handle such a long trip on a train.
Even so, we kept going with the plan, determined to make this dream come true.
I hope what we learned along the way can help others who are thinking about taking a similar journey.
Booking Amtrak Tickets, What We Learned and What to Expect
Crossing the United States by Train
As I did my research, I discovered that you can travel to almost anywhere in the United States by combining trains and buses. For our journey from San Francisco to New York, however, there was really only one option — Amtrak.
There is no direct train from San Francisco to New York, so we needed to transfer in Chicago.
The train from San Francisco to Chicago is the California Zephyr, one of the most popular Amtrak routes. It’s known for offering some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country.
From Chicago to New York, there are a few options, including the Lake Shore Limited and the Cardinal. Since we wanted to make the most of the experience, we chose the Lake Shore Limited, which travels along the Great Lakes and offers beautiful views throughout the journey.
Different Rooms, Different Ways to Travel
After deciding on the route, the next challenge was booking our tickets. This turned out to be harder than expected, because I had no idea which type of seat or room to choose.
As I looked into it, I learned that Amtrak offers Coach Class and First Class, similar to airlines. Coach Class includes reclining seats only, while First Class offers private rooms that come with meals and drinks.
There are several types of private rooms in First Class.
The Roomette is the most compact and budget-friendly option.
Then there’s the Bedroom, which is slightly larger and includes a shower.
The Bedroom Suite can accommodate up to four people and includes both a shower and toilet.
Lastly, the Family Room is spacious but does not have a private toilet or shower.
A larger room would be great for sharing the trip with family or friends, offering space to relax together.
We chose the Roomette. It’s a small, simple space with a door that locks, giving us privacy and peace of mind. During the day, it functions as seating, and at night, it converts into a bed.
Even though the space is tight, it felt manageable.
Plus, breakfast and dinner are included, which was a nice bonus.
(Helpful link)＊Official Amtrak Website – See seat options including Coach Class and First Class
What Is the Value of Traveling by Train?
For the two of us, the California Zephyr from California to Chicago cost about $1,500 (as of 2024). The Lake Shore Limited from Chicago to New York was around $800.
At the time we booked the tickets, I honestly wasn’t sure if that was expensive or reasonable. But considering that the price included not only transportation, but also meals, a bed, and incredible scenery, I now feel it was well worth it.
For the return trip, we decided to fly back — quick and simple.
A direct flight from New York to San Francisco takes only six hours, which is about one-tenth of the time the train journey took. Even more surprising, the early-bird airfare we found was about one-third the cost of the train tickets!
This experience opened my eyes to just how many options there are when it comes to traveling. With hotels in Chicago and New York also booked, we were finally ready to go.
Coming up next, “The Cross Country Journey Begins!”
