There is something wonderful about watching the world roll by from a train window. No traffic. No airport lines. Just scenery, a comfortable seat, and time to breathe.
Most people think you have to fly to Europe to get that experience. The Swiss Alps, the Rhine Valley, the French countryside… those are the trips that get all the attention. But travel experts say you do not have to cross the Atlantic to find a truly spectacular rail journey. Some of the best ones are right here at home.
Three travel advisors gave recommendations to Parade for scenic domestic train travel, along with their tips for booking smart and making the most of the ride. Here are five routes worth knowing about.
1. Canyon Spirit: Denver to Salt Lake City
If you have ever dreamed of riding one of Europe’s luxury Belmond trains but cannot quite justify the overseas flight, Canyon Spirit may be your answer. Formerly known as Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks route, this luxury rail experience travels through the Rocky Mountains and into Utah’s red-rock landscape.
Nadia Bess, owner of luxury travel agency Besst Travels, calls it the most luxurious train experience available in the United States. The train runs only during daylight hours, so you never miss a moment of those views. Nights are spent at hotels along the route, including Glenwood Springs and, on the extended itinerary, Moab.
Bess considers that a real advantage. As she puts it, nobody actually sleeps well on a train anyway.
For travelers who want to go all out, she recommends upgrading to Premier Class. That includes a lounge car, enhanced dining with wine pairings, expanded bar selections, and additional outdoor viewing space.
Chip Wilson, a Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisor and owner of MCW Travel, agrees that Canyon Spirit is the closest thing to a Belmond-style journey in the country. He suggests adding a few days in Moab to explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Spring and fall are the best seasons, according to Bess. She particularly recommends the Rockies to the Red Rocks: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Explorer itinerary for travelers who want to avoid summer crowds.
Insider tip: Book earlier than you think you need to. Bess suggests planning as much as one to two years ahead for popular dates. A Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisor may also be able to offer additional benefits or promotions. Premier Class availability and inclusions vary by departure and package.
2. California Zephyr: Denver to the San Francisco Bay Area
For travelers who want sweeping alpine scenery without the price tag of a luxury train, Wilson points to Amtrak’s California Zephyr. He calls it the closest thing the U.S. has to the Alps by rail.
The full route runs between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, but Wilson especially recommends the westbound leg from Denver to California. Leaving Denver in the morning, the train climbs into the Rockies, winds through mountain passes, and follows the Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon. The next day brings the Sierra Nevada, then the long descent toward California.
Snowcapped peaks, pine-covered slopes, winding rivers, and wide open valleys, all from a comfortable seat with a big window in front of you.
The train has a Sightseer Lounge car with panoramic windows, the kind of spot where the hours slip by without you noticing. It is an overnight train, so you can choose coach seating or a private sleeping room. Wilson recommends the sleeper for comfort, and meals in the dining car are included with sleeper accommodations.
He also calls it the best value of the three main routes. For the most spectacular scenery, he recommends May or September. Late September is especially beautiful when Colorado’s aspen trees turn gold.
Insider tip: Book sleeper rooms as far ahead as possible. Wilson notes that Amtrak’s sleeper fares tend to rise as lower-priced inventory sells out. For something truly extravagant, he points to Halloway, which arranges private railcar experiences on select Amtrak routes including the California Zephyr.
3. Ethan Allen Express: New York City to Burlington, Vermont
Not every great rail journey needs to involve a luxury dining car or towering mountain peaks. Sometimes the best trips are the quiet ones, a leisurely ride through rolling countryside and charming villages, with a river view out the window.
Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express runs daily between New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall and Burlington, Vermont. Retreat leader Liz Arnold, who works with Run Wild Retreats, calls it an underrated way to see some of the Northeast’s most beautiful scenery.
She compares the Hudson Valley stretch to Germany’s celebrated Rhine Valley rail route. For much of the early journey, the train follows the Hudson River past historic towns, wooded hillsides, and long stretches of shoreline. As the route moves north, the scenery shifts to upstate New York and eventually Vermont, with rolling farmland, mountain views, and classic New England charm.
Stops along the way include Poughkeepsie, Saratoga Springs, Rutland, and Middlebury. The train ends in Burlington, a walkable lakeside city known for its independent shops and restaurants.
There is a café car for snacks and drinks, and Business Class is available for a more comfortable seat. But the real appeal here is simplicity. No rental car. No highway. Just the train, the river, and the countryside drifting past.
Arnold, whose work focuses on mindful travel, says train journeys offer something that is getting harder to find: the chance to slow down and just be somewhere.
Insider tip: Fall is a wonderful time to ride this route for Vermont’s foliage. Just be aware of the schedule. The northbound train currently departs New York in the afternoon, so some of the Vermont scenery may come after dark later in the season. Consider traveling southbound to catch more daylight views.
Two More Routes Worth Adding to Your List
If those three have you wanting more, Wilson recommends the Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star, which runs seasonally between Anchorage and Fairbanks with stops at Talkeetna and Denali National Park. He suggests upgrading to GoldStar Service for the glass-domed railcars and outdoor viewing deck, and recommends planning at least two nights near Denali rather than trying to rush through.
For something closer to sea level, Arnold suggests Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service, which connects New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, with stops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It runs twice daily and offers a relaxed way to move between charming Southern destinations without getting behind the wheel.
No Champagne service, no private suite, but watching the Gulf Coast roll by from a train window is a pretty good way to spend an afternoon.
Sometimes the best part of a trip is not the destination. It is the way you get there.
