railroad scenic trips

14 Best Train Trips to Take Across America for Breathtaking Scenery

Vacation in a new way to see some beautiful sights.

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While traveling by train can certainly be a more inexpensive option for a family getaway when compared to air travel or a boat cruise, that doesn't mean you'll be cramped and crowded. Many of the trips we have listed include luxury sleeper trains, amazing dining and, of course, unbeatable views. There are routes like the Surfliner, which runs along the Pacific Ocean (and would be an unforgettable destination for spring break ), the Grand Canyon Railway, a two-hour ride of bliss and tons more that are sure to pique your interest.

Let the best train rides in America also inspire you to make locomotives your transportation of choice even when you head to international destinations (we recommend you hop aboard Norway’s famous Flåm Railway ).

Still need help deciding where to go and what to pack? Check out Good Housekeepin g 's 2023 Family Travel Awards for expert advice, top-tested gear and more.

Amtrak Auto Train

If you’re traveling to a destination that requires use of a vehicle, Amtrak’s Auto Train allows you to pack it with you! It transports your car (or other recreational vehicles) as well as you and your family on a route from Washington, DC to Sanford, Florida.

Good Housekeeping’s Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab executive director, Lexi Sachs boarded the train with her family for a trip to Orlando, which she described as “just as fun of an experience for my two kids” as their trip to Disney World.

Sachs also pointed out that the train trip featured a range of seating options, from coach to bedrooms with pull down beds, lovely views of the East Coast, delicious dinner and breakfast, and allowed her to feel like she wasn’t losing a day of vacation due to travel. Plus, Amtrak offers priority offloading, “which means your car comes off first,” Sachs said, adding that “It was definitely worth it in my opinion!”

America's National Parks with Rocky Mountaineer

See eight destinations over 11 days when you embark on this incredible journey through canyons and mountains. You’ll have the chance to explore Arches National Park with its many sandstone arches, Canyonlands National Park, which is full of rock columns and original Native American cave paintings and Yellowstone National Park, where you will see its majestic hot springs and geysers. Not only does this package include multiple sightseeing tours, but it also covers 10 nights of hotel stays and three meals.

Grand Rail Experience

Visit great American cities, including Washington, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and New Orleans, on this 14-day cross-country journey. Included in the package is six nights of hotel accommodations, seven nights onboard one of Amtrak’s sleeper trains, sightseeing tours and priceless landscape views.

You also get to take your pick from attractions such as the Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Woodland Park Zoo and Chihuly Garden and Glass for no additional cost.

Northern Rail Experience

Get your fill of adventure when you embark on this nine-day train vacation with stops in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and Muir Woods.

Amtrak offers an all-inclusive package with a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour, and breathtaking views of the great plains and the Pacific Coast. Plus you and your family will enjoy three nights of hotel accommodations and five nights on board Amtrak in private sleeping rooms. One meal is also included.

Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic

Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic departs from Anchorage and winds along the Turnagain Arm before turning off into the backcountry wilderness and eventually ending in Seward.

Look for views of the steep Chugach Range mountains plummeting right into the ocean, and the stunning shores of Resurrection Bay; wildlife sightings along the way could include beluga whales, sheep, bear and moose. Daily service is available seasonally, from mid-May through mid-September. Take a variety of tours in Seward — like glacier treks or sled dog rides — before heading back to Anchorage.

Amtrak’s famous Surfliner route runs between San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego, with multiple daily departures.

The route runs along the Pacific Ocean — almost close enough to catch a wave — for gorgeous views throughout the journey. And yes, you can bring along your surfboard; special racks are designed to hold travelers’ outdoor gear.

Napa Valley Wine Train

If you love wine and vintage aesthetics, you absolutely must experience the Napa Valley Wine Train. Century-old railcars traverse a 150-year-old rail corridor on this 36-mile round-trip journey. The railroad once transported guests to a spa resort in Calistoga and now winds its way across the pastoral California landscape from Napa to St. Helena and back, stopping at the famed region’s wineries all along the route. Four on-board kitchens provide locally sourced, top-end cuisine for a full luxury dining experience.

Grand Canyon Railway

This trip re-creates the historic voyage to the Grand Canyon by rail, which opened to its very first passengers in 1901. Passengers aboard the Grand Canyon Railway depart from Williams Depot and make their way to the Grand Canyon Depot, which is the last operating log depot in the country. The depot is located right in the middle of the National Park’s historic district, near the storied El Tovar Hotel, and merely 200 yards from the edge of the canyon’s South Rim. In all, the trip covers 65 miles of scenic terrain, with unmatched views and photo opps.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad takes passengers on a scenic rail journey through this beautiful mountain range. Choose from two versions of the trip, named for standout attractions: the Nantahala Gorge Excursion (44 miles) or the Tuckasegee River Excursion (32 miles). Both offer a range of seating classes, including an open-air gondola and first-class dining car. Specialty versions of the trip include wine and dine, fall foliage spotting, and even a Peanuts-theme Easter ride.

Cass Scenic Railroad

The steam-driven Cass Scenic Railroad takes passengers through the mountains of West Virginia on revamped flat cars that hauled lumber to the Cass mill more than a century ago. The 11-mile heritage railroad runs from May through October, offering a trip through both history and scenery. Ride to the overlook at Bald Knob, the third highest point in West Virginia, for unforgettable views and picture-taking spots.

Cape Cod Central Railroad

Cape Cod Central is a heritage railroad that operates on 27 miles of former New Haven Railroad tracks on Cape Cod. It takes passengers through marshes, cranberry bogs, dunes — places you can only access by rail. Come for a historic narrated daytime ride, Sunday brunch, sunset dinner, or a special festive holiday ride.

Sunset Limited

Travel between Louisiana and California on Sunset Limited, Amtrak’s Southernmost route. On the way from New Orleans through San Antonio, Tucson, Phoenix and Los Angeles, see diverse scenery including the bayou country, Southwestern deserts, and California mountains. Three trains depart weekly in each direction.

Coast Starlight

The Coast Starlight works its way along the west coast from Los Angeles to Seattle. On the route, pass Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. Catch scenery from verdant valleys and forests to the snow-topped mountains of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta and the Pacific Ocean shoreline to boot. This striking route runs daily.

Empire Builder

Amtrak’s famous Empire Builder route runs daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. It covers portions of the Lewis and Clark trail, following the route of the pioneers. Urban views include the twinkling skyline of Minneapolis and St. Paul; natural landscapes include the North Dakota plains, Big Sky country in Montana and Glacier National Park. The route runs daily.

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The best train rides in the USA for seriously gorgeous views

It’s all about the journey on the best train rides in the USA, featuring mind-blowingly scenic routes

Of course, a road trip through America is one of the best ways to see the magnificent views on offer across the country, but from time to time it's just nice to take a break from being behind the wheel. Instead, how about taking one of the best train rides in the USA? Gently saunter across the country, leaving you free to contemplate life, ponder the meaning of existence or just spend a few hours thinking about nothing and staring out of the window.

Riding on a train can be a romantic, nostalgic, and best of all leisurely way to see the country. Even a commuter train between major cities can be a step up from a drive, but these scenic train rides are more than that. Geared towards long-haul trips from coast to coast, or specifically designed for enjoying the scenery, these train routes will let you take in all the glorious views.

Looking for a west coast adventure? Take the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle . Heading to Alaska ? Catch all the highlights on the Denali Star’s 350-mile trek from Fairbanks to Anchorage. The Grand Canyon Railway and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will take you from quaint towns to national parks . There are even some shorter jaunts, like the Mt. Washington Cog Railway or the Hawaiian Railway that will give you a small taste of scenic train travel.

So hop aboard, enjoy the views, and take as many pics as you want without having to keep your hands on the wheel.

RECOMMENDED: The best camping in the USA

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Best train rides in the USA

1.  Rockies to the Red Rocks

Denver, co to moab, ut.

The first US offering from luxury Canadian company Rocky Mountaineer, the new 'Rockies to the Red Rocks' trip takes passengers on a two-day ride from Denver to Moab—passing through stunning Rocky Mountains and southwest scenery along the way. Best of all? Passengers will witness all that gorgeous nature from the train's glass-dome top! That's right, we're talking about unobstructed views of some of the most gorgeous scenery in the USA. The 2023 season will kick off in August and will run through October.

Discover the  best things to do in Denver

2.  Coast Starlight

Los angeles, ca to seattle, wa.

Put a spin on the classic left-coast road trip by traveling by train instead. The advantages? Zero wrong-turn fights and way more photo-ops. The 1,377-mile Coast Starlight route hits the best of the West: Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland and more. On the 36-hour trip, bounce from your seat to the dining car and the 'sightseer lounge car' where all the seats face the panoramic, floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Discover the best things to do in Seattle  

3.  The Grand Canyon Railway

Williams, az to the grand canyon, az.

Sure you may have been to the Grand Canyon already, but have you ever admired Grand Canyon country by train? On The Grand Canyon Railway, you’ll depart from Williams, Arizona, and roll through pine forests and prairies, spotting pronghorn and bald eagles, before arriving two hours and 15 minutes later at the epic South Rim. All of the historic cars of the Grand Canyon Railway have fascinating former lives, and some have glass-dome ceilings for unstoppable panoramas. 

Discover the best things to do in Arizona

4.  The Empire Builder

Chicago, il to portland, or.

There is only one word to describe this journey: epic. The Empire Builder runs daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, mirroring much of Lewis and Clark’s original expedition. It passes through a greatest-hits list of must-see sites, from the urban (St. Cloud and Minneapolis) to the great outdoors (big-sky country and Glacier National Park ). The trip totals 46 hours, which warrants booking at least a roomette with seats that convert to beds, so you can fully stretch out once you’ve gotten your fill of landscapes under the moonlight. 

Discover the best things to do in Portland 

5.  The Alaska Denali Star

Anchorage, ak to fairbanks, ak.

This 350-mile stretch through the heart of Alaska highlights the state's beautiful, rugged wilderness. Between the birch forests, rushing rivers, caribou- and bear-spotting, views of Mt. McKinley and a stint through Denali National Park, there’s a reason this is the Alaska Railroad’s flagship sojourn. If you can swing it, splurge on a GoldStar upgrade and take in the spectacular scenery from an open-air viewing car, with absolutely nothing between you and the wild. 

Discover the best things to do in Alaska 

6.  The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Bryson city, nc.

It may be pint-size, but Bryson City, the departure point for this rail-riding adventure, is rich with local gems like barbecue joints, a soda fountain and a brewery. Various routes originate here, but the four-and-a-half-hour Nantahala Gorge excursion is a scenery-serving star, snaking along the forested Nantahala River and crossing the Fontana Lake by bridge. Foliage lovers take note: The leaves here are breathtaking during the fall.

Discover the best things to do in North Carolina 

7.  The Mount Washington Cog Railway

Bretton woods, nh.

Like the Little Engine That Could, this antique train chugs daily up Mount Washington , depositing its passengers at the 6,288ft peak, the highest in the Northeast. A working museum of sorts (the track dates to 1852), the Cog has the elevated feel of a gondola, only you’re in a sturdy little train. At the top, take in the sweeping views—of Canada and the Atlantic on a clear day. 

Discover the best thing to do in New Hampshire

8.  The Napa Valley Wine Train

Napa valley, ca.

On this California Wine Country track, you can get intoxicated by the scenery alone: picture-perfect wineries and hills carpeted in lush rows of vines. But you’ll have a little help, what with all the vino you’ll be sipping alongside your onboard multicourse meal—both lunch and dinner are options. The roving restaurant is made up of a collection of vintage Pullman railcars complete with mahogany panels and brass hardware. So go ahead and soak it all up—you’re not behind the wheel, after all.

Discover the best  things to do in Napa

9.  The Hawaiian Railway Society

Train travel takes a turn for the tropical on this 90-minute jaunt across Oahu in an old sugar-cane hauler traveling at the lickety-split speed of 15 miles an hour. The ride shows you a rarely-seen version of Hawaii, filled with old sisal plantations and ghost towns. Time your trip for the second Sunday of the month and you can book a seat in the elegant 1900 parlor car that was the personal ride of Oahu Railway & Land Co. founder Mr. Dillingham. It's worth noting, however, that reservations are now required to ride the train. 

Discover the best things to do in Oahu

10.  Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango, co to silverton, co.

One of the most scenic ways to experience one of the most scenic states; a ride on the Narrow Gauge Railroad isn’t merely photo fodder, but a full immersion into the wild, wild west. The train has been rolling between Durango and Silverton since 1882, when it was tasked with transporting silver and gold out of the San Juan Mountains. The 45.4-mile route runs in both directions along the Animas River, crisscrossing it five times, and passing by old stagecoach trails and long-deserted mining camps as it winds between 14,000ft high peaks.

Discover the best things to do in Colorado

11.  The Ethan Allen Express

New york city, ny to burlington, vt.

While the destination is a major draw, getting there is half the fun on this five-and-a-half-hour journey from New York City to Vermont. You’ll cruise through the postcard-perfect towns of New York’s Hudson Valley; hit Saratoga Springs, as famous for its horse races as its hot springs and snake around Vermont’s fittingly named Green Mountains before landing in charming little-big city Rutland, with its historic downtown and one helluva farmers' market.

Discover the best things to do in Vermont

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4 great scenic train rides across the US

Want to truly immerse yourself in the vastness of the USA? There's no better way than to take a scenic cross-country train trip.

During these long-distance train rides, the journey is just as exciting as the destination itself. Relaxing in your seat as you watch the U.S. landscape out your train car window slowly change from cities to farmlands or from wide-open plains to towering mountains is an experience that's worth the extra transit time.

Amtrak offers many overnight and multiday scenic train rides across the U.S. from the East Coast, the West Coast and everywhere in between. Route names like the Empire Builder, the Coast Starlight and the California Zephyr are enough to inspire wanderlust for any traveler.

Whether you're new to train travel or an avid rider of the rails, here are four bucket list-worthy U.S. train rides to take for stunning scenery, plus some tips on how best to book and enjoy them.

Tips for cross-country train travel

While taking a cross-country train trip can be a rewarding experience, as it offers days to leisurely sit back and enjoy scenic landscapes, many people have worries about how best to book such a long trip and what to expect when it comes to sleeping arrangements. TPG has a few tips to help you get on board with the concept and easily plan your journey.

Browse routes by region

A good first step to take when looking for a route that's right for you is to search Amtrak's "Browse by Region" menu. You can pick a large area of the country from which to start or finish your trip.

Once you click on an area, Amtrak will provide lists of highlighted long-distance routes, as well as shorter point-to-point trips. You can then select a route like the Capitol Corridor in California before being directed to ticket purchase menus.

Explore Amtrak Vacations

Amtrak offers curated vacation packages to rail travelers via its Amtrak Vacations website. These tours can include side trips (via bus) to national parks , sightseeing tours in cities and hotel lodging on stopovers along the route. You can search for packages around vacation themes like "Fall Foliage" and "Multiple National Parks."

Amtrak's set of "Most Scenic Journeys" vacation packages include trips lasting up to two weeks that combine rail travel and additional tours. Think of these trips like cruises with shore excursions . Some of the scenic journey-designated options focus on national parks, while others are big-city oriented.

You can click on each option's details to find itineraries, dates and prices. Then, all that's left to do is book your rail vacation.

Consider famous routes

A shortcut to finding scenic cross-country rail routes on Amtrak is to visit its Amtrak Vacations website and click on "Famous Rail Routes." This set of approximately 20 different overnight train routes gives you a great set of suggestions for your own potential cross-country journeys.

For more details on the fixed routes, click on any of the tabs. Once you've chosen a route, you can either book a package tour with Amtrak Vacations or go to the regular Amtrak website and book a point-to-point trip.

Weigh your accommodation options

Taking an overnight or a multiday train trip means you'll need to sleep aboard the train. All of Amtrak's long-distance train trips provide a variety of seating and room arrangments.

The cheapest way to travel is to simply book a seat on the route. While Amtrak's seating is comfortable, with more legroom than you'll find in an airline's business class, it may not be the way you want to travel for many hours. You can get up, walk the train and stop in the cafe car, but this can still be a tough way to travel during a multiday journey.

Fortunately, Amtrak provides several classes of accommodations on cross-country trips, ranging from shared roomettes with fold-out bunks to bedrooms, larger family bedrooms and suites complete with private bathrooms and showers. Should you book one of these rooms on a cross-country itinerary, you'll enjoy access to a separate dining car.

Prices for the various ticket classes vary widely between routes and dates, so check potential itineraries to find the best option for you.

4 scenic train trips to take in the US

Now that you know the basics when it comes to picking a long-distance train route, you'll want to narrow down your options. Although there are many scenic routes in the U.S., here are our four favorites.

California Zephyr: San Francisco to Chicago

Amtrak's California Zephyr route travels between San Francisco and Chicago on a three-day journey. The 51-hour trip (on the west-to-east path) begins in nearby Emeryville, California, then travels through central California farmlands up into the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Along this part of the route, you'll enjoy spectacular panoramas from glassed-in viewing cars.

The train continues through Reno and the Nevada deserts into Salt Lake City before traveling up into the Rocky Mountains to reach Denver . You'll descend into the wide-open plains of Nebraska and eventually wind your way into the Windy City.

This trip is a great way to immerse yourself in the American West, as you'll get a true feeling of the vastness of the region and the variety of terrain that makes up the country.

One-way prices start at $141 per person for a seat in coach and $688 for a room.

Empire Builder: Seattle to Chicago

The Empire Builder train route connects Chicago and Seattle on a 46-hour journey connecting the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. The train loosely follows the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, the route the explorers took to map out the region acquired during the Louisiana Purchase.

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark would have appreciated sitting back in the train's viewing cars to enjoy eyefuls of Montana 's Big Sky Country, Glacier National Park , the Cascade Range and the vast plains of North Dakota. Additionally, the explorers would have marveled at the metalwork of North Dakota's towering Gassman Coulee Trestle bridge.

Should you wish to depart or arrive in Portland, Oregon, instead of Seattle, know that there's an alternate route of the Empire Builder from this Pacific Northwest city, so you can plan your itinerary based on your preferences.

One-way train fares from Chicago to Seattle begin at $150 per person, while rooms cost at least $651.

Southwest Chief: Los Angeles to Chicago

Traverse the American Southwest on a southern route between Los Angeles and Chicago. The Southwest Chief route departs daily and takes roughly 40 hours to cross eight states.

For some of the journey, the train follows the classic American road trip thoroughfare of historic Route 66 . However, unlike its car-friendly neighbor, the train route offers views you won't find while driving the highway, as it winds on twisting tracks that travel through narrow red-rock canyon passages before offering wide-open vistas of mountains and deserts.

The train's main stops include Kansas City, Missouri; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Flagstaff, Arizona. You can also take advantage of excursions from the train when you purchase one of Amtrak's vacation packages. For example, you can visit the Grand Canyon (by train or bus) while the train is stopped in Williams, Arizona.

Even if you never leave the train, the views along the way are enough to create lasting memories.

Expect to pay at least $146 per person for a coach seat on this one-way route or a minimum of $899 for a room.

Crescent: New York City to New Orleans

See the American South on this 30-hour journey between New York City and New Orleans . Departing the urban landscape of the Big Apple, this route will take you through the Northeastern cityscapes of Philadelphia , Baltimore and Washington, D.C. , among other destinations.

Once it exits the urban corridor, the train winds through the countryside of Virginia and the Carolinas, offering stops in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina. Then, it continues through the Deep South states of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi before reaching its final stop in New Orleans.

Tickets for this one-way route start at $139 for a seat in coach and $580 for a room.

Bottom line

Traveling by train across the U.S. gives you a unique perspective of the scale and scope of the American landscape. While it may be slower than flying across the country, rail travel gives you the opportunity to sit back and savor the journey, appreciating the changing views as the hours roll by.

The four scenic cross-country train trips highlighted here are only some of Amtrak's many long-distance journeys available to book. By exploring Amtrak's website, you can find many different rail journeys in nearly every part of the U.S. Best of all, most offer an array of seating options, so you can choose the ticket that best suits your travel preferences and budget.

The Most Scenic Train Rides Across the US

By Hannah Towey and Tyler Moss

This past June, I took a nine-hour train ride from Santa Barbara to San Francisco on board the Amtrak Coast Starlight, considered one of the country’s most scenic rail routes. The views proved so absorbing that I never actually made it to my assigned seat—sitting instead in the communal observation car for the entirety of the ride.

From the car’s glass-dome windows, California’s rugged coastline and golden hills revealed themselves to me. America’s West Coast fluctuated between the breathtaking and the dire—from endless ocean and cliff-top mansions to drought-ridden fields and cottages sinking between collapsed roofs. Peering out at the vast spectrum of life unfold before me, I enjoyed that slightly detached “from above” perspective rail travel affords you; through the journey, I observed both heartwarming humanity (lone fishermen and packs of surfers, a young girl wearing a pink tutu playing in a creek, an old man collecting driftwood at a campsite) as well as breathtaking nature (a flock of pelicans, meadows of yellow wildflowers, rolling sets of whitecap waves).

As the sun set on the second half of my journey, fellow passengers in the observation car formed an impromptu band complete with an acoustic guitar and mandolin. Word slowly spread and travelers trickled in from other parts of the train to take turns singing songs from cultures around the world.

While it would've been more efficient to fly between the two Californian cities, the meditative romance of slow-paced train travel lends truth to the cliché that the journey is just as important as the destination. And in a country as diverse as this one, there’s truly no better way to witness its beauty—and complexity—than by train.

With over a dozen long distance Amtrak routes and even more private rail operators in states like Alaska and Hawaii, the challenge then becomes picking which train trips to take. Here, we’ve selected 13 of the most scenic train rides in the US that are worth booking for the views alone.

This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Amtrak Adirondack

While the Northeast is more known for its commuter trains than sightseeing, Amtrak’s Adirondack route is a lovely exception. Relaunched in spring 2023 following its closure during the pandemic, the route runs from New York City to Montreal . Departing from the new Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, the 10-hour train travels along the Hudson River up until Albany, then passes through Saratoga Springs and the dazzling Lake Champlain before arriving in Canada. Take this route in the fall during peak foliage season to watch New England’s changing autumnal colors glide by your window.

Tickets from $$62

Amtrak Empire Builder

Traveling along major portions of the Lewis and Clark trail, the Empire Builder is a true American West train adventure. The 46-hour train departs daily from Chicago and traverses through Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana, before concluding in either Seattle or Portland . From views of the Mississippi River and North Dakota plains to the stunning scenery of Glacier National Park in Montana, this less-frequented route promises a rich variety of views without the crowds. Monisha Rajesh, author of Around the World in 80 Trains and Condé Nast Traveler contributor , suggests taking this route during peak summer or deep mid-winter.

Tickets from $56

Amtrak Coast Starlight

The Coast Starlight departs daily between Los Angeles and Seattle, a 35-hour journey that stops in some of the West Coast’s greatest cities, including Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Portland. The southern half features long stretches of the Pacific Ocean shoreline before veering inland to the golden valleys of the state’s agricultural heart, up to the magestic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade mountains . Yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds—consider this train a sampler of America’s diverse natural landscape, all in one. For the best views, grab a seat in the first-come, first-serve observation lounge.

Tickets from $98

Grand Canyon Railway

Gaze upon the grandeur of one of the world’s natural wonders— Grand Canyon National Park aboard the Grand Canyon Railway . Departing from Williams, Arizona, 30-some miles west of Flagstaff, this train weaves past forests of ponderosa pine and parts of the Sonoran Desert into the heart of canyon country, where you’ll spend the day exploring before boarding a return trip—just in time for sunset .

Tickets from $70

Jessica Puckett

Hannah Towey

Karthika Gupta

Hawaiian Railway Society

While leaf-peeping rail expeditions tend to draw the most media attention, tropical climates with oceanside views can be at least equally as enjoyable. The Ewa Train, located 20-miles west of Honolulu , provides just such an experience along a two hour round-trip tour. The ride pairs history—live narration about Oahu's old sugar plantations and the ghost town of Gilbert—with breathtaking vistas from Kahe Point, and even includes a pit-stop for ice cream so you can beat the heat. 

Tickets from $18

The Rocky Mountaineer

The nearly all-glass cabins allow guests full view of the mountainous landscapes of Western Canada and the red rock wonders of Colorado and Southern Utah aboard this luxurious train. One itinerary takes passengers from Denver to Moab, Utah , where guests can take in the views in style with a cocktail in hand.

Tickets from $1,599

Amtrak California Zephyr

Though the California Zephyr runs from Chicago to San Francisco in a little more than 51 hours, it’s indisputably the western portion of the route—through Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and northern California—that deserves your attention. Snake through the Rocky Mountains, past the photogenic canyons of Colorado’s Western Slope, and enjoy an entire half-day trek through Sierra Nevada, complete with views of Donner Lake and the Truckee River.

Tickets from $141

Cass Scenic Railroad

Built in 1901 to transport lumber through the mountains of West Virginia, the Cass Scenic Railroad helps to preserve the look and feel of America’s locomotive legacy. Pick from two available routes, including a four-and-a-half-hour round-trip jaunt up to Bald Knob—the highest summit of Back Allegheny Mountain at 4,842 feet.

Tickets from $81

Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic

The largest and most wild state in America offers its own photo-worthy railroad adventure: The Coastal Classic, a four-hour excursion from Anchorage heads south around the Turnagain Arm waterway. The train route weaves into the backwoods of the Kenai Peninsula, through which attentive passengers will spot natural wonders like waterfalls and glaciers before arriving at the port city of Seward, on Resurrection Bay.

Tickets from $96

Amtrak Cascades

Spanning the Northwest from Portland to Vancouver, the Cascades parallels the titular mountain range during this eight-hour adventure. The route crosses the majestic Columbia River, provides views of Mount St. Helens, and hugs the shore of picturesque Puget Sound as it passes through Seattle .

Tickets from $72

Napa Valley Wine Train

You don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to appreciate the natural beauty of northern Napa Valley’s agricultural corridor. Originally built by a local millionaire, California Gold Rush baron Samuel Brannan in 1865 to transport Napa visitors to a spa resort in Calistoga, the Napa Valley Wine Train today gives travelers a chance to sip local vintages from a luxurious railcar while passing vaunted vineyards on a three-hour round-trip journey.

Tickets vary based on package .

Amtrak Southwest Chief

From the rolling farmlands of Illinois, across the Mississippi River, to the red mesas of New Mexico, and into the Mojave Desert, the Southwest Chief traverses more than 2,000 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles . Travelers wary of a full 40-hour venture can take just a partial piece of the route, but don’t miss the most scenic stretch, which spans Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California, including the Ratón Pass—a National Historic Landmark along the Santa Fe Trail.

Tickets from $146

Cape Cod Central Railroad

Only available from May through October, the Cape Cod Excursion train provides passengers with a whirlwind sightseeing tour of the Cape’s natural attractions, including the charming Cape Cod Canal. The two hour round-trip ride immerses travelers in distinctive New England landscapes, through cranberry bogs and salt marshes, past sand dunes and woodlands. En route, guests can listen to on-board narration that points out important landmarks.

Tickets from $29.99

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8 great rail journeys to take across the USA

Jan 29, 2024 • 7 min read

Considerably more relaxing than driving or flying, the best train rides in the US offer a leisurely sightseeing experience.© Alex Potemkin/Getty Images

There’s no getting around the sheer size and scale of the USA – it’s an absolute, supersized whopper – and the best way to see it all is via train.

The US has close to 3.8 million sq miles (10 million sq km) of sublime mountain ranges, parched desert, entire states engulfed in deep snow, you-gotta-go-see-it-to-believe-it cities, endless prairie land, six whole time zones and lakes so large you could lose whole countries down there. So while traveling around by plane might make sense from a convenience point of view – it’s not quite six hours to dart directly from New York to LA – there really is no better way to experience the sheer grandeur of the country than by taking one of these train vacations.

Considerably more relaxing than driving or flying, the best train rides in the US offer a leisurely, nostalgic sightseeing experience, often passing through pristine landscapes inaccessible by other means. The US is rich with amazing train journeys, but the routes listed below are the cream of the crop. From California to New England ,  here are eight epic US train trips our editors have selected, taken from Lonely Planet's  Amazing Train Journeys .

1. The Sunset Limited

Route: New Orleans – San Antonio – Tucson – Phoenix – Los Angeles Distance and duration: 1995 miles (3211 km); 2 days

Amtrak's Sunset Limited is the ultimate American railroad ride and one of its most famous train journeys: east to west, coast to coast, clean through from the bars of New Orleans to the breakers of the Pacific Ocean. If you’ve always dreamed of taking a journey across the USA, but don’t much relish the prospect of two weeks spent cooped up in an automobile, then a ride on the Sunset Limited is the answer.

Sit back and let America’s landscapes buzz by: from Louisiana ’s bayous, past the high-rises of Houston , across the deserts of Texas and Arizona , over the Californian hills all the way to LA’s golden beaches. Saddle up, pardner: it’s gonna be quite a ride.

2. The Coast Starlight

Route: Seattle – Portland – Sacramento – Los Angeles Distance and duration: 1377 miles (2216 km); 35 hours

Trace America’s “left coast” in all its varied splendor. The 35-hour (OK, it’s Amtrak, so maybe more) trip between Seattle and Los Angeles curves alongside crashing Pacific waves, cuts through America’s lushest agricultural land and passes below snowcapped mountains and towering redwoods. Of all the Amtrak routes, the Coast Starlight offers the most scenic variety in the fewest hours.

It’s also the only Amtrak service with a dedicated parlor car, open only to passengers who book sleepers. The parlor conjures old-time rail romance, with wood paneling and soft lighting, plus a special menu and wine-and-cheese tastings. Highlights of this train ride include dramatic sunrise perspectives on 14,179ft (4322m)  Mt Shasta , and a gorgeous midday traverse of Oregon's Cascade Range.

3. Metro-North Hudson Line

Route: New York City – Poughkeepsie Distance and duration: 69 miles (111 km); 1½ hours

Depart from New York City ’s iconic beaux arts Grand Central Terminal , stopping to admire the ornate astronomical ceiling painting in the vaulted main concourse and to slurp up oysters and a martini at the famous Oyster Bar.

Then roll through Manhattan and the Bronx and into the glorious green Hudson River Valley. Hugging the eastern banks of the river, New York’s Metro-North's Hudson line travels deep into American history. The names of the stops along the way speak to the area’s origins: Native American (Ossining, Poughkeepsie); Dutch (Spuyten Duyvil, Yonkers, Cortlandt, Peekskill); English (Hastings-on-Hudson, Scarborough). It’s a land so famously beautiful an entire art movement – the Hudson River School – was once dedicated to capturing its glory. For the cost of a burger and a beer, this view can be yours for almost two hours.

4. The California Zephyr

Route: Chicago – Omaha – Denver – Salt Lake City – San Francisco Distance and duration: 2438 miles (3924km), 51 hours 20 minutes

For soaking up the scenic grandeur of the North American continent, nothing compares with Amtrak’s California Zephyr train. This classic three-day journey travels nearly 2500 miles (4000km) across prairies, deserts, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada on its way from Chicago to San Francisco. The scenery is magnificent throughout – especially when seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the lounge car – but if you can only do one section, opt for the riveting 185-mile (298km) stretch between Denver and Glenwood Springs, where the train travels through an often roadless wilderness of deep, narrow gorges near the Colorado River’s headwaters.

Near sunset, the train emerges into the majestic red rock desert of eastern Utah , then crosses overnight into the forbidding vastness of Nevada's sagebrush country, with salt flats and stark, arid mountains as far as the eye can see. Sunrise on day three reveals an entirely different desert: the blinding-white alkali flats and ghostly grey mountains near Winnemucca, Nevada. Just beyond the gambling-happy little city of Reno, the Zephyr climbs into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, then enters California’s imposing granite high country beyond the photogenic frontier town of Truckee.

5. Amtrak Downeaster

Route: Boston – Portland – Brunswick Distance and duration: 145 miles (233 km); 3 hours 25 minutes

As car-free city breaks go, this train escape is hard to beat, chugging from the downtown main streets of urban Boston to Maine ’s rural greens in under four hours. That’s from the seventh most densely populated city in the US to the state with the highest percentage of forest coverage, all in less time than it takes to cook an old-style Yankee plum pudding.

Even better, every stop on the Amtrak Downeaster features historic New England cities and towns, parks and seascapes, cottage arts and crafts, world-class shopping and stellar foods fashioned from farm-and-sea-fresh ingredients.

6. The New Mexico Rail Runner

Route: Albuquerque – Santa Fe Distance and duration: 97 miles (156 km); 90 minutes

One of America’s great unsung commuter railways, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express is a regional train that runs down the Rio Grande Valley , connecting the state’s largest city, Albuquerque, with its cultural and political capital, Santa Fe.

On the way it crosses the wide, high desert, giving views of arid mountains in all directions, and even passes through several of the state’s Native American tribal lands. A no-nonsense, clean and quick journey, its highlights are the sweeping views from the upper seats of the double-decker carriages. Taken as a day trip or a scenic but practical form of intra-state transport, the Rail Runner is a wonderful introduction to New Mexico ’s epic landscapes.

7. The Empire Builder

Route: Chicago – St Paul or Minneapolis – Spokane – Portland or Seattle Distance and duration: 2764 miles (4448 km); 46 hours

The Amtrak Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle glides through Wisconsin 's woodlands, Minnesota's lake country and the North Dakota prairies en route to a western horizon swarming with snow-capped Rocky Mountain peaks.

From Browning , Montana, an unforgettable 60-mile run along the southern edge of Glacier National Park leads to the park entrance at West Glacier, where nature lovers will want to break their journey before continuing to Seattle.

8. The Vermonter

Route: Washington, DC – New York City– Springfield – Essex Junction ( Burlington ) – St Albans Distance and duration: 611 miles (983 km); 13 hours 45 minutes

The Amtrak Vermonter runs once daily from Washington, DC to St Albans, VT. This is the most scenic route east of the Mississippi, especially in its northern reaches, where it snakes for four hours through the bucolic green hills and photogenic villages of rural Vermont.

Starting from the nation's capital, Washington, DC, the train runs north through one of the USA's greatest metropolises, New York City, before bowling out through Connecticut , Massachusetts and New Hampshire en route to the bucolic Vermont countryside and St Albans.

This article was first published December 2020 and updated January 2024

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The most scenic train trips in the US

by Kelly Stilwell | Jun 10, 2021 | 5 comments

Note:  All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips. 

There’s nothing quite like seeing the beauty of the country by rail. The first U.S. company to transport freight and people was the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad back in the early 1800s. In 1839, the first sleeping car took passengers between Chambersburg and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Though most travelers prefer to get to their destination more quickly today, there’s a lot to be said for slowing down and enjoying the ride. We’ve gathered a handful of the most scenic train trips in the United States that might just change your mind about how you get to where you’re going. All Aboard!

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Rocky Mountaineer: Rockies to the Red Rocks

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Those who have been lucky enough to take one of the Rocky Mountaineer routes know this is not just a train ride, but an experience. Since 1990, Rocky Mountaineer has been taking guests on luxury train trips through Western Canada. But beginning in August, Rocky Mountaineer guests will, for the first time, explore a U.S. route. Rockies to the Red Rocks will roll through the American Southwest, between Moab, Utah and Denver, Colorado, offering stunning vistas comparable to their Canadian routes.

Days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer are spent viewing the sites through glass-domed coaches while eating gourmet food, and enjoying a choice of beverages from coffee or tea to mimosas or cocktails. Nights, when traveling with Rocky Mountaineer, are spent at upscale hotels. The Rocky Mountaineer Red Rock route two-day trip has an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

What you’ll see

Guests will see vast canyons, chromatic deserts, captivating hoodoos, ancient rock canyons, and natural archways, with history lessons from onboard hosts peppered throughout the journey. A handful of sites to be seen on this route are the Gross Reservoir Dam, with a spillway sitting at 7,225 feet, the Continental Divide, Moffat Tunnel, the Colorado River, Byers Canyon, Gore Canyon, Mount Garfield, Arches National Park, and more. Wildlife sightings are part of the fun and include bighorn sheep, deer, mountain lions, bears, coyotes, and marmots.

What you need to know

Meals are part of the journey, so no boxed or packaged food here. Rocky Mountaineer also offers a risk-free deposit that is fully refundable as well as two free date changes for up to 30 days before travel. You can move your travel to any date up to and including the 2023 season.

Where to stay

Rocky Mountaineer makes all the arrangements for your stay in Glenwood Springs. However, there’s a lot to see before you start your trip! Book a room in Moab to enjoy the area a bit and be refreshed for your early morning departure.

Cardinal Amtrak

Amtrak’s Cardinal Route explores the country between two of the largest cities in America, New York and Chicago. This trip is 26 hours and 30 minutes from beginning to end, but there’s a lot to do along the way. Seated in a wide, comfortable coach seat, you’ll enjoy the views as you roll along through the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. On Amtrak, you have a choice of taking the entire route at once or stopping along the way.

For history buffs, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Jefferson’s Charlottesville await. Wine lovers will find 25 wineries in Charlottesville alone. Reserve a private wine tour to enjoy while you’re there. Book a room at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel and be just a half-mile from the station for the next leg of your journey! Guests can also overnight on the train with several options for accommodations which include meals.

This route is pretty all year, but especially in autumn when the leaves change color. It’s one of Amtrak’s most scenic routes—going through the Shenandoah Mountains and New River Gorge—and includes rolling hills, rivers, mountains, farmland, and historic small towns. The train passes the Susquehanna River as it rolls through the Delaware-Maryland state line. It also crosses the Potomac River, with the Pentagon visible on the Virginia side. As it heads west, this route rolls right along the banks of the beautiful Ohio River as it continues through Indianapolis and on to Chicago.

Trains leave New York’s Penn Station around 6am. Save yourself the headache of dealing with traffic in the morning and book a room at Embassy Suites by Hilton in Times Square and be less than a mile from Penn Station. If you’re beginning on the other end of the route, the train doesn’t depart Chicago’s Union Station until 5:45pm. Book a room at the gorgeous Hyatt Regency Chicago , just over a mile from the station, and spend a day taking in the sites before your early evening departure. Take a look at Amtrak’s site to see stations in between.

If you’re planning to take the Cardinal Amtrak overnight, the train has roomettes (1-2 adults), bedrooms (1-2 adults), and even bedroom suites (up to 4 people) on a sleeper car. Roomettes have access to a private restroom and shower in the car. Bedrooms and Bedroom Suites feature in-room sinks, restrooms, and showers. Fresh towels and linens are provided for all room bookings. Accommodations do vary by train, so be sure to look closely before reserving your room.

All meals, as well as complimentary lounge access, are included when you book a roomette or bedroom, and you’ll have a dedicated train attendant to help you with luggage, make your bed and meal reservations, and let you know when you’re close to your stop. If you’re planning to get off at one of the destinations along the way, you’ll find a lot of options as this route stops at quite a few stations, including Washington, D.C. , Charlottesville , Cincinnati , and Indianapolis .

Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic

Photo: Glenn Aronwits

You know when National Geographic Traveler ranks a journey in their Top Ten Train Rides in North America, you’ve got a winner. Your Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic trip begins in Anchorage, winding along Turnagain Arm, one of the most beautiful stretches of natural beauty in the country. After a short stop in the picturesque Girdwood, the train rolls into backcountry wilderness, through one of the most scenic stretches of our nation’s only Arctic state. This day trip is a little over 14 hours from Anchorage to Seward and back.

Alaska Railroad believes the journey should be as spectacular as the destination. Along the way, you’ll see Chugach State Park’s mammoth 3,000-foot mountains, gorgeous coastlines, massive glaciers, and towering waterfalls. A seven-hour layover gives you time to explore Seward. You can even book a day trip to take a wildlife glacier cruise while you’re there. Visit its website to look at all the options and other train trips offered by Alaska Railroad.

There are two levels of service on Alaska Railroad: GoldStar Service and Adventure Class Service. GoldStar Service puts you in the GoldStar Railcar, with glass-domed ceilings, an upper-level viewing platform, and a full-service dining room. Meals, all soft drinks, and two adult beverages are included. Adventure Class Service offers large windows, access to Vista Dome cars, as well as dining and cocktails in the Wilderness Cafe. Before or after your trip, take one of the free driving tours provided by Alaska.org .

The Hilton Anchorage is less than a mile from the Anchorage station, making it easy for you to be ready for your 6:45am departure. For another adventure while you’re there, check out this 3-hour private tour of Anchorage. It’s a great way to see historic Ship Creek, Earthquake Park, and even scout for wildlife like black bears, beluga whales, and Dall sheep while taking in the scenery.

Grand Canyon Railway

Photo credit Scott Temme/Xanterra Travel Collection

For a really special day trip and great fun for the whole family, the Grand Canyon Railway is a must. Departing from the historic Williams Depot, the 4.5-hour roundtrip covers 65 miles of wilderness, including high desert plains and parts of the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world. Guests arrive at the Grand Canyon Depot, located just 200 yards from the South Rim, and the last log depot in operation in the United States. Here, you’ll have over three hours to explore the canyon, exhibits, and historic buildings.

Keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready. Guests have seen a variety of fauna, including elk, mountain lions, pronghorn, mule deer, bald eagles, horned owls, and even skunks. For flora, you’ll see a variety of plants and trees as the elevation changes, such as ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, aspen, and spruce. In the Upper Sonoran Zone, you’ll see sagebrush, grama grass, saltbush, and mountain ash, among others. At the start of each trip, there’s a cowboy square off. Cowboy musicians also roam the train entertaining guests with tunes from the Wild West. In addition, each car has a Passenger Service Attendant who will tell you about the history of the area and answer questions.

There are six classes of service, ranging from the least expensive Pullman Class with bench seating and open-air windows to the plush Luxury Parlor, offering a private bar with cocktails, as well as morning and afternoon snacks. Be sure to review the age limits for children on each class before booking. It’s strongly suggested you book your tickets for the Grand Canyon Railway as far in advance as possible. Book a Grand Canyon Tour with a Train Ride so you can see more of this stunning area.

The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is just next door to the train depot and only a block from downtown Williams.

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Photo Credit: The Broadmoor

We can’t have a list of scenic train trips without including the Cog Railway . America’s highest train journey, reaching a height of 14,115 feet, will open to the public in May of 2021 after a $100 million renovation. This train ride is not only one of just two cog railways in America, but also the highest cog railway in the world, and one of Colorado’s top attractions. 

The experience begins at the new Manitou Depot with viewing decks for grabbing that Instagram shot before or after the trip. On the way up and down, you’ll experience 360º sweeping Colorado views. At the summit, at the National Historic Landmark of Pikes Peak, you’ll be able to see where America the Beautiful was penned. The $60-million-plus Pikes Peak Visitor’s Center offers more breathtaking views, dining, digitally interactive displays, and the world-famous Pikes Peak doughnut, which you won’t want to miss.

Tickets for the 9-mile, three-hour roundtrip are available now on the Cog’s website . The railway operates from 8am until 9pm in summer, with departures every 40 minutes. The final trip of the day departs at 5:20pm.

Though the round trip is about 3 hours, you’ll want to take time for photos and visiting the gift shop afterwards, so plan for longer. Guests can reserve tickets, as well as upgraded tickets to secure a better view. Fall and winter experiences, including holiday special train trips, will be announced soon.

For those who crave adventure, new hiking, biking, and trail adventures will be available soon, including options to hike up the 13-mile Barr Trail and ride the train down or riding the train up and cycling down the 19.5-mile summit on a guided excursion. Two retail shops with snacks and drinks are available at the Manitou Depot.

Originally built in 1891, The Broodmoor has owned and operated The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway since 1925. This Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond Resort offers the perfect luxury stay to bookend end your train adventure.

Kelly Stilwell is a freelance writer and the editor of Food, Fun & Faraway Places with a focus on travel and food. 

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The 31 Most Scenic Train Rides in North America

Taking a scenic train trip is a must-do to cross off your bucket list. Whether you choose to go diesel-electric or utilize the classic steam locomotive, nothing beats a train ride through memorable scenery and notable landmarks.

From lush green forests to crystal blue oceans is the reason the United States is called “America the beautiful.” If you want to discover the thirty-one most scenic train rides in North America, this article is for you.

Are There Scenic Train Journeys in North America?

When it comes to appreciating the gorgeous view of this majestic country, riding the train is the way to go. You can only look at a certain expanse of the land below in an airplane. However, when you are on a train, you get to see the broad scope of the land and all its beautiful terrain. The scenery outside when you are riding on the train is unbeatable.

There are different train rides offered throughout North America. You can go many places and experience the pure wonder of a train ride. There is nothing like a long train ride to make you appreciate our magnificent country. The following includes the most scenic train rides North America has to offer:

1. Grand Canyon Railway

You can experience a touch of the wild west when you ride the Grand Canyon Railway. It is an incredible vintage train car that will transport you 65 miles north through Kaibab National Park and to the National Park at the Grand Canyon. At close to 7,000 feet elevation, you can see the dramatic landscape and feel through the rugged terrain.

The southern rim of the Grand Canyon is the destination. The canyons and deep narrow valleys you will see are breathtaking. With the beautiful scenery and fun, laid-back vibe of the railcar, your trip on the Grand Canyon Railway is sure to be unforgettable.

2. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Your diesel or locomotive train leaves from Bryson City. It moves along:

• Tennessee River
• Nantahala River
• Nantahala Gorge

You will be privileged to see the Smoky Mountains surrounded by a blanket of emerald forests. You may also visit the Tuckasegee River if you prefer that route. You will ride across a bridge over to Fontana Lake and into a scenic area in the Smoky Mountains.

If you choose to go the Tuckasegee River route, you will encounter the North Carolina countryside and take in its splendor. Opt for a locomotive train if you want to feel like one of the first people ever to experience these striking views.

3. Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Road

Drive through the picturesque mountains and forests of West Virginia. You will go to Cass Depot and experience the crown of Bald Knob, which is the third-highest point in West Virginia. Ride these historic steam-powered locomotives or vintage diesel-powered passenger trains to see the land’s beauty. You will travel through remote areas that not even automobiles can come through.

4. California Zephyr

Journey across the heartland on one of North America’s best train rides. Savor the awe-inspiring scenery as you pass through the Rockies. The route begins in Chicago, Illinois, and ends in Emeryville, California. It is the same path that pioneers traveled when they settled out West. It is a 2,800-mile tour that highlights the center of Gold Rush country.

5. White Pass & Yukon Route Through Alaska

The Klondike Goldrush is responsible for creating the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway just before the turn of the 19th century. The railway is celebrated for its clever civil engineering. Travel past glacial rivers and gorgeous waterfalls on your journey. The train route begins in Skagway, Alaska, and you can go round trip or one way, depending upon your preference.

6. The Empire Builder

This one is a long-distance passenger train that Amtrak provides. It takes you the exact route Lewis and Clark went on their famous expedition. On this trip, you will see sublime views:

• Mountain ranges
• National parks

The train travels from Seattle, Washington, or Portland, Oregon, to Chicago, Illinois. Then, they combine in Spokane, Washington, to complete the trip. To see the Columbia River Gorge, you will need to begin or end your journey in Portland. However, if you choose to see Puget Sound and the Skykomish River over the Columbia River Gorge, start or end in Seattle.

Traveling this route in the summer will allow you to see more meaningful sites. Along the route, there are various sites worth mentioning, such as the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountain, the Cascade Mountains, and the forests of the Pacific Northwest.

7. Coast Starlight

This trip starts between Los Angeles and Seattle and passes through Santa Barbara, the SanFransico Bay, Sacramento, and Portland. This train connects all the best cities on the West Coast. If you do not check it out, you do not know what you are missing.

When riding the Pacific Coast Highway, you will spy extraordinary seaside cliffs and a glimpse at the reflection of lakes at sunset. The San Francisco Bay is a delight to see from the passage car window. You will also see the snow-capped mountains and Puget Sound. The route goes from Seattle, Washington, to Los Angeles, and this remarkable trip will prove to be memorable.

8. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

This train is a steam locomotive. The railway is designated as a National Historic Landmark commissioned through The American Society of Civil Engineers having the status of a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The scenic route lies between Durango and Silverton, as passengers are treated to a stunning view of the gorges of southwest Colorado’s San Juan National Forest. You can also spy where the San Juan Mountains meet the San Juan River in New Mexico.

9. Train Ride Along the Hudson River

This ride between New York City and Albany is one to remember as it travels along the Hudson River. There are breathtaking scenic views, including the big, gorgeous houses and charming little towns. The Hudson Valley is a definitive work of art in autumn.

10. Cape Cod Central Railroad

Cape Cod has some brilliant scenery:

• Cape Cod Canal
• Cranberry bogs
• Salt marshes

As the route takes its course, passengers can see these outstanding views come to life.

11. Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, Iowa

The ride takes passengers along a scenic route from the Des Moine River Valley in Boone, as you will get a great view of the river valley. As a bonus, there is a museum with some cool things to look at. The trip is ideal for families with kids.

12. Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad

This trip is the best way for you to see Colorado’s rocky mountains. There is a lot to look at:

• Wildflowers
• Aspen groves

Make sure you bring your phone to record these images, as the trip is photo-worthy all the way around.

13. Royal Gorge Route Railroad

On this trip, you will explore the 1,000-foot granite cliffs of the Colorado Rockies and enjoyable scenery. It runs from the Santa Fe Depot to the Royal Gorge , which is Colorado’s most spectacular canyon. The train is an upscale traveling restaurant.

14. Jefferson Railway, Texas

This railway offers a steam locomotive that travels through the fantastic wetlands of Cypress Bayou.

The events to look forward to on Jefferson railway include:

• Diamond Don’s Vintage Motocross
• The Great Locomotive Chase
• The Christmas Express Train

One of the additional exciting stops is at the Diamond Don Gator Pit, where you have the good fortune to witness the live feeding of the alligators. During the trip, passengers can see the location of the first artificial gas plant in Texas, a sawmill, what is left of a blast furnace, and one of the last remaining Confederate powder magazines from the 1800s.

15. Silver Chef, Branson Scenic Railway, Missouri

Calling all food lovers! If you enjoy good cuisine , this is the ride for you. This train provides a smooth ride through the Ozark Mountains as you enjoy a four-course romantic dinner that is reminiscent of classic fine dining on a passenger train. The train runs several pieces of vintage railroad equipment, as well as dome cars, a dining car, and numerous coaches. There are also some great events, as Branson Scenic Railway offers a festive Polar Express train during the holidays.

16. The Crescent

This train drive between New York and New Orleans through Atlanta is a memorable ride because the train goes across the majestic Lake Ponchartrain. The water is crystal blue and has a stunning view for passengers. If you board the train that goes North, the experience is even more special because you can watch over the water at sunset.

The train was named because the amount of time it takes to travel from New York to New Orleans is about 30 hours, which means that passengers must spend the night on the train. Extending 1,377 miles, the Crescent is one of the longest train routes in America.

17. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Georgia

When you travel through Georgia, you want to go through the charming mountain village of Blue Ridge. You will take a 26-mile roundtrip trek along the Tocca River, overlooking the fantastic body of land. The train allows you to experience the Georgia and Tennessee border towns of McCaysville and Copperhill. You will enjoy this 13-mile train trip. The train also has seasonal and holiday events:

• Easter Eggspress
• Firecracker Special
• Santa Train
• New Year’s Eve Excursion

They even celebrate the fall season with fall foliage rides from October to mid-November. It is a great train to ride for families with kids.

18. Napa Valley Wine Train, California

What could be better than wine and trains? The Napa Valley wine tour offers a 36-mile journey from Napa through one of North America’s fascinating wine valleys. You will ride through the quaint little town of St. Helena and enjoy sampling the wine. You will also pass through:

On this train, you will return to an elegant era, as the train cars feature Venetian red paneling, classy brass accents, glass soundproofing, and velveteen fabric seating. You will ride in style on the Napa Valley wine train.

19. Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad

This ride is one of the oldest and lengthiest picturesque journeys in the country. You can choose between diesel-electric or steam locomotives. The ride provides an enchanting panorama of natural views, and you can spy the wildlife of Cuyahoga National Park as you discover:

The park also has plenty of plants and wildlife. You will also see the Cuyahoga River and the remarkable Ohio & Erie Canalway between Cleavland and Akron to the Canton.

20. Mount Hood Scenic Railroad, Oregon

This ride offers passengers a magnificent landscape view of Oregon along the Columbia River Gorge. The journey takes you to one of the only switchbacks remaining in the United States. It offers impeccable scenery as you glide past Mount Hood, Oregon’s most impressive peak. Mount Hood also has holiday offerings for the whole family to enjoy:

• Christmas Polar Express tour
• Pumpkin Patch tour
• Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl Express tour

The Fruit Blossom tour features the fruits that Hood River Valley is famous for, such as the April apple and pear blossom. There are also some fun Murder Mystery tours as well.

21. Alaska Railroad, Alaska

The expedition takes you 470 miles and covers the spectacular landscape with vistas. It crosses:

• Denali National and State Parks
• Chugach National Forest

The tour runs between Seward and Fairbanks and places where only trains have special access. The Alaska Railroad offers a captivating ride that stretches for 470 miles. These parks are full of wildlife, including moose, bears, wolves, and eagles. You can also combine train tours in Alaska with bus or car tours to continue your journey.

22. Pacific Surfliner

The Pacific Surfliner is part of Amtrak and is one of the extremely popular train routes in North America. The train ride offers impressive scenery:

• Ocean views
• San Diego towns

This train ride is truly a scenic adventure as it displays one of the best beach spots in the country. The trip is undoubtedly a postcard-worthy excursion with all of its variations.

23. Lake Shore Limited

On Lake Shore Limited , you will ride through many scenic places:

• New York City

On this trip, you will encounter some of the most stunning shorelines in the United States. You will ride through steep and rocky cliffs and highly recognizable landmarks like The Great Lakes and the Erie Canal, which have mesmerizing scenery. The Lake Shore Limited consists of a New York section and a Boston section which operate combined between Chicago and Albany.

24. Southwest Chief

Summon your inner cowboy and get a glimpse of the Wild West on this trip. You will see mesmerizing views:

• Wheat fields

You will get to see gorgeous scenes and vistas on this trip that you would never be able to see from the inside of your car. You will travel across the Mississippi through eight states, including Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, California, and Arizona. It is a trip worthy of any aspiring rancher.

25. The Cardinal 

The Cardinal travels from New York to Chicago. You will get stunning views of:

• Rolling hills

You will also get to see the clean water rivers of West Virginia. The Ohio River is also included in this first-rate tour. This ride typically gets booked up fast in the fall when you can see the colorful assortment of burgundy, pumpkin orange, gold, and amber leaves from the passenger car.

26. The Canadian

The Canadian runs between Toronto and Vancouver, and you will see some picturesque mountains in Alberta and British Columbia and the gorgeous landscape between Winnipeg and Toronto. In the blink of an eye, the panorama will change from enormous stretches of lush green grass to majestic mountains and finally to the glorious waves of the turquoise Pacific Ocean.

27. New England in the Fall

Nothing beats the scenery in the fall. Fall foliage is a sight that many people look forward to around the “ber” months of the year. This list includes September, October, and November and ends in December. The New England tour does not fail to please fans of the fall. You will see:

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island

Watch from the comfortable seat on the train as the vivid fall leaves burst in color and discover the historical towns to see where the pilgrims first landed. Riding the train through New England in the fall will prove to be a truly romantic experience.

28. Glacier, Yellowstone, and Jackson

You will get a complete tour during your adventure through Glacier National Park . You may visit the Charles Russel Museum and check out the fantastic history of the parks, and then you will arrive at Yellowstone Park and stay for three nights. On your tour, you will find that there are a plethora of  different things you can be doing at the Yellowstone Park:

• Birdwatching
• Rafting, Kayaking, Boating, Swimming
• Rock climbing
• Horseback riding
• Enjoying the wildlife
• High rides and ziplines
• Looking at the stars
• Looking out for bears

Finally, the trip ends in Jackson, Wyoming. You get to experience the pure wonder of these three national parks.

29. Alaskan Trains and Kenai Fjords

Discover Kenai Fjords and Denali National Park. Take the riveting Tundra Wilderness Tour. Travel South to Wasilla and see the Iditarod Trail Headquarters. Then, visit Alaska’s largest city. Take a walk through the fascinating Anchorage Museum, then go to the Kenai Penninsula on the Alaska Railway. You will get to see a wide range of sites on this tour.

30. Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and Yellowstone

Ever want to see the President’s heads carved in a mountain? Here is your chance. Check out the frontier towns of the Wild West. The journey begins in Chicago, where you will board the California Zephyr and see the Rockies. Some of the features of the journey include:

• Buffalo Jeep Safari in Custer State Park
• Float Trip on the Snake River through Grand Teton Park
• Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monument

You will also be able to take in the Grand Teton National Park, Badlands National Park, and the Buffalo Bill Western museum.

You will see the famous   Yellowstone National Park. The park is renowned for its scenic lakes and rivers, rugged mountains, and geologic offerings, such as fossil forests and eroded lava flows. Finally, you will get to see the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is a fun trip with many high points that will be memorable.

31. America’s Treasures and Natural Wonders

This ride is an adventure in the Wild West. You get to visit six awe-inspiring National Parks , complete with great photo opportunities for you to take plenty of pictures.

The best part of the trip is going to Yellowstone. You will see many attractions:

• Hot springs
• Old Faithful

Old faithful , the most famous geyser located in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin, is in the southwest area of the park. Eruptions from the geyser can be abrupt and unpredictable. Yellowstone Park also has dashing green meadows with lots of wonderful little animals. You can also view breathtaking mountains.

What Are Tips for Traveling on a Train in North America?

When aboard a train, no matter how scenic, you want to be prepared and take along some items you may need during your ride. Riding on a train is fun and relaxing, as long as you have everything you need to be comfortable. The following includes some tips for traveling on a train in North America:

• Make sure you have all essential items , such as your ID, prescriptions, and medications like Ibuprophen, or motion sickness medicine
• There is no harm in bringing entertainment , such as your favorite book, deck of cards, movies you can watch on your phone, or music you can listen to. Just be sure to pack your earbuds.
• Many railroads offer luggage assistance , so be sure to have a tip ready for the train employees
• Bring a healthy snack that will energize you for the trip, such as almonds and an apple
• Make sure you have all your care items , such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and soap
• Make sure you have what you need to be comfortable , such as an extra blanket or a nice neck pillow
• Reserve a sleeping car room. It is all about comfort when you want to relax. The best way to enjoy the experience on long-distance train trips is to book a roomette or bedroom onboard. You will also get a sleeping car attendant, and remember to tip them!

Another point is to wear clothes that make you feel comfortable. You do not want to go on a train trip being too hot or too cold. You may even want to wear your pajamas.

There are some very scenic railroad tours in North America you can enjoy. A picturesque train ride does wonders for the soul. Hopefully, the list in this article inspires you to choose the train ride of your dreams.

Lifelong Rail Enthusiast and Owner of Worldwide Rails

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Scenic Train Ride Locations In The USA (2024)

Last revised: October 10, 2023

By:  Adam Burns

Scenic train rides are one of the great pastimes and can be found scattered throughout the country, from Florida to California.  Presented here is information on how to find a tourist railroad near you.

While Amtrak still offers the chance to travel from city-to-city and commuter services fulfill an essential need within large metropolitan areas, neither provides the nostalgia of railroading's "Golden Age."   

More than a half-century ago one could board a flagship service like Pennsylvania Railroad's legendary  Broadway Limited  at New York's illustrious Pennsylvania Station and enjoy a lap of luxury during a 16-hour journey to Chicago. 

The mighty PRR spared no expense in stocking its top service with every amenity imaginable, from freshly prepared five-star meals to full bedrooms. 

The train's other noteworthy perks included air-conditioning and a fully-staffed crew provided by the iconic Pullman Company.  But the PRR was not alone, many other railroads, such as the New York Central, Santa Fe, and Union Pacific, offered their own level of opulence.  

Tailoring to a traveler's every needs some of these trains provided a secretary, nurse, domes for maximum viewing, and even a barber.  

Such indulgences cannot be found on Amtrak.  However, a few, like dome cars and full-course meals, have made their way to the scenic train ride industry.  Within this section you can learn more about a few of these organizations and where they are located.

The scenic train ride concept is not new although it has certainly gained popularity over the last few decades.  The oldest organization dedicated to preserving rail history is the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Inc. founded in 1921.  

The R&LHS remains an active group and you can visit their website by clicking here .  Before modern scenic railroads were born enthusiasts sponsored these trips directly on the railroads.  

Many companies were happy to host such events before rising insurance premiums and the fear of ligation largely ended the practice.  

The trips were not limited to big-name roads like the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Burlington, New Haven, Nickel Plate Road, or Baltimore & Ohio.  Several small carriers also operated such excursions, names like the Western Maryland, Virginian, and Reading.

It all began in 1934 when the first "fan trip" was hosted by the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. along the Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad (this system was abandoned long ago but the MBRE still exists). 

In his article from the September, 1969 issue of Trains Magazine entitled  "Are These People Embalmers Or Enthusiasts? ," noted editor David P. Morgan described the term "railfan" quite poignantly.

It carries a range of subcategories, from photography to model trains, but general refers those who simply enjoy the subject of railroads.  

Various clubs/organizations sprang up throughout the 1930s, '40s, and '50s.  These groups rose in number as many railroads disappeared after the 1970's.

There were 65 such groups in 1934 and 96 by 1959 as noted by the " The Railfan, Inc. " (edited by Rosemary Entringer) featured in the June, 1959 issue of  Trains Magazine .  The next important organization was the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS), formed in 1935.  

The NRHS acted as a franchising operation with various chapters formed across the country, many of which are still around today.  

But again, the modern movement of museums and scenic train rides sprang up in postwar times as nostalgia took hold when diesels replaced steam and railroads disappeared through merger.  

The popular "fan trips" peaked after World War II when, as Mr. Morgan points out, some clubs tried to sponsor as many as five excursions at a time, all with different railroads. 

One of the last great adventures at this time were the popular "Iron Horse Rambles" hosted by coal-hauler Reading between October 25, 1959 and October 17, 1964. 

The trips were pulled by one of their powerful 4-8-4's, listed Class T-1.  Three of these steamers participated in the events (#2100, #2102 and #2124) during a total of fifty "Rambles" operated over a five-year period.  

In another article from Mr. Morgan entitled, " Reading's Rambles: How And Why Would A Railroad Partially De-dieselize? " presented in the April, 1961 issue of  Trains Magazine , he detailed the program during its height. 

In an era when such things truly mattered, then-president Joseph A. Fisher wanted to boost the company's public image. 

He felt steam-powered excursions offered the best chance of success, an assessment which proved correct!  There were problems with the logistics, however. 

The Reading had retired its last steam locomotive in early 1957 and two years later contained only two extant coaling towers (one at Reading and the other in Rutherford, Pennsylvania). 

The railroad did have a few of its large and powerful 4-8-4's still on the property although the T-1's were too large to fit within Reading Terminal (Philadelphia). 

Nevertheless, Fisher pushed forward with the "Iron Horse Rambles" concept.  The first returned to service was #2124.  As Mr. Morgan notes, Reading had to look outside the train enthusiast hobby to fill a 975-seat train, hoping that it could at least break-even on the trips.

To do this the excursions were heavily marketed on radio and television, as well as promoted at  Trains Magazine . In addition, the railroad offered themed rides to further increase ridership. 

Some of these included holiday specials (during warmer months), a fall foliage run, traveling to the historic Gettysburg battlefields, and even a "Touch Of Old Dutch Day" trip to Schwenksville, Pennsylvania (abandoned today).  While not every run was a success, particularly during the holidays, trains were typically filled with over 900 passengers. 

The all-time record was a Philadelphia-West Milton "Ramble" held on October 15, 1960.  On that day the consist was double-headed by #2124 and #2100 and the pair pulled 22 cars containing 1,321 patrons!   

The 1960's signaled the last great period of fan trips as railroads focused attention in other areas, particularly discontinuing passenger services, the merger movement, and simply survival.  

Over the next few decades a handful of memorable excursions were run, ranging from the  American Freedom Train  and  Chessie Steam Special  to Southern Railway's steam program, maintained into the Norfolk Southern era until 1994 (renewed again between 2011-2015 albeit without NS-owned locomotives).  

What To Expect

Before embarking on your trip you might want to learn more about the scenic railroads in which you are interested.  If you are simply interested in a train ride, you are sure to enjoy any of them!  However, if you are looking for a little more there many options to choose from. 

Are you interested primarily in a trip with spectacular scenery or one in which a fine meal is served? 

For instance, California's Napa Valley Wine Train offers some of the best on-board dining anywhere in the country while West Virginia's tiny Durbin & Greenbrier Valley "Rocket" operates predominately with open-air cars to allow for maximum viewing. 

You can also catch murder mystery specials at other locations while themed rides during the holidays are also a big hit, particularly during the Christmas season. 

Finally, there is a reason why names like the Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge, Strasburg, and White Pass & Yukon Route draw the biggest crowds as their rides are first-class operations providing incredible views with numerous amenities available.

The truth is that while enthusiasts are sometimes looked down upon by society, without them there would be no Strasburg Railroad (one of America's most popular excursions located in Pennsylvania's Amish community), Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge in Colorado, or the White Pass & Yukon Route in Alaska.  

These folks, many working as volunteers, do it all for love of the hobby.  The Strasburg was originally built as a short-line freight carrier but shutdown in 1957.  

In 1959 a group of railfans purchased the defunct short line and began operating excursions. Today, the railroad is a mostly all-steam with authenticity a key to its success.  

In recent years it began hauling freight once more and also performs car and locomotive repairs.  Scenic train rides operated today carry many similarities to those hosted decades ago. 

Tourist companies have been successful at exploiting niches, like dinner train themes, trips for Christmas ("The Polar Express" rides have proven especially popular since Warner Brothers' 2004 acclaimed movie, based from Chris Van Allsburg's 1985 children's book), and the always-popular fall foliage excursions.  There are some areas, however, heritage railroads simply cannot simulate.

Because most organizations are only a few miles in length trips last only an hour or less. 

As a result, ridership is hampered.  As an entertainment venue, folks want to be pampered and indulged.  If a train ride is very short with few amenities it feels cheap and not worth the price. 

The most successful railroads host trips lasting anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, sometimes longer!  In the case of Reading's " Iron Horse Rambles " these operated anywhere from 100 to 175 miles with trains clipping along at track-speed (usually above 25-35 mph). 

There was a full crew of 23, which included a boiler-maker, master mechanic, and road foreman to ensure trips went off without hitch and the locomotives were functioning properly.  So many qualified personnel on a train is nearly unheard of today, simply due to cost. 

Technologies, particularly the Internet and social media, have greatly enhanced marketing in the modern age but Reading's fully-staffed public relations department worked wonders at spreading the word. 

They even went to incredible lengths into identifying the best photographic locations for railfans  No Class I railroad would ever bother doing such things today! 

Trips By State

Connecticut

Massachusetts

Mississippi

New Hampshire

North Carolina

North Dakota

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

West Virginia

Individual  Excursions

Adirondack Scenic

Belfast & Moosehead Lake

Cass Scenic Railroad

Downeast Scenic Railroad

Durbin & Greenbrier Valley

The "Essex Steam Train "

Green Mountain Railroad

Mount Washington Cog

Naugatuck Railroad

Potomac Eagle Scenic

Stewartstown Railroad

Western Maryland Scenic

Wilmington & Western Railroad

Arkansas & Missouri

Blue Ridge Scenic

Great Smoky Mountains

The My Old Kentucky Dinner Train - RJ Corman

Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad

Seminole Gulf Railway

Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad

Branson Scenic Railway

Hocking Valley Scenic

Huckleberry Railroad

Midwest Central Railroad

Whitewater Valley Railroad

Wisconsin Great Northern

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic

California Western Railroad, The Skunk Train

Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic

Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge

Georgetown Loop Railroad

Grand Canyon Railway

Fillmore & Western Railway

Sugar Cane Train

Leadville, Colorado & Southern

Manitou & Pike's Peak

Nevada Northern

Niles Canyon Railway

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad

Rio Grande Scenic

Royal Gorge Route

Verde Canyon

Virginia & Truckee

Black Hills Central

Mount Hood Railroad

Mt. Rainier Scenic

Napa Valley Wine Train

White Pass & Yukon Route

Defunct Lines

Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway

Premier Experiences

There are many great scenic railroads to experience but if you are truly interested in riding the best-of-best, there is a reason why names like the Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge, Strasburg Railroad, Grand Canyon Railway, Verde Canyon Railway, and White Pass & Yukon are so popular. 

Trips on these railroads are usually more expensive but well worth the money! 

They host long rides in very-well maintained equipment (usually climate-controlled), provide a range of special events throughout the year, operate through absolutely spectacular scenery, offer some type of dining/cuisine/beverages, and furnish trips lasting hours. 

The Grand Canyon Railway stands out, in particular.  The company operates the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe's 64-mile Grand Canyon Branch from the main line at Williams, Arizona to the canyon's South Rim. 

There, travelers can stay at the Santa Fe's historic El Tovar Hotel (among other accommodations) or simply enjoy the incredible views. 

During your trip the train provides many levels of service, from standard to coach to dome-car settings.  If you have the means, this railroad is very much worth a visit!

Individual Excursions

SteamLocomotive.com

Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource on the study of steam locomotives. 

It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. 

It is quite staggering and a must visit!

© Copyright 2007-2024 American-Rails.com. All written content, photos, and videos copyright American-Rails.com (unless otherwise noted).

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Vote for your favorite scenic train ride!

USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination. Such is the case for passengers who step aboard these 20 trains — hand-picked by a panel of travel experts for offering the best scenic rides in the United States. Which scenic train ride would you most like to purchase a ticket for? Vote once per day for your favorite until voting ends on Monday, May 13 at noon ET. The 10 winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 22.  Read the official Readers' Choice rules .

Sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination. Such is the case for passengers who step aboard these 20 trains — hand-picked by a panel of travel experts for offering the best scenic rides in the United...   Read More

Best Scenic Train Ride Nominees

Photo courtesy of keithbwinn / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Blue Ridge, Georgia

Your journey on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway embarks at the historic train depot in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Passengers are treated to a 26-mile round trip through scenery including small towns, forests, and the Toccoa River, with stops in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee. 

Photo courtesy of The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Manitou Springs, Colorado

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the world's highest cog railroad, reaching a height of 14,115 feet. This 9-mile journey takes passengers to the top of Pikes Peak, traveling along Ruxton Creek and through Deer Park along the way.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Marx / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Calera & Shelby Railroad

Calera, Alabama

The Calera & Shelby Railroad offers a glimpse of a bygone era on a scenic locomotive ride. This diesel-electric train operates on tracks first established in 1891, traveling for 75 minutes through the gorgeous forests of Shelby County, Alabama. 

Photo courtesy of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Chama, New Mexico

One of the most authentic steam-operated railroads in existence, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad runs for 64 miles between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado, passing through the San Juan Mountains and the scenic Conejos Valley along the way. This moving National Historic Landmark represents one of New Mexico's most spectacular day trips.

Photo courtesy of Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Peninsula, Ohio

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is one of the best ways to explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park located in northeast Ohio. The train travels north-south between Independence and Akron, with stops for both pedestrian and bike passengers. In addition to scenic rides through the park, the train also hosts evening excursions (Ales on Rails, Cocktails on Rails, or Grape Escape) as well as a Murder Mystery train.

Photo courtesy of Anthony D'Amato

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango, Colorado

The historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad once hauled silver and gold between these two Colorado towns. Today, visitors can hop aboard for this nine-hour round-trip journey through some of Colorado's most impressive scenery, with a stop in Silverton to explore the historic mining town.

Photo courtesy of LordHenriVoton / E+

Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad

Elkins, West Virginia

The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad operates from three different historic train depots in West Virginia. Excursions include scenic rides through countryside, along mountain grades, and to Bald Knob, the third-highest point in West Virginia. Special events include a murder mystery wine train and a ride to the ghost town of Spruce.

Photo courtesy of Matthew Malkiewicz

East Broad Top Railroad

Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania

East Broad Top Railroad traces its roots back to 1872, and it's the only three-foot gauge common carrier railroad still left east of the Rocky Mountains. Excursions carry passengers on a 9-mile round trip ride through undulating hills, pastoral scenery, and forests. Guided tours and special events, like Christmas in Coal Country and PEANUTS The Great Pumpkin Patch Express, offer a different train ride experience.

Photo courtesy of 75tiks / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Everett Railroad

Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

The Everett Railroad started a new life as a freight service in 1984. Today, the railroad operates both freight and passenger trains, offering a rotating calendar of themed events like the Easter Eggspress, Santa Express, superhero rides, pumpkin patch trains, and autumn adventures. 

Photo courtesy of C.Mae Design / iStock / Getty Images Plus

French Lick Scenic Railway

French Lick, Indiana

Founded as a tourist attraction in 1961, the French Lick Scenic Railway offers special themed excursions throughout the year for families as well as those 21 and older. Examples include a tequila tasting train, an Easter Bunny Express, a chocolate tasting train, a wine tasting train, and the Polar Express Train. 

Photo courtesy of Anze Furlan / psgtproductions // Getty Images

Georgetown Loop Railroad

Georgetown, Colorado

Completed in 1884, Colorado's historic narrow-gauge Georgetown Loop now operates a mix of diesel-electric and steam engines from Georgetown to Silver Plume. On the 75-minute round-trip route, passengers can ride in box cars with bench seating that is open in the summer or fully enclosed parlor cars during the holiday season. Optional silver mine guided walking tours during the summer take visitors deep into Leavenworth Mountain for a glimpse of working in a 19th-century mine.

Photo courtesy of Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Bryson City, North Carolina

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, based in Bryson City, North Carolina, takes passengers on a journey through valleys, inside curving tunnels, and across magnificent gorges. Year-round excursions take place on steam- or diesel-powered locomotives, with diverse themes and packages to choose from.

Photo courtesy of Diane079F / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Royal Gorge Route Railroad

Cañon City, Colorado

The romance of train travel is on full display aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, with a route that takes passengers through the breathtaking scenery of the Royal Gorge and Colorado Rockies. The onboard experience is as luxurious as the views, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner available, depending on the time of day. 

Photo courtesy of Mendocino Railway

Skunk Train

Fort Bragg, California

The California Western Railroad, known as the Skunk Train, got its start hauling lumber in Mendocino County; these days, the old-growth trees hidden within the Noyo River Canyon are the cherished stars of the journey. Skunk Train trips departing from Fort Bragg include a two-hour excursion to the majestic Wolf Tree, a towering coastal redwood. Train trips can be combined with redwood hikes, electric railbike excursions traveling up to 25 miles along the Noyo River, or a forest bar accessible only by rail.

Photo courtesy of Arvydas Lakacauskas / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Texas State Railroad

Palestine, Texas

Climb aboard a century-old car on the Texas State Railroad, where the glamour of vintage train travel meets the present day. Seating options are available in a variety of price ranges and a rotating calendar of themed trains make sure there's always something new to enjoy. 

Photo courtesy of Verde Canyon Railroad

Verde Canyon Railroad

Clarkdale, Arizona

Be enchanted by train travel on a 20-mile ride aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad. Spectacular vistas of rivers, bright red canyons, and ancient ruins await passengers lucky enough to book a ticket aboard this century-old train route. 

Photo courtesy of DONGSEON_KIM / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Virginia & Truckee Railroad

Virginia City, Nevada

See wild horses and historic gold and silver mines as you roll through the Virginia foothills on Nevada's Virginia & Truckee Railroad. The tracks date back to 1869 and century-old trains depart from the original 1870 depot in historic Virginia City. Regular events include murder mystery trains, holiday trains, and pumpkin patch trains. 

Photo courtesy of Hashbu Production / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Walkersville Southern Railroad

Walkersville, Maryland

Operating on tracks built between 1869 and 1872, the Walkersville Southern Railroad chugs past a historic lime kiln and the lovely scenery of Maryland farm country. Passengers ride in century-old cars, with a roster of special events on the calendar throughout the year, including mystery trains and holiday-themed rides. 

Photo courtesy of Ralf Geithe / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Cumberland, Maryland

Take in gorgeous views of the Allegheny Mountains on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. The original railroad began operating in 1852, and currently boasts the second-largest continuously operating steam locomotive in the world. Helmstetter's Curve, an iron truss bridge, and a 914-foot tunnel make this train a truly special experience. 

Photo courtesy of Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

Fish Camp, California

A host of specialty themed trains — like a jazz train, a Moonlight Melodrama train, and a Halloween train — make trips on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad a memorable experience. Running on old logging tracks, the train travels through the Sierra National Forest from April through November. 

About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best .

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Chez chesak.

‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor...   Read More

‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com .  

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50...   Read More

Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at [email protected].

Jenny Peters

Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los...   Read More

Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).

Kristen Lummis

Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in...   Read More

Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website  braveskimom.com  in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook. 

Meg St-Esprit

Meg St-Esprit is a journalist based in Pittsburgh...   Read More

Meg St-Esprit is a journalist based in Pittsburgh who covers family travel, lifestyle, education, and parenting. With their four kids in tow, she and her husband love to travel anywhere and everywhere — but have a soft spot for camping and outdoor adventures. In fact, her kids are well on their way to achieving their goal of visiting all 124 state parks in Pennsylvania. Meg believes travel doesn’t need to be luxurious or costly to be valuable, and aims to share that with her audience. Meg’s work has appeared in publications such as  The New York Times, Thrillist, The Washington Post, Fodor’s, Yahoo, Good Housekeeping, Romper , and more. Follow Meg on Instagram and Twitter at @megstesprit or check out her work on  https://megstesprit.com/

Melanie Reffes

Melanie is an island girl at heart . Born in...   Read More

Melanie is an island girl at heart . Born in Manhattan, she now lives on the sunny island of Montreal and covers  the Caribbean for a variety of publications  including  USA TODAY 10Best, CaribbeanTravel.com and MarryCaribbean.com.  A journalist with a boatload of writer awards under her belt, Melanie's affection for the Caribbean started  young when her family vacationed in Puerto Rico.   An avid fan of spicy food,   Melanie enjoys the diversity of Montreal - especially during the warmer months -when she's not en route to the Caribbean. She  holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto. 

Molly O'Brien

Molly O'Brien is a Los Angeles-based freelance...   Read More

Molly O'Brien is a Los Angeles-based freelance travel journalist, who writes and edits for a variety of international travel and lifestyle outlets including Fodor’s Travel, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider among others. She's lived on both coasts from Massachusetts to California and has so far made Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Luis Obispo, Barcelona, and Los Angeles her home.  Molly earned her journalism degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California and since then has worked professionally in the fields of hospitality and travel PR and most recently, as a freelance travel writer and editor. Molly especially enjoys covering feature profiles about interesting people doing interesting things such as chocolate making, beekeeping, wing-walking, and interesting destinations like under-the-radar wine spots, the best brewery towns, and lesser-known ski destinations.  She also loves to write about a boutique hotel with a good story. When she's not writing, Molly enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new coffee shops and breweries, and of course, traveling.  Her favorite city in the world (so far) is Barcelona, Spain, but she loves traveling anywhere that offers sunny weather and ample hiking opportunities. She loves spending time in the mountains, enjoys connecting with nature through camping and glamping adventures, and is always up for learning about the world through fun, immersive experiences (and then sharing those stories!).  You can connect with Molly here:  Instagram: @metropolitanmolly Twitter: @Molly_A_OBrien Facebook: @MetropolitanMolly LinkedIn: @mollyannobrien www.metropolitanmolly.com

Tamara Gane

Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best...   Read More

Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. She's based in Reno/Lake Tahoe and in addition to USA Today 10Best, her work has been published in Travel & Leisure, Fodor's Travel, The Washington Post, SF Gate, Houston Chronicle, Lonely Planet, and more.

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,...   Read More

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

9 Scenic Train Trips To Take In Arizona

• Amtrak Southwest Chief offers a breathtaking journey through Arizona's stunning desert landscapes and mountains.
• Verde Canyon Railroad takes passengers on a picturesque adventure through 110 years of history and offers endless breathtaking views.
• The Grand Canyon Railway provides a beautiful train adventure with spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks and a tour of the iconic Grand Canyon.

From the Grand Canyon, one of the most beautiful destinations in the US , to Arizona state parks known for scenic campsites , there are plenty of experiences to explore in this breathtaking state. The Wild West is remembered for its charming railway towns and amazing railroads that transport people and goods across the United States. Fortunately, some of these still exist today, and the Grand Canyon State is a perfect place to travel back in time along the old railroads. Trains may be one of the least-used forms of long-distance travel, but the state's railroad adventures will definitely take vacationers' breaths away. Here are 9 scenic train trips to take in Arizona.

Underrated, But Scenic: This Small Town In Arizona Is A Great Alternative To Phoenix

Amtrak sunset limited, gorgeous desert landscapes, mountain views, and spectacular desert sunsets.

Amtrak Sunset Limited offers one of the most scenic train rides in Arizona and is perfect for tourists who prefer long journeys. Operated by Amtrak, it’s a long-distance train that travels between New Orleans and Los Angeles and includes stops in Arizona’s four beautiful cities: Yuma, one of the US cities with the most sunny days , Maricopa, Tucson, and Benson. The journey takes travelers through stunning desert landscapes and mountain vistas – and just as its name suggests, it comes with some of the most picturesque sunset views.

• Hours of operation: 10: 00 pm
• Duration: 48 hours
• The cost of the train ride: $39-$133
• Scenic places to see: Maricopa, Tucson, and Benson

Amtrak Southwest Chief

Breathtaking vistas, mountains, desert landscapes, and ranches.

This railroad takes travelers on a picturesque journey through the American West, starting in Chicago and ending in Los Angeles, with three stops made in the Grand Canyon State. Throughout the adventure, travelers will enjoy endless breathtaking vistas as they pass through gorgeous mountains, deserts, open fields, and ranches.

There are incredible accommodation options that vacationers can choose from, including Superliner Sleeping and Dining Car Accommodations, each varying by train. Tourists can take views from the observation car , sometimes referred to as the Sightseer Lounge . Amtrak Southwest Chief has many stations, three of which are in Arizona: Kingman, Winslow, and Flagstaff , home to one of the best observatories in the U.S. The train ride’s highlights in the state include Petrified Forest National Park, the Grand Canyon, and Sinagua cliff dwellings in Walnut Canyon National Monument.

• Hours of operation: 24/7
• Duration: 40+ hours
• Cost of the train ride: $14-$145
• Scenic places to see: Petrified Forest National Park , the Grand Canyon , and Sinagua cliff dwellings in Walnut Canyon National Monument

Tourists should note that Amtrak Southwest Chief does not offer Wi-Fi services, and cell phone coverage is also limited.

Verde Canyon Railroad, Clarkdale

Endless breathtaking views, arizona’s amazing wildlife, rugged landscapes, high-desert plants, & fascinating history.

Verde Canyon Railroad offers one of the most unforgettable train trips in Arizona. It’s a 20-mile picturesque adventure through 110 years of history and is filled with endless breathtaking views. The tour takes four hours to complete, beginning in Clarksdale to Perkinsville and bringing passengers back to Sycamore Canyon, which has been dubbed “Arizona’s second Grand Canyon.” Other highlights of this journey include Arizona’s amazing life, rugged landscape, and high-desert plants. Some of the amazing sights to see on Arizona's Verde Canyon Railroad include Verde Canyon, Verde River, and Prescott National Forest.

• Hours of operation: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, daily
• Duration: 4 hours
• Cost of the train ride: $109 - $950
• Scenic places to see: Verde Canyon, Verde River , and Prescott National Forest

6 Beautiful Waterfront Towns In Arizona

Grand canyon railway, williams, spectacular views, history of the wild west, and a tour of the grand canyon.

A ride along the Grand Canyon Railway is one of the most beautiful train adventures one can ever have in Arizona. Dating back to 1901, this train tour begins in Williams, one of the small Arizona towns to stay in if visiting the Grand Canyon , and continues to the iconic Grand Canyon (South Rim), covering 65 miles . Throughout the journey, travelers will enjoy spectacular views of San Francisco Peaks as they listen to the crew narrate interesting tales about the Wild West. The train disembarks right below El Tovar . The best part about this train ride is that tourists explore the Grand Canyon before embarking on a trip back to Williams.

• Hours of operation: 9:30 am – 5:45 pm (8:30 am – 4:45 pm in November/December)
• Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Cost of the train ride: $69 for adults, $35 for kids aged 2-15, free for kids under 2(Pullman Class) ; $89.98 for adults, $55 for kids aged 1-15, free for children under 2 (Coach Class) ; $169 for adults, $129 for children aged 2-15, and free for kids under 2 (First Class) ; $199 for adults, $189 for kids aged 2-15, not allowed for kids under 2 (Observation Dome) ; $239, not allowed for children (Luxury Dome) ; $239, not allowed for children (Luxury Parlor)
• Scenic places to see: The Grand Canyon's sights, including El Tovar

This trip is currently 45 minutes faster than when it first started in 1901

Flagstaff Is Perfect To Visit This Spring: Here's Why

Maricopa live steamers railroad club, glendale, spectacular views of arizona’s desert landscapes and wildlife.

Located in Adobe Western Railroad Park, Glendale, one of the most livable cities in Arizona, Maricopa Live Streamers is dedicated to preserving the railroading heritage and takes vacationers through 18 miles of scenic rides via four different routes, each half an hour long. The trains are a bit smaller but offer tourists a chance to enjoy the views of Arizona’s scenic desert landscapes and amazing wildlife. In spring, one will see plenty of wildflowers. Public train rides are only available between October and April because summer heat can be unbearable in the Grand Canyon State.

• Hours of operation: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Duration: 30 minutes for each route
• Cost of the train ride: Free
• Scenic places to see: The train ride's adventure starts by taking vacationers through the scenic desert landscapes of Arizona

Train rides with MLS are free and available on Sundays. One can also book MLS for birthday celebrations, reunions, company picnics, meetings, and other special events.

Superstition Scenic Narrow-Gauge Railroad, Goldfield

Fascinating history of the old and breathtaking views of the superstition mountains.

Looking to experience the haunted side of Arizona? Book a scenic train ride along the Superstition Scenic Narrow-Gauge Railroad . This railroad dates back to 1963 and takes vacationers on a 20-minute picturesque train ride as they learn about the long, fascinating history of Goldfield ghost town and the Wild West. After its establishment in 1893 following a discovery of gold in the area, Goldfield produced more than $1.5 million worth of gold and had a population of 3,000 to 5,000 residents during its mining heyday .

The town was neglected several times throughout its history, but today, it has become a popular tourist attraction. It is believed that the ghost town is haunted by some of its former residents, and travelers may see an apparition of a miner along the Superstition Scenic Narrow-Gauge Railroad. The main highlight of this scenic train ride is the fascinating history of the Old West, as well as spectacular views of the Superstition Mountains in the background.

• Hours of operation: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Duration: 20 minutes
• The cost of the train ride: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for children (5-12), and free for kids under 5
• Scenic places to see: The train rides circle the Goldfield Ghost Town. Superstition Mountains are visible in the background

Daisy Mountain Railroad, Anthem

Scenic views and fun activities at the community park.

Located within Anthem in the community park, Daisy Mountain Railroad is one of the scenic train trips to take in Arizona, especially for travelers who prefer shorter adventures. The 24-inch gauge train takes visitors on a 10-minute picturesque tour, passing across a lake through a tunnel. The train then rides vacationers past lush green landscaping, stunning waterfalls, and a playground where kids can play.

• Hours of operation: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Wednesdays to Fridays, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, Saturdays to Sundays
• Duration: 10 minutes
• The cost of the train ride: $4 for residents of Anthem, $5 for non-residents, $49 for 14 tickets ($3.50 per ticket), and children below 1 can ride for free
• Scenic places to see: A lush green landscaping, beautiful waterfalls, and a playground

If you have a special event, such as a birthday, a one-ride ticket goes for $3.50. If you want unlimited ride bands, the cost is $7.50 per person. Also, travelers who book early are given special discounts and can reserve for a minimum of 20 people.

Desert Breeze Railroad, Chandler

Beautiful scenery, fascinating history, fun outdoor activities.

Located right in the heart of Chandler's Desert Breeze Park, the Desert Breeze Railroad offers travelers a chance to enjoy one of the most beautiful family adventures. It takes travelers on 0.75 miles of a ride , exploring the park and its attractions, including an Allan Herschell Carousel from the 1950s.

As the journey continues, guests can take in the breathtaking scenery of Chandler from the open-top train couch. Vacationers will also learn about the local history. There is a playground where kids can play and plenty of outdoor activities for the entire family. There is also a snack bar where visitors can try some delicious eats at reasonable prices.

• Hours of operation: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Duration of the train ride: 10 minutes
• The cost of the train ride: $2.25 each; $20 for a book of 10 tickets; $9.50 for all-day ride bands
• Scenic places to see: Desert Breeze Park

Old Tucson Studios Miniature Railroad, Tucson

A scenic ride through the breathtaking landscape of the sonoran desert.

Dating back to 1939, the Old Tucson Studios has been featured in numerous motion pictures and television shows, including the ‘ Winchester ’73 , ‘ Rio Bravo ,’ and ‘ Little House on the Prairie .’

It was launched as a family park in 1960 and experienced massive growth . In 1977, the Silverlake Park section, home to the C.P. Huntington miniature train, was introduced. This train offers one of the most scenic rides in Arizona, taking tourists through the breathtaking landscape of the Sonoran Desert.

• Hours of operation: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Thursdays through Sundays
• Duration: About 8 minutes
• The cost of the train ride: $3 for adults and $2 for kids
• Scenic places to see: Silverlake Park , the Rio Lobo, the High Chaparral set, the Spanish Mission, and Tucson's high desert landscape

Welcome to the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

Ride where eagles fly, located in romney, west virginia, your railroad getaway, the adventure you’ve been waiting for.

Welcome to the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad located in Romney, WV. From the moment Potomac Eagle opened its doors in 1991, they have been offering beautiful historic railroad scenic train rides that passengers can enjoy from the moment they arrive to the moment they get off. With a rich history dating back to 1875, they certainly know how to deliver an experience you will never forget with these scenic train rides.

Railroad Adventures Through the Seasons

A view from a different perspective.

Planning a short adventure or an entire day, come to Romney WV! The selection of routes and fares will align with all your needs on this historic railroad scenic train ride. Take a day trip in First Class to Petersburg, or spend the afternoon in coach viewing the beautiful tree line. Above all the choice is yours!

Fall Foliage Trough Canyon

Scenic train ride awaits.

Fall foliage excursions aboard the mighty Potomac Eagle are an incredible way to experience a slice of Almost Heaven, West Virginia by rail while enjoying a unique dining venue.  Come for a country railroad adventure and let our canyon eagles inspire you and enhance your connection with nature.  From the gorgeous views of the Trough to the immersive river scenery found along the historic South Branch, Potomac Eagle offers a glorious autumn train ride that is unlike any other.

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Experiences

• Bald Eagles
• North Pole Express
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Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Built on memories.

Join the many generations who have taken the nostalgic journey through the charming Appalachian foothills of North Georgia aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.

Trip Details

Starting at the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia, riders take a four-hour, 26-mile roundtrip journey along the Toccoa River through the North Georgia countryside. The first leg of the adventure takes riders on a one hour trip to the quaint sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee, nestled deep in the mountains on each state’s line. Passengers enjoy all the towns have to offer during a two-hour layover before taking the one-hour return trip through the scenic forest and back to the depot in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Purchase Tickets

Ready for a relaxing train ride through the beauty of North Georgia? Schedule your trip today and prepare for a journey filled with nature views, charming towns and nostalgic wonder. Come aboard.

Explore Blue Ridge

Food For All

With a selection as vast as the surrounding mountains, the thriving restaurant and craft cocktail culture provides something for everyone in Downtown Blue Ridge.

Another Home

Whatever the nature of your visit, Blue Ridge has lodging options to perfectly accommodate your comfort and budget. Find your place with us!

Take A Look

Our live streaming camera feeds allow a look around town from afar! Nothing beats Blue Ridge in person, so take a look and then come on out!

Group Reservations

Save on train tickets for groups of 15 or more., for assistance with group reservations, please call (877) 413-8724.

Our ticket office is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m Eastern Time.

The Track of Our History

Railroads played a significant role in the development of this area between the 1800’s and the early 1900’s, in that they determined the routes of local roads, saved an ailing mining industry, contributed to the growth of small towns as resort communities, and made it possible to log the last remaining virgin timber in the area.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway 241 Depot Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513 [email protected] Call: (877) 413-8724

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All Rights Reserved By Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.

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BRSR COVID-19 Update

The health and safety of our staff and guests is our top priority..

As with any transmissible illness, risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where people gather or are present. Based upon guidance issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as well as other federal, state and local agencies and authorities, we have implemented – for our staff and guests – the following protocols and best practices to limit the risk:

• As part of the TSA’s mandate,  ALL RIDERS MUST FILL OUT OUR  COVID QUESTIONNAIRE   AND BRING IT WITH THEM ON THE DATE OF THEIR TRIP.   DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
• Where possible, “social distancing” is encouraged throughout the property
• Hand sanitizing stations will be available for guest and employee use
• Signs, PA announcements, and staff instruction both onboard and while on BRSR property will provide reminders to guests and employees alike of the importance of “social distancing,” and frequent hand washing.
• Cashless transactions are available and strongly encouraged throughout all purchasing locations, including the Gift Shop
• Frequent sanitizing of all public areas including commonly used surfaces in the Ticket Office/Gift Shop/Concession such as door handles, countertops, seating areas
• Clear protective barriers at all front-facing service counters – Ticket Office, Gift Shops, and Concessions Sales
• All employees receive daily health screenings, temperature, and symptom checks
• Any employees exhibiting symptoms will be asked to return/stay home
• All employees will be required to wear a BRSR-issued facemask and/or shield while on company property
• All employees are kept up to date on CDC & OSHA guidelines regarding workplace safety during COVD-19
• All employees must adhere to all departmental cleaning and disinfecting instructions based on CDC guidelines

OUR GUESTS:

• We encourage awareness and adherence to CDC and state health and safety guidelines
• We encourage you to maintain “social distancing”
• We encourage adherence to proper hand washing guidelines
• We encourage you to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of tissue in trash
• We encourage you to stay home if you are ill or exhibiting symptoms of flu or COVID-19 – we will work with you to cancel or reschedule your reservations without penalty when done 48 hours in advance
• We encourage courteousness in enclosed spaces and walkways and permitting ample space for passing and “social distancing”
• We encourage all to remain seated in your assigned passenger coach during your round trip, except for the layover in McCaysville, Ga / Copperhill, TN

Spring Through Fall Reservations Now Open!

MOUNTAIN RAIL WEST VIRGINIA

Train rides in elkins & cass, wv.

FEATURED MOUNTAIN RAIL ADVENTURES

• Most Popular
• Train Steam
• Clock 4.5 Hours
• Users All Ages

Cass Bald Knob Trip

Take a journey to the second highest point in West Virginia! The steep climb of 2,390 vertical feet from Cass to Bald Knob (Elev. 4,842’) on Back Allegheny Mountain gives passengers breathtaking, panoramic vistas and a climate with plants and animals typically found in the far north.

• Waterfall Stop
• Train Diesel
• Clock 4 Hours

New Tygart Flyer

This wilderness excursion departs from Elkins and features mountain grades, an “S” curve tunnel, a high bridge and miles of unspoiled mountain views. Vintage diesel-powered locomotives climb along the cascading Shavers Fork of the Cheat River to the High Falls of Cheat. Enjoy the view relaxing aboard our comfortable climate controlled passenger coaches.

• Newest Excursion
• Clock 5.5 Hours

Greenbrier Express

The Greenbrier Express (GBX) train departs from the restored, historically important town of Cass and closely follows the clear, free-flowing Greenbrier River to the small mountain village of Durbin. Sightings of Deer, River Otters, and Black Bear along with Eagles, Hawks, Ospreys, and other species of birds are common.

• Most Economical
• Clock 2 Hours

Cass Whittaker Station

Experience this breathtaking trip to Whittaker Station in Cass, WV! Climb the lower slopes of Cheat Mountain along picturesque Leatherbark Creek. Stop at Whittaker Station, surrounded by green meadows and scenic countryside. This train ride is historic, authentic and a spectacular trip to the past!

About Mountain Rail

Discover west virginia by rail enjoy remote wilderness excursions on historic steam-driven locomotives and vintage diesel-powered passenger trains. get a first-hand look at the natural wonders that make west virginia a truly wild and wonderful vacation destination., other offerings.

GROUP TOURS

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UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

Elkins murder mystery wine train.

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Cass to Spruce

Journey to a logging Ghost Town

Elkins Ramps & Rails Festival

Cass parade of steam.

• Clock 1 Hour

Elkins Ramps & Rails Festival

Learn about this unique indigenous Appalachian leek while enjoying local arts, crafts and live music. Local food vendors show off scrumptious ramp dishes! While enjoying the festival, enjoy one of our short 1-hour train trips! This is a local favorite!

• Logging Ghost Town

Cass to Spruce Trip

Passenger service returns to ghost town of Spruce. Once known as the the highest and coldest incorporated town east of the Mississippi, accessible only by rail, Spruce has become a popular destination for those wanting to experience the notorious ghost town.

Cass Climax Special Caboose Rides

Join us on July 13, August 10 and September 7th for excursions behind Climax No. 9 along the Greenbrier River! Riders will enjoy the sights and sounds of the unique locomotive from inside one of three cabooses on the one hour round trips to Pine Flats and return.

A unique festival of steam for all ages! Attendees will have the opportunity to view all of our operable, steam locomotives, from the Cass parking lot as they move down the rails. Parade is free!

• Users Ages 21+

Join us on a rail adventure to help us figure out Whodunit in an exciting murder mystery! While the mystery unfolds, you’ll also be enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by the Railyard Restaurant in Elkins, WV and wine tastings provided by Lambert’s Winery of Weston!

DISCOVER MORE

Cass scenic railroad.

Real Mountain Railroading

Freight Services

Cass scenic railroad state park, top-rated west virginia train rides.

The Greenbrier Express was a wonderful & relaxing trip. The beautiful scenery and wildlife was amazing. Staff was knowledgeable and very friendly. I was very impressed by the lunch that was included. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a fix your own sandwich and there were different meats and cheeses with all the condiments to make a delicious sandwich. It was quite an impressive spread put on by this small town. I would highly recommend going on this day trip and am planning on going again.

We did the 4-hour New Tygart Flyer trip from Elkins Depot. The depot was easy to find, and there is so much within one block of the parking lot. The train ride itself was lovely. We upgraded to the parlor car (which I would recommend). The food & drinks, service, and atmosphere were wonderful. The trip was relaxing and the fact that it only took four hours, left us the remainder of the day to do as we pleased. I would recommend this trip to anyone who appreciated trains, West Virginia, or who just likes to relax!

As a huge train fan, this was a ride on my bucket list. We ended up having perfect weather. The woods are very pretty and change quite a bit as you go up the mountain. The food they provided was great and the whole operation is very well maintained. We were impressed that they even had accommodations for those in a wheel chair. Our loco was built in 1923 in our home state of Ohio. It's coming up on being 100 years old, but you wouldn't know it! The 4 hours go by so fast. A memorable experience for sure!

In the late 1970s, I happened to drive through Cass and discovered the railroad. I tried to get tickets, but they were sold out. I decided that I would come back and ride it "some day". Life got in the way and I didn't get back until last month. The trip to the top of Bald Knob was everything I could have expected and more! Throughout the 4 hour trip, our conductor Josh regaled us with both history and anecdotes of the lumbering days. This train ride was wonderful, I'd highly recommend it to everybody!

We had such a wonderful time on the ride to Bald Knob- it was spectacular! The fact that it was a beautiful day helped in every way. The crew was great and very serious about their job. We heard all the information and local lore over the speakers. The lunch was more than enough and we were thankful for it. The kids enjoyed it and the adults did too! Very nice and knowledgeable guides. We enjoyed every moment we were there. Very thankful we went. Price is great for all we received. A wonderful day away from home!

PHOTO GALLERY

Beskudnikovskoi Railroad Monument

• Otradnoye • 7 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Beskudnikovskoi Railroad Monument - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Moscow Boat Tour

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Description

See all the gems of historical and cultural center of the capital in short time and without traffic jams or tiresome walking.

Depending on the itinerary and duration of the Moscow River boat trip, the tour can be 3 or 5 hours.

Highlights of the tour

• St Basil’s Cathedral;
• Stalin skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya (Tinkers) embankment;
• The Kremlin;
• “House on the Embankment” Stalin skyscraper;
• Monument to Peter I;
• The Central House of Artists;
• Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Gorky Park;
• Moscow State University;
• Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Luzhniki stadium;
• Novodevichy Monastery;
• Kiev railway station;
• Europe Square;
• Moscow City Hall;
• Government House;
• Expocentre Exhibition Complex;
• and other famous sights.

You will learn about the different epochs of the city from the foundation in 1147 till Soviet times of 20 th  century.

Moscow River

Moskva river has the form of a snake and is the main waterway of Moscow, consisting of a cascade of reservoirs. Within the city, Moskva river is 80 km long, 120 m - 200 m wide and up to 14 m deep. The narrowest part of the river is the Kremlin area in the city center, and the most extensive is around the Luzhniki Stadium in the south. 

Bridges in Moscow

Undoubtedly, bridges and embankments are among the most scenic spots and main attractions of Moscow. Plus, they are so romantic.

• Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge –  Great Stone Bridge –  is the main bridge of Moscow . The first stone bridge was constructed here in the 17th century.
• Patriarshy Bridge  is one of the youngest pedestrian bridges, built in 2004. The bridge connects the iconic Christ the Saviour Cathedral with funky Bersenevskaya embankment, extremely popular place among locals for its trendy art galleries, cafes and panoramic views. Patriarshy Bridge used to be a shooting location for ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's New Year speech to the nation.
• Borodinsky Bridge,  erected in honor of the 100th anniversary of the glorious victory in the Battle of Borodino (which every Russian kid knows about), a fierce legendary battle during the Russo-French war of 1812.
• Bagration Bridge  one of the  pedestrian bridges with most picturesque views of the Moskva River with its numerous upper-level observation platforms. The bridge was erected to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow city in 1997.
• Krymsky Bridge  used to be in Top 5 Europe’s longest bridges some 100 years ago. The bridge got its name after the ancient Krymsky ford which Crimean Tartars used to invade Moscow in the 16 th  century.

Embankments of Moscow

Moscow river boats 37 embankments, the most popular being Kremlevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Pushkinskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Kolomenskaya.

You can get the most spectacular views of the Kremlin from  Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments.

• Pushkinkaya embankment  is the most romantic in Moscow. It meanders along Gorky Park and Neskuchnyi garden and is rich for all kinds of entertainment as well as cozy nooks, including Olivkovy beach, the famous Zeleny theater as well as a pier for river cruisers.
• Vorobyevskaya embankment  is part of Sparrow Hills nature reserve. This place opens a beautiful panorama of the river and city from the observation deck and is considered to be the place for taking serious decisions in life.
• Embankment in Kolomenskoye  Museum-Reserve has a special charm due to its peculiar geographical relief. The boat trip around Kolomenskoye would be the most peaceful in your life.
• Taras Shevchenko embankment  is popular among photographers for its modern Moscow City skyscrapers. Highly recommended for your night boat trip.
• Embankments of Moscow are the pride of the capital. A distinctive feature of each of the promenades is its architecture and beautiful views. In addition, almost all the embankments of Moscow have a rich history and a lot of notable buildings.

Different epochs

Taking a walk along the Moskva River by boat, you will witness the architecture of Moscow from different eras and styles. Archaeological studies indicate that already in the XI century there stood a fortified settlement on Borovitsky hill, which is now called the Kremlin. Little fortress could not accommodate all the residents of the rapidly growing city, and the Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new Kremlin, larger than the former.

Boat trip around Kolomenskoe Park

Moscow river boat trip starts from the pier Klenovy (Maple) Boulevard and provides reat views of Nicholas Perervinsky monastery.

Nicholas Perervinsky monastery was founded at the time of the Battle of Kulikov (1380). The monastery, got its name from the surrounding area – “Pererva”, which can be translated like “tear off” and because of the location –  here it abruptly changed its course, turning to Kolomna, standing on the opposite bank.

Nowadays Kolomenskoye is State Art, Historical, Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve, which doors are open to everyone who wants to get in touch with the ancient history of Russia.

Take a break from the big city hustle in the shady parks and gardens of the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve. Don’t miss a wonderful Church of the Ascension and Tsar Alexey’s Palace in Kolomenskoye!

Monasteries and temples

• Novospassky Monastery
• Founded in the 13th century on the site where now is located the Danilovsky monastery. After a few decades, in 1330, Ivan Kalita moved the monastery onto the Borovitskii hill of the Kremlin. However, in the 15th century, Spassky Monastery again moved, this time to a more spacious place on Krasnoholmskaya waterfront.
• Church of St. Nicholas in Zayaitskom
• Erected in the middle of the XVIII century in baroque style. The building survived after the 1812 fire, but the utensils were destoyed. Parishioners collected donations and restored the temple on their own. In Soviet times, it was closed and re-opened only in 1992.
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• The church was originally erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon and was being under construction for long 44 years. Notoriously demolished in 1937 to be a giant swimming pool under open sky. The current building was constructed in 1990s. It is the tallest and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
• The temple was built in 1679-82, during the reign of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, in late Muscovite Baroque style and can be characterized as bonfire temple. Each gable is a symbol of a heavenly fire.
• Novodevichy Convent
• The most famous concent and monastery in Moscow, presumably founded in 1524. Novodevichy’s status has always been high among other monasteries, it was in this monastery where the women of the royal blood, the wives of Tsars and local rulers of Moscow were kept in prison as nuns.
• St. Andrew’s church  (male acts as Compound Patriarch of Moscow)
• St. Andrew’s church stands right on the slopes of the Sparrow Hills, on the way down to the Moskva River, on the territory of the Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills”. The monastery is small in size but is very cozy. It’s situated in a quiet courtyard surrounded by temples, fruit trees and flowers.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow river cruise.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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