Jeff and I took the Amtrak California Zephyr from Denver to San Francisco. It was an absolutely beautiful ride as we sat in the observation car and just stared out at the breathtaking landscapes that passed by. I’m a big fan of traveling by train. It’s nice to be able to walk around, have a dining car, and there’s just something special about it.
I’ve previously done a train trip throughout Western Europe, and this was my first experience doing one in the states. Here’s an honest review of how it went…
THE ROOM
We booked a Superliner Roomette, which was quite small and pretty difficult for 2 people to be in at once unless sitting down in the chairs. When we were both just sitting in the room, it was fine.
Also, the top bunk didn’t fold up all the way and was leaning at a 45-degree angle, so we couldn’t fully stand up in there either which was a bummer.
Jeff and I each brought a carry-on suitcase and our backpacks. With 2 people, our carry-on bags had to stay downstairs on the luggage rack the floor below, because they simply wouldn’t fit in the roomette. This made it a pain to go get a change of clothes out of our bag, take it up to change in the room, and then go back downstairs to put stuff up.
I definitely wouldn’t book a roomette again for 2 people, but I am willing to try a bigger room.
The roomette is about $522 for 2 people (think – transport and lodging for 1 night). The family bedroom is about $1287 and the Superliner Bedroom is $1519. You can read more about the rooms overhere.
DINING ON BOARD
Something we were pleasantly surprised about was that the dining car was included for guests with rooms. We had complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner and it was pretty good too! They announced when food was being served for each meal and you had 3 timing options for each one.
TIP: You can bring your own snacks and food/drinks on board if you’d like! If you want/need anything in particular or if you have any food allergies, I’d bring some of your own stuff so you have options.
We brought a bottle of wine and all the fixings for a charcuterie board along with us and enjoyed them while sitting in our chairs watching the landscapes pass by!
You can find more detail about the food onboard by goinghere.
See Also
Amtrak Review: Riding Amtrak's California ZephyrCalifornia Zephyr Roomette - Size, Amenities, Booking, Routes, Tips, FAQ & Reviews | TrainTracksHQAmtrak's California Zephyr-Reviewing The Sleeper Car Bedroom - Travel Eat CookCalifornia Zephyr Roomette – Größe, Ausstattung, Buchung, Routen, Tipps, FAQ und Bewertungen | TrainTracksHQ
ATMOSPHERE
I wasn’t expecting a 5-star situation or anything (I tempered my expectations), but the interior of the train was pretty dirty. It could use a renovation for sure and had so much potential to be really awesome. My enneagram 1 personality thought of all the incredible possibilities and how cool it could be if a little reno happened. The bathrooms were very tight, dirty, and washing my face in the tiny sink was impossible.
TIP: Bring your own washcloth and hand towel.
WORKING FROM THE TRAIN
We work while we travel everywhere and had hoped we’d be able to do a lot of that in the observation car, dining car, or our room. Some of the trains have very basic WiFi on board and you can read more about that overhere.
The California Zephyr does not have WiFi, so we used a Skyroam Solis to try and get some work done. It worked some of the time and you can read a full, honestreview of it over hereso we ended up using our cell phones as hotspots to do most of our work. We have Verizon cell service and we surprisingly had decent service throughout the trip.
It was fun though sitting in the observation car and our room working from there.
PETS
We didn’t take Leon on this trip because they don’t allow pets to travel on the train for distances longer than 7 hours. Since we were doing an overnight trip, it wasn’t the best situation. They do allow dogs and cats up to 20 lbs though on less than 7-hour trips, but they have to stay in their carrier. In my opinion, 7 hours is way too long to keep them in there. So, we won’t be taking Leon on Amtrak. You can find out more about the pet rules overhere.
OVERALL
We had an awesome time and I just love train travel. I wish it had been cleaner, but for a couple of days was fine and it can be especially great if you decide to hop off the train and stay the night somewhere and then get back on. We’d do Amtrak again with a bigger room or do the hop on and off thing.
I hope this was helpful to you! If you’ve traveled by train with Amtrak before, what was your experience?
FAQs
September. The California Zephyr route has wonderful scenery all year long. However, September offers some unique perks, including less people on the train, golden Aspen trees in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and great weather for hiking and soaking in the hot springs in Glenwood Springs.
How much does a bedroom cost on the California Zephyr? ›
Here are estimated California Zephyr 2023 prices if you travel the entire route: $150-$300 for coach seat. $700-$1,300 for a roomette (meals, water and coffee included) 1,400-$2,300 for a family bedroom (meals, water and coffee included)
How much does it cost to take the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco? ›
Information on this train trip
| Daily Trains | 4 |
|---|
| Earliest and Latest Train Departures | 1:52PM - 3:05PM |
| Minimum Price | $200 |
| Average Ticket Price | $268 |
| Minimum Trip Duration | 2d5h |
3 more rowsThe seats are comfortable and spacious, and with effective planning it is possible to make it more comfortable. Take your case onto the train with you so that you can get changed each day.
How much does it cost to ride a sleeper on the California Zephyr? ›
Since the entire journey was 52 hours, we had to decide whether to travel by coach seats or the superliner roomette. The cost of tickets to travel by coach (for 2 people) was $516USD while the superliner roomette costs $645.
Do roomettes on the California Zephyr have toilets? ›
Two comfortable seats by day transformed into upper and lower beds by night. Newly upgraded bedding, pillows, towels and linens. Access to a restroom and shower in your car.
Do you tip on the California Zephyr? ›
The amount of tip depends on the quality of the service, but generally 15 to 20% of the meal cost for the dining car attendants and $10-$20 per night for the sleeper car attendant if they did a decent job. I don't normally tip the coach car attendant unless he/she has done a service directly for me.
Is food included in California Zephyr? ›
As an exclusive, complimentary offering for customers traveling in First Class private rooms, traditional dining service is provided in the Dining Car on the Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle (between San Antonio ...
Does Amtrak offer a senior discount? ›
Traveling by train is easy, comfortable and safe. Many stations are located in or near downtown for convenient heart-of-the-city arrivals and departures. And since Amtrak travelers 65 years of age and over are eligible to receive a 10% discount on most trains, it becomes an affordable alternative.
What is the difference between a roomette and a bedroom on Amtrak? ›
If you'd like a bit more space on your journey, try booking a bedroom for your next trip with us. Each bedroom has the capacity of two adults (with an option for a third), one to two suitcases and are 6'6” x 7'6”. Unlike roomettes, our bedrooms also have an in-room toilet, shower and a sofa that converts to a bed.
Wear or bring comfortable clothes to sleep in. There was no "fashion police" on our train but do keep in mind that it is a family train when selecting your sleepwear.
Which side of the California Zephyr has the best views? ›
You can move from side to side as the scenery changes. Best views are from Auburn to Reno, and well east of Green River through to Denver. As soon as you get into Ruby Canyon, west of Grand Junction you'll get good shots out of both sides.
Which is better California Zephyr or Southwest Chief? ›
The Chief is pretty fine, even exceptional, but let's face it when comparing which is more scenic, it's a no-contest. California Zephyr is better than the Chief. This is especially true if one's picture of beauty is that of lofty mountainscapes, breathtaking ruggedness, and prominent ridges.
Which side of California Zephyr to sit on? ›
You can move from side to side as the scenery changes. Best views are from Auburn to Reno, and well east of Green River through to Denver. As soon as you get into Ruby Canyon, west of Grand Junction you'll get good shots out of both sides. East of Glenwood Springs, the left side (E/B) is best.
What is the off season for Amtrak? ›
Longer answer: it depends on the route. Most long distance trains map to the national travel trends, so the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is about the slowest of the year. Second week of January through March is also slow.
