Taking Amtrak Instead of Flying

Y

yourthemannowdog

Active member
I don't hear a lot of people talking about Amtrak as a means of traveling around the U.S. and Canada. It's kinda sad because it's a great way to travel if you have a day or two to spare. I can go from Penn Station to Grand Junction for the cost of a plane ticket and two days of scenic train riding (including half a day in downtown Chicago). It doesn't have any of the hassle of airport security. You aren't packed in there like sardines. Amtrak is an awesome way to travel if you ever get the chance.

Also, if you have a .edu email you can buy a student discount card that saves you 15% on all trains
 
I definitely would like to take a long American train ride at some point, but I think that would kind of be the point of the trip itself. (that and travel transatlantic on a ship)

For shorter trips like Boston-NYC or NYC-Washington DC it's ok, but you kinda showed why it isn't as popular in your post. Same price...only a travel time of days instead of hours.

 
If you have the time. They will say two days travel time, but that isn't a guarantee. I was stuck in west Virginia for 12 hours because someone jumped infront of the train and we got stuck behind a bunch of freight trains. Amtrak is notorious for being late

I personally like zipping along the country from the ground and getting to stop in Chicago for a few hours. Sleeping might suck, but I've got better things to do than complain about two nights of crappy sleep. It's, like you said, a trip in itself for sure. The people taking trains are in the same situation as you. Because of this, you get to meet some pretty interesting people (when I say interesting,I mean everything from drug dealers to Amish people).

You need some patience for sure.
 
Two days of my life is always worth the small amount of money I may (or may not) save with a train ticket. You have to have 0 going on in your life to do that for recreation.
 
i took amtrak from vancouver down to portland a couple years ago, it was like 7 hours but only cost me around 100 bucks round trip i remember. plus there is a bar car you can go grab a couple beers in. it was a great way to see the PNW, but i dunno if i could spend a couple days on a train.
 
It's a great way to travel anywhere on the Boston-DC corridor. Trains are regular, reasonably comfortable, and when you figure in security, getting into the center of town, etc. it's often faster than flying (if you aren't doing the whole Boston->DC distance).

The trains also have outlets and now internet, so I can usually get stuff done on the ride. Very rarely does that happen on a plane.
 
I love trains as long as the trip is under 8 hours.

I've done Amtrak from Minneapolis to Missoula, Montana. It took 36 hours. Such a long 36 hours. After a while, you just start to go... ok.... id rather be doing something cool in those mountains than just looking at them. I much prefer road trips because if you like what you see, you can stop, visit, take photos and then continue on.

I would much rather take Amtrak than Greyhound... Did Greyhound from Frisco to Los Angeles... terrible experience. I've taken it a few times since from Frisco to Denver since it's only $15 and usually there are a few people going to the airport so it's less weird... but for long distance, no thanks.

 
I take a red eye that gets me from the Mississippi to Denver. I get to Denver at 8 in the morning the next day. It's a great way to get out west to ski for a couple days.
 
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