Top Tips For Traveling On American Trains Without Losing Your Mind

As a keen traveler, you may have relied on public transport to carry you around countries from England to Japan. The ability to hop on a train and get where you need to go makes travel undeniably easier. But, as you’ll know if you’ve ever researched, getting around the US by train is no easy task.

That’s not altogether surprising considering a landmass that’s more than 40 times larger than islands like the UK. Many travelers prefer to opt for road trips rather than even attempting this mammoth task!

But, if you fancy the train life, then rest assured that it is possible to make the most of public transport during your US trip. Simply take heed of the following top tips to avoid losing your mind in the process!

# 1 – Plan Your Trip Around Trains, Rather Than The Other Way Around

National rail operator, Amtrak, provides service to over 500 destinations across 46 states, but many of those trips involve complex crossovers that, despite your best efforts, may still struggle to bring you to your destination.

To make your life easier, it’s therefore well worth planning your trip around trains, rather than desperately trying to reach a destination that US train travel simply won’t reach. For instance, there are no Amtrak trains in states like South Dakota and Wyoming! Equally, states like Idaho have just one train stop, meaning you’ll still find yourself stuck if you want to reach the other side of the state! Using Amtrak’s travel planner is your best option here, as it’ll allow you to see train station locations and the best stops to add to your itinerary based on that.

# 2 – Consider Train Tours to Reach Out-of-the-Way Spots

Aside from Amtrak’s services, there are some great independent train tours around the US, and adding these to your itinerary could be a great way to move your journey along, or simply reach out-of-the-way spots where Amtrak rails could never take you.

Top train tours in the US include the iconic Grand Canyon railway, which departs daily from Arizona to the rim of the Grand Canyon. Equally, the 10.2-mile Wilmington and Western Railroad is one of the best things to do in Wilmington DE, and includes excursions to various hard-to-reach spots, including the Red Clay Creek Region and Mt. Cuba.

# 3 – Appreciate the Importance of Booking Ahead

In many countries, it’s possible to just turn up at a station and book onto a train, but never make the same mistake when tackling US train travel. The most popular Amtrak routes, such as The Northeast Corridor, get booked solid, and all passengers need a seat in order to travel.

With routes like the Texas Eagle, you’re also looking at a 32-hour trip between locations like Chicago and San Antoni, meaning that booking ahead to secure saver/value fares is your best chance at avoiding what could otherwise become incredibly expensive travel!

Can you take the US by train? If you put your mind to it, yes, but remember these top tips for staying sane in the process!