Comments on: Amtrak California Zephyr train: San Francisco to Chicago via Rocky Mountains

By: rita

rita — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:04:14 +0000

I’m hoping to do USA coast to coast, starting in Chicago to iowa and nebraska. Then Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Then Durango and Silverton Railroad. Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and onto Los Angeles. Then the Coast Starlight to San Francisco. 21 days in August. Any tips? weather etc.

By: David

David — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:11:51 +0000

The California Zephyr does have service year round and the trip through the mountains in the winter is a spectacular experience. One stop that is well worth making is Sacramento, California, BTW, to visit the Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento near the Amtrak Station. The Museum is well worth visiting and Old Sacramento can be fun as well. When traveling from Sacramento to Reno, Nevada on the Zephyr, they often have a guide on board who will talk about the history of the building of the railroad through that portion of the mountains.

I travel by Amtrak whenever it is practical. I refuse to go through the humiliation and hassle of TSA to travel by air unless I absolutely have to. Since I am retired, the slower travel by rail can actually be more enjoyable.

By: Liam

Liam — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:06:49 +0000

Just wondering does the California Zephyr run all year round? Let’s take January for example, does it have problems with snow?

Pranav: Liam I think it does (but note I’m not a local). Check the Amtrak website for better detail

By: Bev McManus

Bev McManus — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:32:59 +0000

I have taken short trips on the Amtrak Capital Corridor from Sacramento to San Jose & it’s enjoyable, but very urban in a lot of places. Though you do get to see more of the farmland & marsh area than you would in a car. We are planning to take our first LONG train trip from Sacramento to Iowa for christmas. I can’t wait. I do love hearing about your enjoyment of my neck of the woods (the Tahoe / Sierra area). What I love most is the beauty of this area & the mountains. The rockies is my next favorite place. So this trip should be wonderful to share with my 4yr old & husband, to see things & places we haven’t on our few road trips. Thank you for your comments & we hope to have an enjoyable adventure!

By: John Crangle

John Crangle — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:32:26 +0000

I would like to book the ROCKY ROUTE on this train with First Class Bed Room. I live in Ireland and wish to travel in September

By: harrie

harrie — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:59:05 +0000

i just did the california zephyr route and also got many laughs and apologies from americans about the trains there – but i’m from the uk so i’ve seen far, far worse! i’d done london to vladivostok by train so by comparison the zephyr route was quite short, but it was so scenic and interesting. in russia you got alternating taiga forest and steppe, which was lovely but a bit repetitive – the scenery on this route was spectacular and having a proper observation car was great.