As we approach Thanksgiving—or, as I prefer to call it, Planes, Trains and Automobiles season—it’s time to pay tribute to the humble train. Gridlock traffic? Nonexistent. Security lines longer than the wait for a Kasama breakfast sandwich? Not with Amtrak. When it comes to rail travel, it’s as simple as hopping on, tuning out and watching the world go by through a panoramic window. Let’s just hope you aren’t left hauling a trunk full of all your earthly possessions across a muddy field like our beloved transit heroes Neal Page and Del Griffith. If you’re ready to embrace the convoy lifestyle, Chicago happens to be the starting point for one of the most picturesque train rides in the country.
In a recent roundup of bucket-list train journeys, The Independent named Amtrak’s Empire Builder the No. 1 most scenic train ride in the U.S. Beginning at Chicago’s Union Station and making its way toward the Pacific Northwest, the route winds through 1,138 miles of rolling vistas and splendid wilderness, even following long stretches of the Lewis and Clark trail. And the best part? Tickets for the life-defining trip can cost as low as $160—granted, it’s a coach ticket. But those views? Priceless.
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Amtrak’s Empire Builder has been in operation for 96 years and counting, connecting over 40 communities across eight states. The first westbound Empire Builder trip pulled out of Chicago on June 10, 1929, when the route was helmed by the Great Northern Railway. In 1970, Amtrak took over the line and has been a cross-country sensation ever since, hosting nearly 400,000 travelers just last year.
Want a primer on what to expect from this epic 46-hour trek? After departing Union Station, you’ll soon be greeted by sunlight dancing across the Mississippi River’s rolling waters, followed by Minneapolis and St. Paul’s skylines blazing across the night sky. The journey continues through the Great Plains of North Dakota, Gassman Coulee Trestle—a historic bridge that spans nearly a third of a mile and hits 117 feet at its peak—and Montana’s Big Sky country. Perhaps the most mind boggling part of the trip unfolds in Spokane, Washington, when the train physically splits: the front portion continues the expedition toward the Cascade Mountains and—eventually—Seattle, while the the rear section swings southwest toward Portland.
This railway adventure is obviously not for the faint of heart—or those with bad backs. The full Empire Builder journey clocks in around 46 hours, and there are different degrees of luxury to choose from during the multi-day excursion.
Coach class seats are the cheapest—and most ergonomically ravaging—option (starting at $160 per person), but Amtrak also offers Roomettes (from $800 for two), bedrooms (from $1,500 for two) and family rooms (starting at $1,800). While every seat promises dazzling landscapes, take in the scenic splendor from a Sightseer Lounge Car if you want to do it right—it offers breathtaking panoramic views from its upper level.
Interested in knocking this trip off your bucket list? Learn more via Amtrak’s website.