What is it that you really need to take the ultimate coast-to-coast U.S. train trip? Four days and $213.
Travel blogger Derek Low has mapped out the cheapest route to travel across the United States, starting in Emeryville (near San Francisco) and ending in New York City.
"Traveling by train gives you a glimpse into the soul of America," writes Low in his blog. "The experience rewards you with far more stories and experiences and sights than you could ever witness alone in a car, eyes fixed to the road, or on a five-hour flight across the country."
The 3,3397-mile trip takes travelers through 11 states and 4 time zones while visiting the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean in a mere four days. Specifically, the first day of the adventure includes a 17-hour train ride from Emeryville to Salt Lake City. On the second day, the blogger embarked on a 15-hour trip to Denver, which granted him mesmerizing views of the Book Cliffs, the Colorado River and the Rockies. On day three, Low took a 19-hour train ride to Chicago and, finally, on day four, he reached New York City from Chicago in about 20 hours.
We can't imagine a better way to kick off the New Year: appreciating this awesome country of ours on an exciting (already mapped out!) trip from one coast to the other.
PS. If cost isn't an issue, you might want to check out the most scenic train rides in America as well..