The MOST SCENIC TRAINS in North America (2025 Guide)

The MOST SCENIC TRAINS in North America (2025 Guide)

some of the most breathtaking views in North America can only be seen from a train but which routes are the best join us as we reveal the most scenic train trips in North America hello jet Setters I’m Jeb Brooks from Greener grass.com these are the top five best trains in North America All Aboard you’re coming along kicking things off at number five is Amtrak’s Empire Builder which runs from either Seattle Washington or Portland Oregon all the way to Chicago the route covers about 2,250 Mi over 46 hours meaning you’ll spend two nights on board departing Seattle’s King Street Station in the evening we had a quick dinner on board the train and then went right to bed unfortunately we slept through most of the Pacific Northwest scenery including the Cascade Mountains however we woke up in the morning to a winter wonderland in northern Idaho truly these are some of the most amazing views we’ve seen from any train and it was all up to our bad luck you see our departure from Seattle was 5 hours delayed which meant we got to see this incredible scene eny which ordinarily is shrouded in darkness on this route and that’s a reminder that if you’re looking to arrive in a timely fashion travel by train at least here in North America may not be your best bet but these trips aren’t about the arrival but the amazing scenery you’re going to catch along the way later that day you’ll pass through Glacier National Park in Montana a worthy stopover for sure on a previous summer trip on the Empire Builder we got out here and spent a few magical days in the park but as we continue heading east you’ll pass through stunning Mountain scenery soon you’ll be experiencing the Wide Open Spaces of Montana and understand why it gets the name Big Sky country we’d never been to North Dakota before this trip but something as simple as Sitting Waiting for a freight train to pass gave us the opportunity to enjoy the waves of grain dancing before our eyes finally before heading into Chicago you’ll hug the Mississippi River and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for our nation’s mascot the bald eagle fairs on the Empire Builder start at $107 for a coach seat or $620 for private rooms one way from Chicago to Seattle up next is Alaska railroad’s Coastal Classic this route totally surprised us it’s a Hidden Gem in North America it runs between Anchorage and seart Alaska covering 114 mi in only 4 and 1/2 hours this trip may be short but it backs a punch these could be the four most jam-packed hours of scenery in North am America the train makes an early departure out of Anchorage and immediately you’re experiencing dramatic Coastal scenery you may even see wildlife like these doll sheep high in the mountains soon you’re deep in the Alaska Back Country traversing mountain passes only accessible by train these are views you won’t get from any road then you’ll be hugging the Kenai Lake and marveling at the reflections of the mountains in the Brilliant Blue Water all too soon though you’re approaching sewer but don’t worry there’s so many more Adventures to have here Seward is the gateway to keenai F’s National Park or maybe even the place where you’re starting your Alaska cruise this train is a great starting point if you’re not quite ready to make the leap into sleeper trains you can do this route round trip from Anchorage in just one day along the way with a gold start ticket you’ll eat breakfast in the dining car and enjoy hot coffee and beverages from the onboard bar fairs in the Coastal Classic start at $124 one way from an to sew in adventure class or $253 in gold star before we get to number three you may be wondering what time of year is best to take these trips or which direction but the truth is you can’t go wrong no matter what and it’ll be a unique Journey regardless of when and how you do it in general the longer days of summer provide more Daylight for sightseeing however you’ll usually find trains to be more crowded and prices to be much higher in the summer as we saw in the Empire Builder winter can provide some amazing snow scenery during those limited daylight hours so it’s really up to you and your schedule and budget but for now let’s get on to train number three the Epic Amtrak Coast Starlight running from Los Angeles California to Seattle Washington the full route covers nearly 1,400 M over 34 hours meaning you’ll spend one night on the train this route proves once and for all the West Coast really is the best coast you’ll put the urban jungle of La in your rear view mirror and hug the famous California coastline for nearly 3 hours of Palm Tree Paradise you won’t believe how close to the Pacific this train gets before too long it’s time for lunch in the dining car amtr Burger tastes amazing with views like these once you leave the coastline behind there’s still plenty more in store you’ll pass through arid Central California before going to sleep in the Bay Area you wake up the following morning to Coffee in Northern California before exploring the lck green forests of Oregon fairs on the coast Starlight start at $102 for a coach seat or $56 for private rooms one way from Los Angeles to Seattle we’re almost to the coveted top spots but first if you’d like to see more from any of these trips we’ll link to complete reviews of each one in the description below we’ve been lucky enough to try every one of these trains at least once and have complete videos to show you even more details our second place train is via rails Canadian undoubtedly one of the most most legendary trains in the world this route runs across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver covering a whopping 2,800 miles over 97 hours that’s 4 days and four nights making it the longest train route in North America you’ll leave Toronto behind on this train journey Marathon to quickly get into Ontario’s lakes and forests along the way you’ll be well fed in the dining car and enjoy a selection of Canadian wines the next day you’ll find yourself among the rolling prairies of Manitoba but there’s but also a full schedule of activities to keep you busy this route is definitely a marathon but it’s impossible to be bored the journey builds to the main event that’s the entry into the Canadian Rockies it’s an early morning on day four of the trip as you enjoy Sunrise right next to Crystal Clear lakes and snowcapped Peaks you’re in for Non-Stop scenery on this last day a definite highlight is hugging the beautiful Moose Lake you’ll even see waterfalls and Wildlife you literally won’t want to close your eyes even for a minute and it’s not even over yet after dinner you’ll end your day enjoying golden hour along the cam loops Lake another true highlight of the route as you pass through tunnels we even enjoyed one final sunset on this Epic Journey if you’re looking to see some of the main highlights of this route without needing to sleep on the train you might want to check out Rocky mountaineer’s first passage to the West this is a luxury sightseeing train that operates only during the daytime you’ll spend one night in a hotel along the way and the root packs in some of the best scenery of the Canadian in a luxurious way think three course meals and even wine and cheese pairings you’ll have comfy seats and amazing panoramic Windows there’s even an outdoor viewing platform and since it’s a daytime train you won’t miss any of these sites this luxury trip costs $1,700 for Silver Leaf service or $2,300 for Gold Leaf but you can travel on the Canadian for $514 Canadian dollars in an economy seat or $1,996 Canadian dollars in a Solo cabin and finally the number one best train in all of North America is Amtrak’s world famous California Zephyr this train links amville just outside San Francisco with Chicago over nearly 2,500 m in more than 51 hours it’s a truly epic rail journey across the American West showcasing some of the most remarkable scenery anywhere in the world heading east you you’ll spend some time passing through the sprawling Bay Area before climbing into the sieras you’ll Marvel at the Lush forests lakes and even snowy mountains and there’s no better place to take it all in than from the sightseer Lounge you can even head downstairs to the cafe for a snack to enjoy while watching the world go by the next day as you wake up in Utah Snowy Mountain scenery quickly turns into unique Southwest canons including Ruby Canyon accessible only by train then you’ll be climbing into the Rockies before arriving into Denver just as the sun goes down the last day you’ll head to the Midwest passing Nebraska Iowa and then heading to Illinois where you’re greeted by the Chicago skyline in the early afternoon and just like our number two train there’s a luxury option for this route too you can book a trip on the rocky Mountaineers Rockies to Red Rocks route to see the highlights between Denver and Moab and Utah it only operates during the day so again you don’t miss anything along the way plus you’ll be whined dined and entertained with a running commentary the whole way you can book the Rockies to Red Rocks trip for $1,725 in Silver Leaf or $2,325 in Silverleaf plus meanwhile fairs on the California Zephyr start at $100 for a coach seat or $629 for private rooms one way from Chicago to Emoryville and there you have them the top five trains in North America but what did we miss leave a comment below with your favorite North American train in between now and the next time see you on the rails

Watch this video to see the 5 Most Scenic Trains in North America. This video will give you everything you need to know to start planning your ultimate North American Rail Adventure!

We’ve been lucky enough to travel across North America by train many times on many different routes. Take advantage of the experiences we’ve had to find your perfect train trip across the USA. But don’t take our word for it, watch this ultimate rail trip video to decide for yourself!

We’ll even give you a sense for how much you’ll have to spend to experience each of these train trips across America.

For the top two Sleeper Trains, we’ll even give you luxury train alternatives to get the best scenery without having to sleep onboard. Those alternatives are both from Rocky Mountaineer. You may want to try out the First Passage to the West or Rockies to Red Rocks.

Looking for even more information about these amazing train trips? Here are links to longer videos about each train trip across America:

Amtrak Empire Builder

Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic

Amtrak Coast Starlight

Via Rail Canadian

Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the West

Amtrak California Zephyr

Rocky Mountaineer Rockies to Red Rocks

Looking for even more train videos? Here’s a whole playlist

0:00 Introduction
0:18 Amtrak Empire Builder
2:08 Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic
4:06 Amtrak Coast Starlight
5:25 Via Rail Canadian
7:31 Amtrak California Zephyr