Posted By: Sherry Laskin · Updated On: May 6, 2021 Amtrak, Post Move

How to Choose Your Amtrak Sleeping Accommodations

As a long-time Amtrak enthusiast, I’ve traveled all across the country and stayed in all the different sleeping accommodations. To help you know the difference between a roomette and a bedroom, and a Viewliner or Superliner, read on. Here are the various Amtrak sleeping accommodations found aboard their long-haul, overnight train trips.

Amtrak Sleeping Accommodations

As a committed non-flyer, I needed to know how to choose between the different types of Amtrak sleeping accommodations. First, there’s the two different actual trains.

There are two types of Amtrak sleeping cars in the fleet: Superliner and Viewliner. The difference between the Superliner and Viewliner is that the Superliner features two levels of private accommodations in each car while Viewliner accommodations are on one single level.

Difference Between an Amtrak Roomette and Bedroom

There are two types of Amtrak sleeping accommodations: a roomette and a bedroom. While both have full-length beds, they are really two different entities.

Amtrak Superliner Deluxe Bedroom with bathroom — Amtrak Superliner deluxe bedroom with private bathroom, aboard the Sunset Limited.

Amtrak Viewliner

Viewliner trains operate mainly along the Eastern Seaboard. Because of its lower height, Viewliner trains can fit into the many tunnels along this route. There are a few Viewliner trains on the east coast that travel westbound as far as Chicago and south to Louisiana. Their sleeping car accommodations are always sold out well in advance.

Viewliner train routes:

Cardinal – Overnight between Washington, DC and Chicago
Crescent– Overnight between New Orleans and New York City
Lake Shore Limited – Overnight between New York City and Chicago.
Silver Meteor – Overnight between New York City and Miami, Florida
Silver Star – Overnight between New York City and Tampa

Amtrak roomette — Viewliner roomette at bedtime.

The Viewliner is a one-level train and offers three types of sleeping compartments to accommodate up to two or more passengers.

Roomette. It sleeps one or two passengers, bunkbed style. On the Viewliner, every Roomette has a toilet and fold-down sink.
Bedroom. Sometimes called a Deluxe Bedroom, it features a wider lower berth than the Roomette, plus the upper berth. It also has a full private bathroom. The Bedroom sleeps two adults and maybe a very small child sharing the lower level bed with an adult. Two bedrooms can combine with adjoining door to become a bedroom suite that will comfortably sleep four people.
Wheel Chair Accessible Bedroom. This larger sleeping accommodation holds two passengers, bunkbed style. The ensuite bathroom allows for a wheel chair to easily maneuver around and into the shower.

Viewliner Roomette at a glance

A Viewliner roomette has a picture window with two wide, reclining seats that face each other. In the middle of the seats is a pull-up table that unfolds. There’s also an upper bunk with its own window and basket for reading glasses, etc.

Right next to one of the seats is the “bathroom”. This consists of a fold-out sink with hot and cold spigots, a mirror, a rack for soap, tooth brush and wash cloth. There is a small luggage storage bin up and across from the upper bunk.

An Amtrak Silver Star roomette. You still get bottled water, juice and coffee...just no proper dinner. — Amtrak Silver Star roomette. That’s the toilet with the pink lid cover.

The toilet is right there next to one of the seats. If you’re traveling solo, it’s no big deal. If two people are traveling in a roomette and modesty prevails, one person may choose to step outside while the other, well…you know.

Privacy curtains at the sliding door have Velcro fasteners and there’s a flip-over lock for the door. There are two electric sockets with 120v, close enough to be able to charge your laptop while working on the pull-up table.

Viewliner Accessible Bedroom with bathroom

There is one accessible bedroom per car. If you need assistance to get up the two steps into the train, Amtrak has a lift for wheelchairs directly onto the train. Reservations are encouraged.

Amtrak accessible bedroom — Viewliner accessible bedroom with full bathroom facilities.

Can You Lock the Door If You Leave Your Sleeper?

Unlike in Europe with keycards for entry, Amtrak sleeping accommodations have no lock on the outside.

When you leave your compartment to go to the Dining Car, Café/Lounge Car, Observation Lounge, or simply to step off at a stop to stretch your legs, your compartment is unlocked.

The good news is that your car attendant seems to know who does and does not have a reservation for a sleeper and keeps an eye out for trespassers. Europeans, used to having their compartment locked when they leave it, are usually a little flustered at first. But it all works out fine.

New Viewliner II Sleeping Cars

At the end of 2020 and moving ahead, Amtrak is gradually introducing new Viewliner cars, the first new cars in over 25 years. The new Amtrak Viewliner roomettes do not have their own toilet. Instead, there are two community bathrooms per car. For twelve roomettes.

As of the beginning of 2021, only the Silver Meteor and Silver Star have one new Viewliner II car in the train consist. Stay tuned for updates.

Amtrak coffee station in sleeping car. Gone of course during COVID-19. Let’s hope it returns.

Amtrak Viewliner and Superliner Bedrooms

If you can afford a bedroom, go for it. With plenty of room for your luggage, two people can travel in comfort in an Amtrak bedroom. As you enter the bedroom, there’s a fold-out, full-length sofa (a smidgen wider than a twin bed) that runs just about from the doorway to the window. Above it is a drop-down bunk bed.

Across from the sofa is a petit sink and countertop, with room for your toiletries. Facial tissue is provided (in the roomette, too) as well as wash clothes, hand and bath towels and soap.

Amtrak Superliner Bedroom — Superliner bedroom. Pretty much the same as on a Viewliner. Except for compartment “C”. Smaller than “A” and “B”.

Best of all, there’s a private bathroom with a shower. It’s not big and the shower is above the toilet. Make sure to securely close the door so water doesn’t leak out onto the carpet. It’s really nice after an overnight train ride to arrive at your destination totally refreshed.

Amtrak superliner bedroom shower — This is the en suite bathroom in a bedroom compartment, on both Viewliner and Superliner. Bath amenities are on the ledge next to the towels.

Opposite the door to the tiny bathroom is a small fold-up chair with storage rack and hooks above it. This makes it possible for two people to sit by the window facing each other. The door locking system is the same as the roomette.

Public Shower room for roomette passengers

At one end of each sleeping car on a Viewliner is a public shower room. Able to accommodate only one person at a time, your car attendant will have it stocked with fresh soap for each person and neatly folded towels. There’s a laundry basket where you can toss your used towel and wash cloth.

Amtrak sleeping car public shower room — Every sleeper car has a shower room. The attendant has even made a pretty flower with the wash cloth.

Amtrak Superliner – Roomettes and Bedrooms

The second type of train consist that Amtrak uses for overnight, long-haul routes is the Superliner. This is Amtrak’s iconic double-decker train and offers roomettes, bedrooms and accessible bedrooms. It operates mainly everywhere else across the USA, west of the Mississippi. It’s too tall to fit in the east coast tunnels.

Amtrak Superliner Routes

California Zephyr – between Chicago and Emeryville, California
City of New Orleans – between Chicago and New Orleans
Coast Starlight – between Seattle and Los Angeles
Empire Builder – between Chicago and Portland/Seattle
Sunset Limited – between New Orleans and Los Angeles
SW Chief – between Chicago and Los Angeles
Texas Eagle – between Chicago and Los Angeles

How the Superliner and Viewliner differ. As I mentioned earlier, onboard the Superliner, sleeping compartments are on two levels. The Viewliner is one level. Roomettes on the Superliner do not have an ensuite sink or toilet, as they currently do on the Viewliner.

On the lower level of the Superliner you’ll find four roomettes plus a family bedroom at one end of the car and an accessible bedroom at the other end. It’s on this level that there are three private bathrooms, each with sink and toilet and one separate shower room. Paper towels are available or your can bring towels from your compartment if you’re just using the bathroom to wash your hands.

Upstairs on this train, you’ll find both roomettes and bedrooms. The four Superliner bedroom sleepers have their own enclosed bathroom. For the ten roomettes there is only one public bathroom on the upper level. Occasionally, I’ve been in an upstairs roomette when there were two public bathrooms. But it’s not the norm.

How to Choose a Superliner Roomette

If you want a roomette, how do you decide which level of the Superliner is best for you?

If you’re on the upper level, the train ride is quiet and amazingly smooth. But, as I mentioned above, there is only one bathroom to share with nine or more other roomette passengers.

If you’re in a roomette on the lower level, you will feel the train movement and hear the clickety-clack of the wheels. But, on the lower level you have access to more bathrooms and the shower room.

For those who have difficulty walking, they may prefer the lower level to not have to climb the narrow staircase to the second level. Very convenient if you’re on the train for two or three days across country.

What’s included with Amtrak Sleeping Accommodations

No matter which Amtrak train or sleeping accommodation you choose, all of your meals are included in the dining car for the entire journey. Meals of the microwaveable type are once again offered aboard the Silver Star and Silver Meteor trains between Tampa/Miami and New York City.

However, the traditional, table cloth dining car with meals cooked to order, is gone. Now you have microwaved “Flexible Dining” choices. Basically, oversalted, chemical-rich meals. But they are tasty if you don’t think about it.

The company claims that because Millennials would rather be on their phone than sit and converse with strangers at a dining table, it was more cost effective to do away with the dining car. But I disagree and digress.

Also included when you purchase an accommodation are complimentary bottled water, coffee, tea and juice, turn down service by your room attendant, individual climate control, soap, towels and tissues.

Rather than sit in a chair on an overnight Amtrak train, opt for a sleeper. You’ll never go back to sleeping in a coach seat again!

If you find yourself in coach and want to upgrade if a sleeper is available, you can do so without a change fee. It’s done either by phone to Amtrak (1-800-USA-RAIL) or on the Amtrak app.

NOTE: As of this writing, AMTRAK is gradually introducing new Viewliner II cars into the existing Viewliner fleet. The Silver Service routes between New York and Miami now have one new sleeper car per train consist. It’s a rolling project to replace all the 25-55-year old Viewliner sleepers with new ones.

PIN FOR LATER!

Sherry Laskin

I’m the editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com, a solo traveler cruising the world on waves and wheels, collecting recipes along the way. I hope my articles and photos entertain, advise and inspire you to travel the world without flying. Take a breath…stop for a local meal and a glass of wine along the way.

Comments

Sherry Laskin says

July 25, 2022 at 10:37 am

Hi Gabie,

Thank you for your question and for reading my article. Have you called Amtrak and spoken with a reservation agent? If not, I can tell you that you will need to get a hotel room in New Orleans until your next train to NYC the next day. Once the train (Sunset Ltd) reaches its final destination of New Orleans, everyone must leave the train. It’s then cleaned and serviced and prepared for the turn-around back to LA.

There are a few hotels near New Orleans train station. If you go to Google Maps and locate station, you can then zoom in and nearby hotel names will appear. I was going to have to do this for the same itinerary, but changed my plans at the last minute. There are several hotels (call a taxi or ride-share service is my recommendation, don’t walk to the hotel) and then return to the station the next day, an hour before train departure. There is a separate Metropolitan Lounge at the New Orleans station for sleeping car passengers.

I hope this is helpful information and thank you again for reading my article. It’s much appreciated! Happy ‘rails!
Gabrielle Rademacher says

July 24, 2022 at 4:45 pm

Hi! I’m taking the Sunset Ltd from Tx to New Orleans, then the Cresent to NYC. I’ve reserved a sleeper and wondering if you may know…
The train arrives in NO at 930pm and we don’t depart for NYC until the following morning. Do we get to stay on the train that night that we are stationary?
I’ve looked everywhere and can’t seem to find an answer!
Thanks,
Gabie
Sherry Laskin says

February 20, 2022 at 3:30 pm

Hi Dave,
Thank you very much for reading my Amtrak article. I think you will be fine with B/C. Both B/C and D/E only share their respective connecting wall. Maybe I need to make a correction: On the Superliner, Bedroom A is a tad bit smaller than the B-E. However, it doesn’t have an adjoining wall/door, so it’s a bit quieter. Bedroom A does not connect to Bedroom B.

Have a wonderful train trip! The route is amazing. Take a peek inside Denver Union Station, too. It’s beautiful. Thank you again for taking the time to read my article and send your comment.
Dave says

February 19, 2022 at 1:29 pm

Hi Sherry,
Thanks for your detailed article regarding sleeper accommodations on Amtrak. We’re a family of 4 traveling from Emeryville, CA to Chicago this summer (California Zephyr). I’ve booked 2 adjoining bedrooms and was assigned B and C, which communicate. Looking online at diagrams, it seems that it’s either B/C or D/E for connecting bedrooms on Superliners. Do you think there is any preference for B/C vs. D/E? I was actually thinking D/E might be better, since one wall doesn’t connect to anything else, but then again, D/E is closer to the stairs and the shared bathroom for the roomettes on that level. I also noticed that you commented that Bedroom C is actually slightly smaller than others?

Anyway, just curious to know if you think there is much difference between B/C vs. D/E for communicating bedrooms on the Superliner. Thanks for a really interesting read!

Best,
Dave
Sherry Laskin says

February 1, 2022 at 9:35 am

Hi Kris,
Thank you very much for your wonderful comment…I try to share as much as I can about Amtrak. The Southwest Chief is unique in my opinion because there are scenic and historic views from either side of the train. But on a westbound route, I’d probably pick the right-hand side of the train, as you face forward.

As you go through the small corner of Colorado, on a clear day you can see Pike’s Peak from the right side. The train then snakes its way through Raton Pass, beautiful from either side of the train. New Mexico is very scenic, so head on up to the Observation Car if you can. Unless Covid has changed a decades-old tradition, step off the train in Albuquerque and check out if there’s anything Native American you’d like to buy. I’ve bought some beautiful turquoise and silver jewelry and a blanket.

As far as rooms, keep in mind that Bedroom A (if you’re getting a bedroom vs roomette) does not have an adjoining wall to another bedroom. You won’t hear your neighbor’s conversation.

Thank you again for reading my Amtrak article and taking the time to write. Have a wonderful trip!
Kris says

February 1, 2022 at 1:29 am

Wow, thank you for taking the time to share your wealth of information! So very helpful. We will be taking the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA…Which room or side of the train would you suggest for the best views?
TIA
Sherry Laskin says

November 2, 2021 at 10:39 pm

Hi Patty,
Thank you for reading my article and taking the time to write. I’m excited for your trip! If you only have two carry-on bags, that’s super easy. One bag can easily stay on the floor between the folding chair and bathroom door, assuming you have Bedroom B, C or D. Bedroom A has the door facing the sliding door to the corridor so no room there. There’s also a shelf over the folding chair that I use to stow my backpack. This shelf has a short lip that keeps my backpack from sliding off. A larger carry-on might overhang the edge and not a good idea. But really, there’s plenty of room on the floor for two carry-on bags.

Have a fantastic train ride! Be sure to be looking out the window as you climb Raton Pass. The scenery is amazing. Thank you again for your comment and question. Happy Travels!
Patty says

October 27, 2021 at 6:22 pm

Hi Sherry. My husband and I are taking the Southwest Chief from Chicago to Fullerton in November and have reserved a bedroom. Where do you think the best place would be to store our two carry-on bags inside the room? Will the storage rack on the wall hold one? I was thinking the other might go in front of the bathroom door and be moved when we need access. Thank you for this great article and your reply!
Sherry Laskin says

October 26, 2021 at 11:10 pm

Hi Olyn, thank you SO much for your kind words! I’m really glad that you were able to put together your Amtrak itinerary. There have been many times that I’ve politely said to the Amtrak res agent, “Thank you but I have to hang up now” and then I call back. You can also ask to speak with a supervisor. Also, I’ve found that calling in the evenings (Eastern Time) seems to be better, too. Or early morning.

Unfortunately, I have not traveled across Canada on VIA, only from Windsor to Toronto a few times, New York to/from Montreal, and between Quebec City and Montreal. I can tell you about getting from Vancouver back to EMY or thereabouts…I’ve done that route too many times, on the train and an Amtrak dedicated motor coach to SEA and then onto the Coast Starlight or Empire Builder.

Feel free to ask me any questions you have about VIA and maybe I can either answer them or try to send you to someone who knows the route. Thank you again for taking the time to read my Amtrak posts and send your comment. It is much appreciated! Happy travels to you!
OH!! When you’re in Chicago, try to get over to Lou Mitchell’s for breakfast or lunch. It’s a one block diagonal walk from Union Station at the Jackson Blvd station exit.
Olyn says

October 25, 2021 at 6:25 am

Your column is a breath of fresh air! Also a real boon. After 5 hours of frustration on web sites and with an inexperienced Amtrak agent, I was ready to give up on our dream of a sleeper from EMY to CHI, then after a few weeks with family, on to Toronto and west to Vancouver on VIA. You’ve answered so many questions and offered great info of which the (trainee?) agent had no grasp. Do you by any chance have similar experience with VIA routes? Or is there a Canadian version of Sherry who knows the more northerly placed rails?
Sherry Laskin says

August 23, 2021 at 8:49 pm

Hi Deb,
Thank you for reading my article and for your question. The Capitol Limited is a Superliner so you’ll have the upper level observation car. And maybe traditional dining will have returned by then, too. Have a wonderful train ride! And thanks again for stopping by to read the article.
Deb Evans says

August 20, 2021 at 5:56 pm

Thanks for the info on overnight parking! I will a room on The Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington DC this fall. Will this train have viewliner or superliner cars?
Sherry Laskin says

August 13, 2021 at 9:57 pm

Hi Jenny,
Thank you for reading my article and taking the time for your question. Yes, in my opinion, there is space for a small “playpen” so to speak. You would need to fold up the seat cushion on the chair opposite the long sofa/sleeper. And the baby sleeper would need to be moved to get to the bathroom unless you were in the “A” bedroom. In that case, the bathroom door is on the opposite side.

Also, I know it sounds inconvenient, but the most floor space would be possible if one slept in the upper bunk and the person on the bottom didn’t have the attendant pull out the sofa into the bed. Just make up the long sofa as though it was a twin-size bed. When the sofa-bed is out, there’s only inches between the sink/vanity area and the edge of the bed.

If I remember (it’s been 36 years!), when I traveled with my daughter at 6 months, we shared the lower sofa/bed and she slept on the inside. I don’t think I slept much that night, but at least it was comfortable. I don’t recommend it though. I worried all night that she might squiggle away and fall.

You might want to look into getting a small traveling infant sleeper bed. For sure something like that could have enough floor space with the chair seat folded up. But a pack and play-type crib would be too big to fit. Maybe you could call Amtrak and switch to a Family Bedroom? The pricing might be close to the same and the extra space would solve the problem. Either way, though, from the ads I just checked for what is called a pack and play, it definitely looks too big to set up in a deluxe bedroom.

Thank you again for reading the article! Much appreciated. Have a good Amtrak trip whatever you decide to do!
JT says

August 13, 2021 at 8:12 pm

Hello,
My partner and I will be traveling from Rhode Island to Georgia next weekend with our 5 month old. We have a bedroom for the second leg -New York to Georgia. Is there floor space for a pack and play for my daughter to sleep in?
Sherry Laskin says

June 7, 2021 at 12:49 pm

Hi Megan,
Thank you so much for your comment! Much appreciated. The Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited are the “same” train, meaning that in San Antonio the trains split. Texas Eagle heads north to Chicago and Sunset Ltd continues to New Orleans. Since you are going to Tucson, you can reserve on either train. Both will have access to dining and observation cars. As you probably learned, these are not daily trains so please check your Martinez connection. Maybe choose the train that has the less expensive roomette. It shouldn’t matter which side of the train your roomette is located since you depart late and arrive early.

Have a wonderful train ride! Thank you again for reading my Amtrak articles and taking the time to write.
Megan says

June 6, 2021 at 3:15 pm

Hi Sherry,
Love your website! I am going to take a train from Martinez, CA to Tucson, AZ and am switching trains in LA. I am going to reserve a roommette for the LA – Tucson portion of the trip and am offered to different trains, the Sunset Limited or the Texas Eagle. Is there a difference/preference in your mind? Thanks!
Sherry Laskin says

April 8, 2021 at 9:24 pm

Hi Anthony,
Thank you for reading the article and sending your question. The Auto Train is a Superliner and has four different accommodations; Roomette, Bedroom, Family Bedroom and Accessible Bedroom. The last two (Family and Accessible) are located on the lower level. I will double-check my article in case I may have missed something. Thank you again.
Sherry
Anthony says

April 8, 2021 at 5:13 pm

Hi and thanks for the informative article. These rooms are a little different than the Autotrain, in terms of selection. Is that correct? I think autotrain has a bedroom and a family bedroom. If I missed this in the article forgive me.
Sherry Laskin says

August 23, 2020 at 4:14 pm

Hi Claire,
While checking through older comments, I am not sure if I replied to you about your roomette question – I don’t see my reply in the thread. I think I might have emailed or texted you about it. Either way, I hope everyone enjoyed the trip and luckily before the pandemic. Catch up soon!
Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

July 14, 2020 at 2:46 am

Hi Cynthia, Thank you so much for the kind words and taking the time to read my Amtrak info. Unless something has changed, Bedroom A will be “clipped” a bit. Nothing really major…the bathroom door is near the sliding entrance door and getting in and out just requires a slight turn. The bed and sink area are the same as the other deluxe sleepers. I have no complaints about Bedroom A except that it’s right next to the door between cars. If it makes noise, the car attendant can usually do a quick-fix. I think you’ll really enjoy the bedroom rather than a roomette on this long route especially with having your meals in your room rather than in the dining room for now. Have a wonderful cross-country train ride. Be safe and enjoy! Thank you again for your comment.
Sherry
Cynthia V says

July 14, 2020 at 1:47 am

Hi – Thank you for the great website! So informative. I’m going on a sleeper train did the first time in a couple of weeks on the SW Chief first LA to Chi (in Bedroom A) and coming back Chi to La (in Bedroom B)? Are these rooms clipped? Smaller than the rest?
Thank you for your time!
Sherry Laskin says

July 3, 2020 at 9:21 pm

Hi Lil,
Thank you for taking the time to read my article and write your question. Honestly, your 6’6″ husband will definitely need to crunch up a bit in a roomette bed. I would suggest that he have the lower berth that will give him a little more flex space. Have a wonderful trip! Thank you again for writing…definitely appreciated!
Lil Epp says

July 2, 2020 at 10:29 am

Hello, my husband is 6’6 and we were considering booking a roomette. Do you think he will fit in the bed? His feet typically hang off regular beds.
Sherry Laskin says

May 18, 2020 at 4:54 pm

Hi Christine,
Thank you for your question. If it was me, the only way I would travel on Amtrak for a long-distance would be in a Roomette. I’ve always Clorox-wiped as many touch points as I could find in my roomette, so that wouldn’t change. I might bring along my own pillow case, maybe a small styrofoam cooler (that I could leave in the trash) with whatever I think I might want to eat or drink. Not for cost savings, but to limit my time spent in the café car or dining car. Depending on the route, if you’re on the viewliner (eastern seaboard) you have a sink and toilet in your roomette. Superliners only have community bathrooms for the roomette people, but if you can splurge, the deluxe bedrooms have their own full bathroom. That’s about it for off the top of my head for Amtrak tips, right now. Again, thank you for your very timely question and safe travels to you.
Sherry
Christine Macdonald says

May 17, 2020 at 11:09 pm

I’ haven’t travelled by train in along time and I’ve never stayed in a Roomette. I was wondering your thoughts on this during this strange time. I was thinking having my own space would be preferable to flying at this time. Thanks for any tips!!
Sherry Laskin says

October 21, 2019 at 12:19 pm

Hi Al, Thank you for reading my Amtrak article. There are no share with strangers accommodations on Amtrak, unlike the European wagonlit trains. It’s all yours to sing outloud! And just a trivia note, fellow Chicagoan Steve Goodman wrote the song back in 1971 and Arlo picked it up. Have a fun trip and thank you again for writing.
Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

October 21, 2019 at 12:15 pm

Hi Claire! Is this really you? Too funny. In my opinion, being in a Dorm car works out well. Less bathroom traffic is what I’ve noticed. On that note, roomette 2 is close to the bathroom but you don’t hear flushing or anything like that. The advantage is that you are closer to the coffee station! If it’s you and Jeff, wouldn’t a deluxe bedroom be near in price to having two roomettes? Just thinking. I’m so excited you’re taking the train. Thanks for reading my article, too. Hope to see you soon.
Sherry
Allen L Peters says

October 21, 2019 at 8:50 am

Good info, thanks. I’m a single traveler and wonder how likely I’d be put in a roomette with a stranger on the City of New Orleans. The poor guy might get annoyed with my constant humming of Arlo Gutherie. Thanks, al
Claire Mina says

October 20, 2019 at 9:02 pm

Hi Sherry,
We just booked our first roommate for an upcoming trip on the Texas Eagle. We’ve been assigned rooms 2 and 19, I’m interested to know your opinion on these rooms. We’re a bit worried about 2 being so close to the toilet and 19 being in the “dormitory”/staff quarters car. Any input from you would be much appreciated. Thank you, Claire
Sherry Laskin says

October 10, 2019 at 11:45 am

Hi Larry,
Thank you for your question. I just picked a random date, December 16, and there are sleepers available. It’s a 9 1/2 -hour ride on the Capitol Limited and there are sleepers on that train. You may want to call Amtrak or you may need to change your travel date. But yes, there are sleepers on the Capital Limited. No dining car (ugh!) but sleepers are still attached. Happy travels!
Sherry
Larry Sroka says

October 8, 2019 at 8:47 pm

I’ve just tried to make a reservation from Emeryville to Pittsburgh for December and noticed there are no options for sleepers on the Capitol Limited leg of my trip. Is Amtrak getting rid of them?
Sherry Laskin says

September 16, 2019 at 2:05 am

Hi Brenda,
Thank you for writing and for reading my Amtrak article. Much appreciated. The Viewliner roomette and bedroom upper bunk has a window. As you mentioned…the Superliners do not have a window for the upper bunk. Yes, you can have all of your meals in your compartment. Just ask your car attendant for a menu and he or she will bring your meal to you. Thanks again and have a wonderful train ride.
Sherry
Brenda Melanson says

September 9, 2019 at 10:19 am

Great info. Thinking of taking a train vacation trip. I read some where thatcher room in the Viewliners have windows for the upper bunk and the Superliners do not. Is this true? Also do you know if you can eat your meals in your roomette or bedroom instead of the diner car? Thanks
Sherry Laskin says

August 21, 2019 at 1:05 pm

Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your questions. First, yes, you can check luggage between Chicago and Pittsburg. There is no checked luggage between Pittsburg and New York so you will have to bring it into your train car. Since you are in Business Class (nicer and fewer seats plus a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage) there should be spaces to stow luggage for the day trip into the city. Have a fun trip and thank you for writing.
Sherry
Sarah says

August 20, 2019 at 12:46 pm

Hi. My husband and I are booked on the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Pittsburgn and then switching to the Pennsylvanian to NY. If we take a big suitcase with us, I assume it will be put into the luggage car for the first trip, but can we keep it in the travel car for the second, in case we decide to get off in Newark first?

Also we are reserved for two bujsines clas seats, for the second trip. What does that mean? Thanks.
Sarah
Sherry Laskin says

July 20, 2019 at 3:25 pm

Hi Kylie,
Amtrak uses its Superliner for the Empire Builder…the double-decker train. Three adults would be difficult in the Deluxe Bedroom. I would suggest either two or three ($$) roomette sleepers. Or…how about one deluxe and one roomette (whomever gets the short straw!) and then you’d have a private bathroom for the two-night trip. Either way, have a wonderful train ride! Thank you for your question.

Sherry
Kylie says

July 19, 2019 at 10:04 pm

Hi there, my friends and I are considering taking the Empire Builder from Chicago into Montana (not totally sure where we will get off yet). I’m having some difficulty trying to find out if the accommodations are Superliner or Viewliner, and given its 3 adults, size of room and bathroom amenities are our big concern.

Can you please clarify which sleeping cars are used on this run?

Thanks so much for your help.
Sherry Laskin says

June 15, 2019 at 10:51 am

Hi Lila,

You should be comfortable in a deluxe bedroom and “B” is a good location. As far as quiet, this is a one-level train so you will hear some clackety-clack but as far as loud voices from nearby passengers, I’ve never had a problem. If you or your husband are very sensitive to noise, ear plugs might be something to bring with you. Keep in mind that the Silver Star does not have a dining car…only the Silver Meteor has one. So be prepared for microwaved meals and maybe bring some snacks with you.

Have a fun train ride!

Sherry
Lila says

June 10, 2019 at 5:21 pm

Hi. A question. My husband and I are booked on the Silver Star from Miami to NYC early October. We booked one bedroom. I see on my ticket they assigned us Room B. Is that a good room? My husband and I are quite big, and prefer quieter room. Please advise.
Sherry Laskin says

June 10, 2019 at 2:44 pm

Hi David,
Sounds like you have a fabulous trip ahead of you. The only way to know the cost for accommodations is to either call or look on their website. Unfortunately, there is no discounted rate to apply if you have a railpass, other than possibly a senior rate. Some people with a rail pass will wait until they are onboard and ask the conductor for an upgrade to a sleeper. The conductor will say to contact Amtrak and usually by that time, the sleepers are all sold out.

If you can plan that far in advance, I’d purchase any sleepers at least a couple of months in advance to ensure you’ll get one. Of course there’s always a chance for a cancellation or a rate drop.

Have a wonderful train journey! Sorry I couldn’t be more definitive.

Sherry
David says

June 9, 2019 at 4:37 pm

I’m trying to plan a multi-city trip in six months. Looking at options, it seems like one possibility is an 8-segment railpass and then purchasing sleeping accommodations separately. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way that I’ve found to get a sense of what accommodations cost or when I can reserve them (I’ve already purchased my railpass). Can you cast any light?
Sherry Laskin says

May 16, 2019 at 3:41 pm

Hi Sharon,

Bedroom A is a little smaller…you enter the bathroom at the front of the Bedroom, not around the corner. The bottom bunk is a little wider than a twin bed but less than a double bed. For me, having an en-suite really makes a 2-night trip much easier. If you’re only on for one night, the three of you in Bedroom A will be a little cramped but not insanely cramped…and not much more cramped than in B, C, D or E.
Have a wonderful train ride! I just left the Empire Builder in Portland and had a fabulous time. Thanks for your question. Hope this helps. Oh! And you can keep calling Amtrak and see if you can snag a different bedroom..but you’re probably already doing that!
Sherry
Sharon says

May 16, 2019 at 10:30 am

Hi. Just need a bit of advice. We are taking the Empire Builder in two weeks. We are a family of 3 (2 adults and a 12 year old). We were originally booked in the family bedroom but just switched to a bedroom. When I originally booked the family bedroom the agent said we could go into regular bedroom if we double up on the bottom bunk. At that time the SL bedroom was 3 times the cost of the family bedroom but the price dropped today and I switched. The new room we booked is Bedroom A with the clipped corner. Is it going to be insanely tight for us? We have traveled in the family BR before and my son is too tall for the kids beds and we thought it would be nice to have an en-suite. Thanks for your thoughts.
Sherry Laskin says

May 4, 2019 at 11:41 am

Hi Mark,
I just learned that if the roomette numbers are in the teens, then that indicates dormer car. And it’s usually very bright in the corridor, too. Thanks for your comment.
Sherry
Mark says

May 4, 2019 at 10:04 am

Ron,

Your room is most likely in the dorm/sleeper. This is the car where crew members have their rooms, but they typically only need half for crew. Amtrak sells the rest as additional passenger rooms.
Sherry Laskin says

April 3, 2019 at 12:05 pm

Hi Lucy,

Amtrak sleepers have lower beds…both the roomette and the deluxe bedroom. Yes, both also have an upper bunk but you should have no probably with the lower ones. Thank you for your comment. I hope this helps.

Sherry
Lucy says

April 3, 2019 at 12:02 pm

I wish that Amtrak long distance trains would have the bedrooms similar to the Transcantabric train in Spain, no bunk beds and a choice of single beds or double bed. I love to travel on a train but at my age is very difficult trying to get on the upper bunk. Do not take me wrong, I will take the trip anyway.
Sherry Laskin says

February 10, 2019 at 4:07 pm

Hi Ron,
Sorry, I can’t answer your question. I guess you’ll have to call AMTRAK and ask the reservation person to look at the train’s diagram. Have a good train trip!
Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

February 10, 2019 at 4:03 pm

Hi Theresa,
You certainly made the right decision. I can’t imagine someone 6’5″ in a roomette let alone sharing the space! This will really be a great birthday surprise! Have fun!
Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

February 10, 2019 at 1:41 pm

Hi John,
It’s a beautiful route. Contact Amtrak to help you with your reservation at 1-800-USA-RAIL. On the eastbound you want to be on the right-hand side of the train so you are on the same side as the Colorado River. On the way back, you might want to stay on the right-hand side to see what you might have missed. Of course in the Observation Car, you have both views!
Have a wonderful train trip!
Sherry
Ron robbins says

February 7, 2019 at 5:28 pm

I have traveled many times on the Western Amtrak trains also taking a roomette for sleeping accommodations The superliner cars have always had 10 roomettes on the main level and 4 on. Lower level numbered 11 to 14. My current reservation on the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to LA has me assigned to Roomette 021. WHere would this be located. Hoping you can provide an answer. RON
Theresa says

February 7, 2019 at 12:21 pm

I think I’ve done the right thing by booking a superliner bedroom as opposed to a roomette for my hubby’s and my 24 hour trip coming up on the west coast. He’s 6’5” and stretching his legs out is necessary and I don’t think he’d be able to do that in a roomette.

I will be relegated to the top bunk as I’m 5’4”; lucky for me I’m not claustrophobic!

PS: He thinks we’re going to be in coach! It’s a birthday surprise.
John t mccann says

February 7, 2019 at 11:09 am

I would like to take train from Martinez calif to the Denver area or there about just for fun, in a sleeping car, and return to Martinez. Is this possible and if so who might I contact to make reservation ?
I would love it if you can get me started.

John T. Mccan

Thank you for any help given
Sherry Laskin says

January 17, 2019 at 2:05 pm

Hi Aaron,
I’m happy to explain – it’s a common question. Everyone pays a base Rail Fare. Sometimes there are discounts, like Senior or Student or even a sale rate once in a while. Then you price your sleeping accommodation, a once-only price. Meaning, if there are two people in a deluxe bedroom, each passenger pays a Rail Fare and then the cost of the sleeper is added and the cost doesn’t matter if you have one or two people in the sleeper whether it’s a deluxe bedroom or a roomette. So it’s one Rail Fare per passenger and then just add on the cost of the sleeper.
I hope this helps. Have a wonderful train journey wherever you’re going!
Sherry
Aaron says

January 17, 2019 at 10:01 am

Hi Sherry,

Was wondering if you could explain to me howit works when ticket buying for a bedroom. Do I have to pay base rail fee for for each passenger and then 1 elevated sleeper car fare, or do I need to pay the elevated sleeper car fare for each passenger that will be sleeping in the sleeper car?

Thanks! I am a novice.
Sherry Laskin says

December 18, 2018 at 10:27 pm

Hi Sharon,
Thank you for reading my blog. Yes, it is definitely possible to use your CPAP machine on the train. If you have a roomette on a Superliner (the double-decker trains) there will be an outlet near your seatback which is turned down to become your bed. On the Viewliner trains, it’s above the sink. If you have a bedroom on either type of train, there will be an outlet above the seatback (sort of a sofa) and also at the sink. My concern would be if power were lost on the train, though it rarely happens, would you be okay?
I hope this works for you. A few years ago I was on an overnight train on Dec. 25 and 26 and everyone was in a great mood and the dining car was a lot of fun. I hope you are able to go and if so, have a wonderful time. Thank you again for writing.
Best,
Sherry
Sharon says

December 18, 2018 at 10:12 pm

I am thinking about taking a long train trip over Christmas either to Niagara Falls or the other direction to Seattle. This site has been helpful! I do have a question on the sleeper bedrooms – I sleep with a CPAP machine and need a plug in relatively close to a bed. Do you know if that would be possible? Thank you!
Sherry Laskin says

December 5, 2018 at 11:43 am

Hi Brenda,
Sorry to hear you were uncomfortable in the upper bunk. It’s a bunkbed so headroom is pretty much limited. My daughter and I shared a bedroom on the Zephyr last summer and she had the upper bunk. But she was only up there to sleep and not try to sit up in bed and she was fine. Like any top bunk you have to duck getting in and out of it. So, yes, this is true of all Superliner trains. And it’s the same with Viewliner roomettes. Those are just as small with very limited head room if you’re “upstairs”. One solution is to buy two roomettes across the hall from each other so both of you can have a lower bunk. There’s really no other alternative. Top bunks aren’t meant for sitting up and relaxing.
Sherry
Brenda says

November 27, 2018 at 1:10 am

My husband and I just returned from an Amtrak trip on a Superliner from Chicago to Whitefish, MT and back. We had a roomette. I’m 5″3 and I had a lot of difficulty being in the upper berth due to lack of headroom. I had to stay hunched over until I could get into a sleeping position. Also the foam pad/mattress was very thin and uncomfortable. I don’t see how having a bedroom would have helped as far as having more headroom. Is this true of all Superliner trains? I don’t recall this being an issue on the 2 Viewliner trips we took but understand that they only have one level to get through tunnels not two. I would appreciate any suggestions as we would like to take more Amtrak trips west.
Sherry Laskin says

November 20, 2018 at 7:20 pm

Hi Karen,
Thanks for your reply! I think you’re on the right track (sorry for the pun!) with taking the architecture boat tour. You can take the bus or an Uber or Lyft to Lincoln Park Zoo, the only free city zoo in the USA. Then walk up to Clark street and there are a zillion restaurants and pubs. Be sure to spend time at the Millennium Bean in Grant Park and walk around the grounds. So much to see and do. Early May can be a beautiful time in Chicago. Also, a walk along the River Walk downtown is a lot of fun and you can walk all the way down to the lake. And don’t miss a stop at Lou Mitchell’s for a bit of old Chicago. Have a wonderful visit and a great cross-country train ride! Oh! I almost forgot. Be sure to watch for river rafters on the Colorado river…you’ll find out why it’s called Moon River!
Best,
Sherry
Karen says

November 15, 2018 at 5:31 pm

Thanks Sherry,
It might be a little tricky to call from Australia but we shall give it a go.
We are spending two nights in Chicago before taking the train down to Washington DC. Will definitely try the restaurant you have recommended. Might be perfect for lunch before we get the train to Washington.
We will have one full day and a morning in Chicago. Any suggestions for ‘must dos’ are welcome. I am a bit of a Frank Lloyd Wright fan (and architecture in general) so we are thinking one of the River Architecture tours and possibly a lake tour. We love culture, food, and just wandering around. We can walk for hours! We will be there in early May. I know – I am an early planner!

My partner has always wanted to travel by train in the States and it will be my first time in the USA – so we are really looking forward to the trip.

Cheers,
Karen.
Sherry Laskin says

November 14, 2018 at 10:25 pm

Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for your kind words. All sleeping accommodations are by reservation only. If you can, I would suggest calling Amtrak at 1-800-872-7245. When you reserve your roomette, ask the reservationist to tell you if the roomette is upstairs or on the lower level. If you don’t get the response you want, hang up and call back. I don’t think you can choose upper or lower if you book it online. Also, the ride on the upper level is much smoother than downstairs. Something to consider, unless mobility is an issue. In that case you could request the accessible stateroom and that is downstairs. There is limited availability so the sooner you know when you want to go, the better your chances to get a lower level sleeper. Keep in mind that the dining car and observation car are on the upper level.

Have a wonderful train ride. When you get to Chicago, and if you’re staying overnight, there’s a great restaurant for breakfast or lunch and right across from the train station. It’s called Lou Mitchells and is a real bit of Chicago history. Chicago’s my hometown so if you have any questions, please ask.

Thank you again for writing.
Sherry
Karen says

November 14, 2018 at 4:49 pm

Hello,
First of all can I say thanks for going to the effort of having a website like this. I am always impressed by people who are so willing to share their experiences and knowledge with others so freely.
We are travelling from Australia next year and plan to do the California Zephyr from San Francisco to Chicago. We will be travelling in a Roomette, but I was wondering if you are able to reserve an upper or lower level room, or is it allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis? I have searched the Amtrak website but there seems to be no mention of this.
Thanks for your help,
Karen
Sherry Laskin says

October 14, 2018 at 8:01 pm

Hi Carolyn,

Sorry for my late reply. My best suggestion would be to contact Amtrak. I’m not familiar with Princeton Junction and if it is just a flag stop or a scheduled stop. Amtrak can advise you on that issue. Either way, have a great train ride to Florida!
Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

October 14, 2018 at 7:36 pm

Hi Isabelle,
Sorry for my delayed reply. Thank you for your kind words! I think you’re onto a great travel idea. To answer your first question, coach pricing might display two different rates if one is for business class. There are three tiers of prices on Amtrak, based mostly on what’s left in inventory and how early you can book your accommodation or reserved seat. Your idea for a rail pass, sometimes adding a sleeper or other times in coach is something I’ve also investigated. There are three lengths of rail passes; 15, 30 and 45 days, with 8, 12 or 18 segments, respectively. Except for the Acela trains in the Northeast which might or might not allow rail pass users, I fairly certain that of the 500 station stops for which rail passes are valid, that you won’t have any issues. I would suggest calling Amtrak and if the first person who answers your call isn’t quite sure, politely hang up and call back in a few minutes. The more experienced the Amtrak reservation person, the more tricks of the trade they can share with you and in my opinion, it’s well worth the extra callbacks.

Have a fabulous time on your next long-distance journey!

Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

October 14, 2018 at 7:08 pm

Hi Veronica,
The Texas Eagle could be an endangered (train) species, so I would not hesitate to hop aboard for your roundtrip to Ft. Worth. If it’s within your budget, definitely go for the deluxe bedroom. The bottom bunk is nearly as wide as a double bed and having your own bathroom is so worth it. As far as personal safety, it’s of course up to your comfort level. For me, I’ve never once, in over 50 years of overnight train travel, felt unsafe for myself. Your accommodation locks from the inside so that might help you feel safer. I’ve met some wonderful passengers aboard Amtrak and we’ve kept in touch for years. If you decide to go, I hope your have a wonderful time.
Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

October 14, 2018 at 6:51 pm

Hi Staci, sorry but I don’t help with roommate matchups or quote roomette rates. Please call Amtrak for pricing.
Sherry
Staci says

October 2, 2018 at 2:29 pm

Looking for cost of a roommate from Chicago to San antonio
Sherry Laskin says

October 1, 2018 at 6:20 pm

Hi Anya,
Very true. Reserving an accessible room is important if mobility is difficult. In roomettes and bedrooms, the lower berth is easy to access, though. Also, a family bedroom has two lowers. Thank you for your comment.
Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

October 1, 2018 at 6:07 pm

Hi Miranda, thanks for writing. With six people, you could get either three roomettes (2 in each) or two deluxe bedrooms and two small kids could share the lower bunk and you or your husband could sleep in the upper bunk. You could look into Amtrak Vacations (not owned by Amtrak) as they offer packages to the Grand Canyon. Otherwise, you idea to book your own stay there at the end could work well. Either way, kudos to you and your husband for wanting to take your foster kids on a grand adventure! Thanks for writing and have fun.

Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

October 1, 2018 at 6:03 pm

Hi Paul, if you plan to get a sleeper, you would need two roomettes or deluxe bedrooms, unless you have infant twins. Everyone loves a train ride. If you choose to go, think about booking on the Silver Meteor rather than the Silver Star so you will have a dining car. Trains are more expensive than economy air fare, so if it’s in your budget, you might think to try the train.

Sherry
Paul says

September 28, 2018 at 4:35 pm

I just have a question…i live in NJ and would like to take the train to Miami, it would be my wife and two children, i have never taken the train before other than the subway system in NYC. WOuld it be worth taking the train or going by plane?

THank you in advance
Miranda M Jadhav says

September 26, 2018 at 12:41 pm

Hi my name is Miranda. I am a Foster parent and would like to take the kids (4) plus myself and the hubby to see the grand canyon possibly see plains and or sights along the way (couple of the kids love Little House on the Prairie) we are from North East TN. What is the most economical way for us to do this? Should we do a vaca package or book the route we want and add the grand canyon at the end? Also, the sleeper car they only hold 2? No more? Could we squeeze 3 ? I hate the kids sleeping alone like that.

Thanks for any advice!
Miranda
Sherry Laskin says

September 24, 2018 at 3:14 pm

Hi Linda,
You’ve booked three Amtrak trips! When making connections, anything one hour or less is not guaranteed by Amtrak. I would suggest that you phone Amtrak and ask them if all of your connections are guaranteed. Certain routes have a 2-hour guarantee window. There is always a chance that freight trains could delay your Amtrak train. I’m pretty sure that the Coast Starlight in LA waits for the Southwest Chief.

Again, please call Amtrak (1-800-USA-RAIL) and when “Julie” answers, press “0” and then another “0” to bypass all the menu options.

If you need to overnight, check on Google for “hotels near Amtrak station in XXXX”. Portland and Los Angeles both have First Class lounges…but I’m not sure that they’re open overnight. Have a wonderful trip! Thank you for reading my Amtrak articles!
Linda Vanfossan says

September 13, 2018 at 3:15 pm

I’ve booked my first Amtrak trip from Santa Fe to Libby, MT in roomette(s). I’ll be changing trains in LA and Portland. The schedule shows slightly less than an hour between the connection, and if the train from LA is late (which I know is often), what if I miss my connection? There is only one train daily on my route, so I would have 24 hr layover. I’m 70 yrs old, with mobility issues. I’ve thoroughly searched the website for info, and only found one sentence addressing this possibility. “Amtrak will either provide bus transportation or overnight accommodations.”
Bus transportation is not possible for me, and I’m afraid “overnight accommodations” means a light blanket or a pillow in a waiting room chair! How and where do I find out something definite about this?
Thank you! Your site is most helpful!
Sherry Laskin says

September 8, 2018 at 5:48 pm

Stop stealing content and images from here.
Anya says

September 6, 2018 at 2:02 am

People who have difficulty walking or climbing into befs should probably think about another form of travel. Amtrak beds are bunk style (except in disabled rooms).
Veronica Gilbreath says

August 22, 2018 at 8:55 pm

I’m thinking about taking the Texas Eagle from Chicago to Fort Worth and back. I’m 58 and never traveled alone. I’ll either get a roomette or bedroom. I’d prefer bedroom because they have a toilet and shower. (I think!) How safe is train travel as far as other passengers…not the crashing part!
Isabelle Leroy says

August 16, 2018 at 10:36 am

Hello Sherry
I absolutely adored my cross country trip on the Empire Builder so I am planning another cross country trip for next summer. I am considering several trains: California Zephyr, Texas Eagle and Southwest Chief. I am wondering if I could stop in some cities and board the train one to two days later. On some parts of the trip I could take coach seating and on others a roomette. I have two questions: on the amtrak website, there are often 3 different prices for coach seating on a train, with apparently no difference of service. Am I missing something? And my second question is can I take a sort of rail pass, if I want to hop on and off, 😉 Because from what I understand the multi-ride and rail passes are not offered on every train. But perhaps I am mistaken?
Thank you
Your article and answers are remarkable !
Isabelle
Carolyn Piscitelli says

August 14, 2018 at 4:28 pm

I am planning a trip to Sarasota, Florida in the beginning of this October. I will book a roomette as I am traveling alone. I read that the station where I board the train is in Trenton, N.J. If I get my tickets in advance will I be able to board the train in Princeton Junction rather than in Trenton,N.J. Thank you,
Carolyn
Sherry Laskin says

August 5, 2018 at 11:55 pm

Hi Laraine,

If you are booked on the Silver Meteor then yes, the dining car is there, so you don’t need to bring your own meals. Enjoy the trip!
Sherry
LaRaine says

August 5, 2018 at 12:45 pm

I’m booked in a Viewliner roomette on the Silver Meteor next week. I board in Savannah at 7:30 pm. Is there a dining car or no? Do I need to bring my own meals?
Sherry Laskin says

July 24, 2018 at 9:25 am

Hi Mikhaila,
I hope I can answer your questions. You certainly could reserve a wheel-chair accessible stateroom and it would have an en suite bathroom. On the westbound trains, only deluxe bedrooms and the accessible stateroom have their own bathrooms. There is one very small bathroom on the upper level; otherwise you and your father would have to negotiate a very narrow, winding staircase to use the facilities.

Overnight train travel in a sleeper can sometimes be the equivalent of business class air travel. With a little flexibility with time, as you said you did, you can scout out the lowest-cost date to travel.

Regarding your luggage, you’re allowed to check two pieces of luggage up to 50lbs each, plus your carry-on bags. A lot of people choose Amtrak when they move to a new destination because of their liberal, complimentary baggage handling allotment.

Please call 1-800-USA-RAIL for more information. Everytime “Julie” asks a question, just say “agent” and you’ll go directly to an agent.

Best of luck with your move.
Sherry
Mikhaila says

July 23, 2018 at 10:16 pm

Hi there,
My elderly father and I need to get to Ashland Oregon sometime in the late fall, early winter. We are very flexible on dates and times. I have a legal disability that my doctor certainly would recommend a roomette. Since we are flexible on are dates can a roomette be cheaper than flying? Trying navigate the website, entering different dates and such, was an ordeal. Is there any easier way to do this? Also, this trip is to move me to Ashland. Will I be allowed (using my dad’s luggage allotment too) to carry on two trunks? Along with my suitcase? Thank you so very much.
Mikhaila
Sherry Laskin says

June 29, 2018 at 10:08 pm

Hi Judy,
Thank you for your question. You’re best bet is to all Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL. There isn’t a bedroom for four but actually is two deluxe bedrooms with an adjoining sliding door. Each has its own en suite bathroom. There are four bedroom per car. So that would be eight people total. With 12, you’ll have to split up. Usually, there are several sleeper cars so you should all fit. Then you can meet up in the observation lounge and the dining car. Also, there’s a family bedroom downstairs, but there’s a really short kid’s bed! The reservationist at Amtrak will be able to get this figured out for you. Happy ‘Rails!
Sherry
Sherry Laskin says

June 29, 2018 at 10:04 pm

Hi John,
It’s nice that you’re traveling across country with your mom, so she’s not alone. You’ll need to contact Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL. Since there is only one accessible bedroom per train car, the sooner you make your reservation, the better. Tell the reservation agent your situation. The accessible bedroom is on the lower level and has its own bathroom facility. The Family Bedroom is also located on the lower level but does not have its own en suite bathroom. Up the winding stairs are the smaller roomettes and deluxe bedrooms. The bedrooms upstairs also have an en suite bathroom, not the roomettes, though. Being flexible in your travel dates will be a huge help. Be sure to ask for the senior discount on the rail fare portion for your mom. It’ll save a little bit.

Have a wonderful train trip! The route is spectacular.

Sherry
Judy Harrison says

June 29, 2018 at 7:45 pm

Question, I am part of a group that are making plans on traveling from Los Angeles, California to St. Louis Missouri to attend a conference and we have several older ladies that cannot walk to good (balance issues) we saw a room that sleeps 4 people at a time and will be having about 12 in our group is there enough Superliner suites that sleep 4 with the 2 bathrooms in them on the trains>
john fields says

June 29, 2018 at 4:22 pm

Traveling with my mom from Sacramento to Chicago, Calif Zephyr; she is old and has mobility issues, I can decide on which bedroom, family bedroom, or if I can get the Access bedroom, what is the big difference and how do you get the bigger handicap bedroom?
Sherry Laskin says

June 21, 2018 at 10:05 am

Hi Matt,
The bedroom “couch” is divided in two and each section also reclines like the seats in the roomette. The bedroom also has a little chair but it’s not the most comfortable but provides a change of pace.
Matt says

June 20, 2018 at 2:47 am

Are the bedroom seats are more or less comfortable then the roomette seats? It looks like the roomette seats recline a little where the bedroom “couch” seems more upright.
Sherry Kennedy says

May 22, 2018 at 9:34 am

Hi Sandeep,
I hope you were able to come to a decision about your Amtrak adventure. For future train trips, you might want to study the Amtrak Rail Map and get ideas as to what is convenient from your departure city.
Sherry
Sandeep says

May 18, 2018 at 3:42 pm

Hello Sherry,

I have been planning to take amtrak as a means to travel for pleasure trips. I’m looking for a trip from Richmond (VA) to Pittsburgh (through DC of course) in coming week (26 Apr to be precise). The its very lucrative to rent a car and do the round trip which is a 7 hrs drive one way. But, felt like trying this journey with Amtrak instead, but my dilemma is not letting me do the clear choice. I will be travelling with my wife and a daughter (6 years old and important person to be considered on preferences and choices etc…..like other kids, for sure) . It take 2 hrs from Richmond to DC and after 2 hrs halt, 29 Capitol Limited departs (4:05 PM) from DC and takes 7 hrs to reach to Pittsburgh (11:48 PM). Coach booking (142$s) is really reasonable no doubt, however, 2 roomette or 1 family bedroom, bumps the price very high (542$s). And then Rental shops are closed at the time we reach (11:48 at Pittsburgh), so taking cab and going to hotel and then renting a car next day which would be one way to Richmond after 2 days costs equal to entire 3 days rental if I choose all of it by rental. So, really need the thoughts on choosing between Amtrak and drive for this journey and if Amtrak then – Coach class is good as we are not going to exactly spending entire night, because the daughter will be sleepy during some portion of the night. Bedroom type price seems to be higher for a segment journey. What do you think and advise on my situation. I’m also open for any other Amtrak journeys to spend a coming long weekend at a destination on EASTERN region, as I mentioned my departure is from Richmond. Thank you in advance for your advice….too many parameters I guess …sorry.

-Sandeep
Sherry Kennedy says

May 17, 2018 at 3:36 pm

Hi Pam,
Sure, I’ll try to help. Have you phoned Amtrak reservations? Online isn’t the best way to go…everything you’d need to know is there but it’s several layers deep and not easy to find. I would recommend two separate roomettes and if you book early, they could be across the hall from each other. If money is no object, you could get connecting deluxe bedrooms. That would give you two en suite bathrooms as well as two oversized lower twin beds. I might think that a family bedroom on the Superliner (double-decker train) could work if one of you is short. There are two lower beds – one is 6’3″ long and the other is 4’9″ long.

I really think that two roomettes across the hall from each other would be the best. You can call 1-800-USA-RAIL for reservations. When “Julie” answers, you say, “Agent”. Repeat “Agent” each time Julie asks you a question. You’ll get a reservation agent who can check various dates, too, for the lowest rates for your two trains; one from Pittsburgh to Chicago, and then Chicago to San Francisco (actually Oakland but they transport you to San Francisco). Have a wonderful trip!
Sherry
Pam Oszust says

May 15, 2018 at 3:42 pm

My husband & I, both close to 70 yrs. old, want to travel from Pittsburgh to San Francisco . We also want 2 lower beds, can’t climb & can’t sleep together because he snores. Been looking everywhere on
Amtrak ‘s website for information, way too confusing. We’ve never done this before. Would like to know the price for this trip. Can you please help?
Sherry Kennedy says

May 9, 2018 at 3:50 pm

Hi Shaun,
Thanks for your comment…and I couldn’t agree more with you. Happy travels!

Sherry
Shaun Carter says

May 8, 2018 at 9:53 am

This is my preferred form of travel now. No TSA or cramped airplane seats to deal with. Every Amtrak ride I’ve had has been thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing. These cross-country trips are great to see the country from the ground rather than 30,000 feet in the air too!
Sherry Kennedy says

May 3, 2018 at 5:29 am

Hi Sue,
I understand your predicament. What about two roomettes across from each other? If the timing is right, the cost could even be less that a deluxe bedroom. You won’t have a toilet or shower in your Superliner roomette, though. If walking is becoming an issue, I’d suggest that you speak with Amtrak about their accessible stateroom.
Thank you for your email and happy travels!
Sherry
Sue says

April 26, 2018 at 12:24 pm

Hi!
Found this article very informative. Thanks. My husband and I are planning our 5th long distance train trip. We are both in our early 70s and have some difficulty walking and climbing stairs. We would prefer to book a bedroom because of the easy bathroom access in the middle of the night. However, we have yet to manage the upper berth so end up sitting most of the night because the lower berth is too narrow for 2. We are considering lower level coach seats for this next trip on the Capital Limited. Any thoughts?
Sherry Kennedy says

April 20, 2018 at 4:18 am

Hi Maggie,
The train is the Coast Starlight and it’s a Superliner (double-decker). There would be more leg room in the larger Bedroom accommodation, though that tends to be much more expensive. Since it’s scheduled to be only an 8-hour trip, I’d think you’d be find in a roomette. There’s always the dining car (meals included with accommodations) and the observation car to walk around and stretch! Plus, there are a couple of “fresh air breaks” along the way, too.
Have a fun train trip!
Sherry
Maggie conway says

April 11, 2018 at 5:36 pm

I have a question…. My boyfriend and I are traveling from Santa Barbara Ca. to Oakland Ca. about a 9 hour trip. He is 6’2″ I am 5’4″. We booked a roomette to have more space than a coach seat. We will NOT be sleeping on this trip. Will a roomette give us enough leg room for him or would a bedroom be better? Also will we have a viewliner or a superliner on this route?
Thanks.
Sherry Kennedy says

February 26, 2018 at 8:54 pm

Hi Debby,
Thank you for sharing your unfortunate experience. I used to live in Cincinnati for a few years and the train schedule is awful with the middle-of-the-night arrival and departure. But…somewhere has to have the bad timing. There’s no way around it either. Back then, Union Station was closed down. And now with the latest refurbishment, they are back to using a temporary location. And about the delays on the Empire Builder into Chicago, there’s nothing we can do about it until Amtrak has its own tracks…and we know how that’s not going to happen any time soon. I hope your next Amtrak ride is as good as you remember your older one. Happy ‘rails!
Sherry
Debby Brown says

February 26, 2018 at 8:46 pm

To anyone planning to go from Wisconsin, through Chicago to Cincinnati, this was not a very pleasant ride. The route to Chicago is usually late because the freight train from the Dakotas (long oil train has presidents and Amtrak has to wait on side track.) Missing our connection, the Chicago station is not great to have to wait for next train. Our bags had to go in our car. At Cincinnati station, (by this time it was in the middle of the night), there was no one to help us off with our bags, except another traveler, and to tell us how to get to the station. Someone mentioned a ramp, so we tried it and it was actually a ramp for trailers taking luggage. (Very difficult to go up on.) No one was in the station. However, I have had experiences on the Empire Builder to Seattle and the California Zepher. quite a few years ago. Both were fun and comfortable. My feelings are that West trains may be better than East. We slept in our seats reclined but we were younger then. We took a pillow and small blanket. Our bags were at the end of the train on a shelf so they were easy to get to for clothes changes.

Debby
Sherry Kennedy says

February 19, 2018 at 10:38 am

Hi Lori,

Everyone pays the base fare (rail fare). If a sleeping accommodation is not added, this would be your coach rate. The rail fare may be available at a discount such as a Senior Rate, AAA, Student etc. The price for a sleeping accommodation is then added to the rail fare. That’s the $220 price that you see. Hope this helps.
Sherry
Lori Leake says

February 19, 2018 at 12:11 am

I’m confused on the booking site prices. Coach shows $72.00. Roomette $138. When I change to Roomette from Coach it shows $220.00. So the coach is a base price and any other choice is added to the coach price?
Sherry Kennedy says

February 14, 2018 at 10:13 am

Hi Donna,
I find the mattresses in the sleepers to be comfortable…and lean more towards the very firm category! Hope this helps.

Sherry
Donna Wandelsoki says

February 11, 2018 at 4:23 pm

Hi we are booked on the Auto Train in a roomette and was wondering about the mattress on the train. The last time I traveled on the Auto Train the mattresses were hard. Are they still?
Sherry Kennedy says

February 7, 2018 at 10:02 am

Hi Lois – thanks for your comment and reading the article! Have a wonderful overnight train trip!
Sherry
Lois says

February 5, 2018 at 4:44 pm

Hi Sherry! Thank you for the great tips, and the info.
I love to travel, but I’ve never taken a long distance train ride. I had decided to travel by train from New York City to New Orleans, (my Aunt’s 90th birthday celebration) for the long distance sleeper car experience. I have a Viewliner roomette reserved on the Crescent. I’m looking forward to this new adventure.
Thanks again for the tips!
Sherry Kennedy says

January 8, 2018 at 3:05 pm

Hi Trish,
Thanks for your email. Unfortunately, Amtrak no longer prints their National Timetable. I would guess that it’s part of a cost-cutting measure. The one I have it at least three years old and I panic about misplacing it! The best you can do now is to individually print out the schedules online or call Amtrak and see if they can send you any of the individual schedules. If you happen to live near an Amtrak station, you can look for the individual schedules, too.

Good luck!
Sherry
Sherry Kennedy says

January 8, 2018 at 2:39 pm

Hi Larry,
Thanks for your question. My kids loved going on overnight trains (as I did, too). But they were older and able to sleep in their own bed in our roomette. Unfortunately, the width of the roomette bed is pretty darn narrow, not even the size of a standard twin bed. Your 18mo old is definitely too tiny to sleep in his own berth and in a roomette there’s no room for a portable crib. I can’t imagine squeezing a grownup and an infant to sleep in the roomette-size bed.

If you can, I’d suggest holding out for a bedroom. The lower berth can accommodate an adult and a very small child as it’s actually a bit larger than a twin bed and with the baby on the inside against the wall, you don’t have to worry about him falling out.

I hope this helps. Have a wonderful train ride!

Sherry
Trish says

January 5, 2018 at 8:19 am

Amtrak National Timetable where do I order one ?
Larry Rizzo says

January 1, 2018 at 12:41 am

Hi Sherry….. just curious about your opinion on something. Like most young boys, my 18 month old son has hit the fascination with trains stage so instead of flying back to miami from Philadelphia I’m strongly considering the silver meteor back and actually have a roomette reserved. There were no bedrooms available the days I was looking to go back so I’m curious if, A) do you think a typical 18 month old will enjoy a trip like this and B) is a roomette big enough for the 2 of us? Again, just looking for a top of your head opinion.
Sherry Kennedy says

December 28, 2017 at 8:49 am

Hi Glenn,
Yes, if there is availability (which is getting more and more scarce en route) you can upgrade. Let your conductor know that you’d like to purchase an upgrade. He or she will have to check with Amtrak and you should be able to purchase it with a credit card.

Even a ballpark guesstimate on the cost of a sleeper is tough. Prices vary immensely based on time of year, route, how many overnights etc. But I think it’s safe to say that the least expensive sleeper (roomette) will add no less that $200 to your rail fare cost for one night.

I hope this helps. Thanks for your comment.
Sherry
Glenn roncal says

December 19, 2017 at 12:05 am

Good information, can a traveler upgrade from coach to sleeper enroute?
Your article is great, some ballpark pricing on the roomette vs the sleeper would have made it excellent.
I know you have the Amtrak contact info, yet i find dealing with them cumbersome.
And the Amtrak website is not so intuitive.
Sherry Kennedy says

December 9, 2017 at 5:44 pm

Hi Bill,
Please contact Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com for pricing. It varies a lot depending upon how far in advance you book your sleeper.
Sherry
Bill van Volkenburg says

November 26, 2017 at 6:01 pm

What is the price of a sleeper? The articles give lots of information but no prices.
Sherry Kennedy says

November 15, 2017 at 9:38 am

Hi Susan,
Your shortest route would be from Seattle to Chicago on the Empire Builder. Connect in Chicago to either the Cardinal or Capital Limited to Washington DC. Once in DC, you can take either the southbound Silver Star (no dining car) or Silver Meteor. Both trains stop in Rocky Mount, NC. The Silver Star goes on to Raleigh and Cary, while the Silver Meteor goes straight from Rocky Mount to Fayetteville. So depending on your destination in NC could determine your train. If you go to Raleigh, you can arrange for a rental car to pick you up. There’s also a nearby Marriott hotel.
Have a nice train ride and Happy ‘rails!
Sherry
susan says

November 14, 2017 at 12:24 pm

I want to take a vacation on the train. I want to leave from Seattle to NC to NY. I am having a difficult time figuring out how this is possible. My sister and I would leave from NC to NY. Could you tell me who I can talk to that can help me plan this trip?.
Sherry Kennedy says

October 10, 2017 at 3:04 pm

Hi Richard,
That’s great! Thanks for reading – and have a wonderful experience on Amtrak.
Sherry
Richard Rowland says

October 10, 2017 at 11:51 am

I have wanted to take a cross country trip since 1971….finally. As a writer, I plan on writing about the experience. Richard
Sherry Kennedy says

September 19, 2017 at 6:25 pm

Hi Sandy,
For sure! When I have an upstairs roomette, I always go downstairs to use the bathrooms. That’s why I recommend a little “ditty” bag (Girl Scout lingo) that contains whatever you need to get ready for bed or in the morning. I also bring a washcloth or if there isn’t one in the roomette, I ask the attendant. Thanks for your comment! Happy travels!
Sherry
Sandy says

September 19, 2017 at 5:30 pm

One point about the shared bathrooms in superliner sleeper cars. Though there is only one bathroom upstairs, any sleeper car passenger can use the downstairs bathrooms if they want to – for example, if the upstairs one is in use. I’ve done that frequently. There’s just more bathrooms downstairs because there’s more room for them there.
Sherry Kennedy says

August 19, 2017 at 8:34 am

Hi Jay,

A cross-country trip can be tricky to plan, especially if you’re not familiar with all of Amtrak’s long-distance trains and itineraries. A travel agent who is knowledgeable about Amtrak could be a tremendous help to you. I would suggest ordering an Amtrak National Timetable (an actual paper brochure!) as it really helps in planning…I still use one! Keep in mind that the further out you book, the better the pricing on accommodations. Have a wonderful journey on the train!
Sherry
Jay says

August 18, 2017 at 1:44 pm

Is it better to get a travel agent for cross country? Prices hard to predict, plan for summer 2018. Ideas?
Sandy says

July 4, 2017 at 5:57 pm

My two cents worth on Superliner Roomettes…I am a plus size woman, 5’7″. Hubby is average size & 5’6″. I am claustrophobic to the point of not even being able to watch cave-type movies! We went from southern Wisconsin to NW Montana in a roomette, about 27- 28 hrseach way. Regular bedrooms were too expensive.
I didn’t have any problems at all with claustrophobia in roomette. I did sleep on bottom bunk and kept curtains open to outside & slept facing window. We had 2 large-ish duffel bags, large purse, & small cooler with us & could’ve fit 1 more bag. The shared bathrooms were a little tight for a claustrophobic person, but I just focused, hurried, & got out.
We were very comfy in our roomette both ways on trip & will absolutely do it again. The bedrooms are really nice and roomier, but just way too much money for us. I cant recommend roomette highly enougha
Sherry Kennedy says

June 21, 2017 at 8:13 pm

Hi Kathleen,
Bravo! I’m with you 100% on this subject! No need to fly. It just takes a little longer…and can be part of your vacation. Thank you for your comment and happy travels!

Sherry
Sherry Kennedy says

June 21, 2017 at 8:07 pm

Hi Rose,
While it’s great to save quite a bit of money on the Silver Star, it can feel a bit confining to not have the dining car to visit 3x a day! You will find an Amtrak Café car with several tables/booths. I just rode the Silver Star for the second time and I brought a small $1.99 styrofoam cooler. I packed a few frozen water bottles (they last longer than those blue ice packs) and filled it with food for the trip. I supplemented meals with little bits from the café car just to get up and around. After the train ride, I emptied out the cooler and offered it to my car attendant or for anyone who might want it.

Have a terrific train ride! Thank you for your comment!
Sherry
Kathleen says

June 14, 2017 at 2:29 am

I’ve slept in a Roomette and in a Bedroom and as a larger person and as a disabled veteran, I have to say the bedroom berth was just a tad wider, however, my husband and still I had to sleep in separate berths in the bedroom. The Roomette is fine if you are by yourself but two people who are either bigger or older or have mobility issues are going to be more comfortable in one of the bedrooms.

We have found, however that it is perfectly possible to take the train cross-country in bedrooms for less than the price of either first class air or 3 economy seats, which is what we would have to book so that we and our fellow passengers would be more comfortable. *and* it includes meals and turn down service. As larger folk we are acutely aware of trying not to make others uncomfortable. And that is hard to do in airplanes. Trains are just so much more sensible.

We have also found that it is perfectly possible to book passage on Cunard’s QM2 passenger liner for less than first class air or 3 economy seats on an air plane. And we get our own bedroom with a King bed.

I don’t know why anyone flies anymore.
Rose says

June 13, 2017 at 8:15 pm

Hi, Sherry – We are traveling on the Silver Star to NYC soon, and have reserved a roomette. We understand there is no diner car, but wondering if there are other cars such as a lounge or observation area where we can relax outside of our roomette for a while. Thanks for the great articles that are preparing us for our trip!
Sherry Kennedy says

February 20, 2017 at 8:56 am

Hi Glenda,
I’m so glad my article was helpful to your vacation planning on Amtrak. Enjoy the journey! Thank you for your comment.
Sherry
Glendaa G says

February 19, 2017 at 5:18 pm

Thank you so much for this information and the photos. We are traveling from ‘Texas to Virginia soon and have reserved sleeping accommodations for the first time and all information is so valuable to us.
Sherry Kennedy says

December 25, 2016 at 10:34 am

Have a great trip! I’ve done something similar…go coach for a segment and then move into a sleeper when the price is less. The scenery through New Mexico is beautiful. Thanks for your comment.
Sherry
Barbie Swart says

December 25, 2016 at 12:38 am

Thank you for the info! I’m planning our vacation for next summer. Dallas to LA. Four adults, so I’m think to save money, will go coach to San Antonio and bedroom from SA to LA.

I’ve taken the train from Dallas to Houston before years ago. Had a 3 year old and a 1 year old. That was fun! Lol
Sherry Kennedy says

December 22, 2016 at 8:12 pm

Hi Doug, It’s a totally different experience in a sleeper overnight than in coach. But we’ve all done an overnight in coach. Once. Thanks for your comment.
Sherry
Doug says

December 22, 2016 at 5:13 pm

It’s on my bucket list to take a train across the country. The longest I’ve ever taken a train is between Baltimore and Savannah, Georgia – in coach – it sucked!

How to Choose Your Amtrak Sleeping Accommodations

Amtrak Sleeping Accommodations