2-Day Amtrak train ride - Chicago to Seattle (Part 1)
Ever wonder what it’s like to hop on a train and ride across the country for 2 days? Look no further, we’ve got you covered.
September 2021, we had a week-long trip to the Netherlands planned; however, due to the tightening of COVID restrictions (and a mandatory 10-day quarantine), we had to quickly come up with a new plan (here’s more about our Netherlands trip planning and the eventual 4-day itinerary we enjoyed in November 2021).
When starting to think about what we wanted to do as a plan B, we looked into unique options in America that we normally wouldn’t consider. The top idea was to finally take a cross-country train ride.
Adam has had a passion for passenger rail for a while now (shout out to our fellow NUMTOTs!) and we were very interested in the variety of train options from Chicago.
Fun fact: Chicago is a major hub for Amtrak, so it was pretty easy to find an abundance of interesting routes for our adventure.
After some research, we landed on a two-day train ride from Chicago to Seattle on the Amtrak Empire Builder. Some reasons we chose this route included:
This journey was short enough that we didn’t need the full trip dedicated to transit but long enough to have a memorable experience
We were heading to somewhere totally new for us - the Pacific Northwest
Seattle allowed us to sightsee in the city and do a road trip into the woods to hike near Mt. Ranier
The Empire Builder train is unique because it splits off into two in Spokane, Washington - one section heads to Seattle while the other continues to Portland, Oregon. We decided to splurge on a sleeper car bedroom ticket, which allowed us to bring 2 carry-on and 2 checked bags. This option (as compared to a roomette) comes complete with an in-room toilet, shower, and a sofa that converts to a bed.
The beautiful thing about train travel is that you don’t need to plan an itinerary for the time you’re on the train (for us that was 44 hours), but you do need some thoughtful planning. See below for some tips we have for making the most out of this experience.
Train Planning & Packing Tips
For luggage, plan to pack light with a carry-on for the train journey and check another bag for the remainder of your trip
You can carry on alcohol to drink in your room but there is no fridge - we brought a cooler
Bring some cash to tip room attendant and waitstaff
2-Day Train Ride from Chicago to Seattle (Part 1)
Our journey started with a coffee stop at Dark Matter Coffee, next to Chicago’s Union Station. It’s our favorite place to get a mocha in the city.
We leisurely sauntered over with javas in hand to the baggage check via the Union Station’s Great Hall. Recently renovated in 2019, this stunning historic hall features spanning white marble floors, a vaulted ceiling, and impressive Corinthian columns. It’s a breathtaking sight.
After admiring the architecture, we made it to the baggage check-in counter. The line was insane, wrapping around the room and filled with discontent customers. You know it’s bad when people are berating the staff about how they shouldn’t have to wait in line and others trying to cut in.
Pro tip: give yourself at least an hour to check in your luggage.
While I (Ariel) waited in line with this motley crew, Adam went to grab us some sandwiches from Jersey Mike’s. By the time he went, ordered, paid, and returned, I was finally able to check in our bags. Following that chaos, we went to check out the Metropolitan Lounge. The lounge is free to travelers holding a sleeper car ticket and features light refreshments and snacks.
When it was time to board, they called out our train number and lined us up like children heading to the playground. In a single-file line, we walked from the lounge to the train with our carry-on luggage.
After checking in with the attendant, we brought our bags up the winding stairs and through the extremely narrow hallway to our room.
Our sleeper car bedroom was cozy, yet functional. When we first stepped into the room it was in its “daytime set up” with the bed folded up into a sofa right next to a large window. There’s a smaller chair opposite the sofa so both of us had an optimal view of the journey.
After placing our bags in their respective positions (the shelf above the chair and on the other side of the sofa), we cracked open a beer and waited for the train to depart.
One of our favorite parts of train travel is how uneventful it can be when the train departs the station. It can be so quiet and smooth that you hardly know you’ve started moving. However, that wasn’t the case on the Amtrak. With a very abrupt jolt that nearly knocked our beers over, we started our journey from Union Station and soon Chicago’s skyline faded in the distance.
Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon and follow our Instagram for full stories.
