Coach tickets on the Amtrak Coast Starlight can be under $100 one-way on some dates, with fares starting around $54, and prices include two free checked bags. The 35-hour journey from Seattle to Los Angeles covers the West Coast at speeds up to 127 kilometres per hour.
The route passes through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and Portland, offering a daily service that has operated for more than 41 years.
Dramatic Landscapes To Coastal Plains
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© Photo by Darren Megowan on Flickr[/caption]
Views transform overnight from coastal plains and vegetable-lined farmland to thick forests and the snow-covered Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington. The train passes the base of Mount Shasta before reaching Klamath Falls, where passengers can take a day trip to Crater Lake National Park. The coastal stretch between Oxnard and San Luis Obispo offers some of the most breathtaking views.
Traveller's Tip: Choose seats on the left side of the train for more consistently stunning views, especially those of the coast, when heading northbound.
Make Stopovers At Charming Cities
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© Photo by The West End on Flickr[/caption]
The Coast Starlight stops at 28 stations along the way. Popular stopovers include:
Los Angeles
This city is the centre of the USA’s film and television industry. Passengers can visit the iconic Hollywood sign and studios such as Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Brothers.
San Luis Obispo
Found between Big Sur and Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo is the unofficial centre of the Central Coast. The city offers a mix of beach culture, metropolitan areas and some of the country's best wineries.
Oakland
Arriving at Jack London Square, you can visit a statue of the writer, who frequented the area. Nearby, Old Oakland boasts restored Victorian architecture and boutiques. After that, take a trip to the Oakland Museum to learn about state history, nature, and art.
Klamath Falls
Known as Oregon's City of Sunshine, Klamath Falls lies on the Klamath Basin at the southern tip of Upper Klamath Lake and offers the perfect position for cultural excursions and adventurous retreats.
Portland
Oregon’s largest city, Portland is overlooked by the snow-capped Mount Hood and is known for its parks, microbreweries, and coffeehouses. The iconic Washington Park, which hosts the Japanese Garden and Oregon Zoo, is definitely worth a visit.
Seattle
Surrounded by water, mountains and evergreen forests, and containing thousands of acres of parkland, Seattle is an exciting urban city surrounded by unmatched natural beauty.
The Seattle Centre has become a popular location for tourists interested in arts, entertainment and leisure activities. The campus is home to The Experience Music Project, The Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, and The Space Needle.
Dining With Panoramic Views
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© Photo by The West End on Flickr[/caption]
The Lounge Car offers informal dining with sandwiches, pizza, snacks, and beverages including liquor, wine, and beer, with an upper level providing panoramic views. The more formal Dining Lounge features seasonal menus with entrees for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus cocktails, beer, wine, coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
Dining Lounge meals are included for passengers with Superliner accommodation. Coach class passengers can use the dining car for an additional charge.
Traveller's Tip: Book Superliner to get priority on dining reservations.
Experience Amtrak Coast Starlight In Style
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© Photo by Russell Neches on Wiki Commons[/caption]
The observation car offers panoramic views with National Park Service guides narrating the passing terrain. Accommodation options range from standard coach seating to Superliner Roomettes.
Coach
Coach seating features wide, comfortable reclining seats with plenty of legroom, a fold-down tray, reading light, and electric outlets at your seat.
Superliner Roomette
Ideal for up to two passengers, this private room has two seats on either side of a large window, converted into beds in the evening while you are at dinner.
Superliner Bedroom
Ideal for up to three passengers, the bedroom includes a large sofa and comfortable chair next to a large window, plus a sink and private restroom with toilet and shower.
Superliner Bedroom Suite
Ideal for up to six passengers, the suite has two large sofas and two comfortable chairs next to large windows, plus two private restrooms with toilets and showers.
Superliner Family Bedroom
Family Bedrooms have four beds (two adult-sized and two child-sized), spanning the full width of the car with two large windows, a sofa, and two seats.
How Do I Book The Amtrak Coast Starlight?
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© Photo by Andy Chabot on Flickr[/caption]
To book a scenic train trip on the Coast Starlight, visit the Amtrak website, which offers the option of choosing your seating and room options.
If you’re looking to travel long distances on a budget in comfort, you’ll find what you’re looking for on the Amtrak Coast Starlight route.
Finally, check out these trail cameras to bring along to capture those beautiful views.
