If you think travel has to be fast to be meaningful, I want to challenge that. My Amtrak trip across the United States showed me that when you slow down, you notice more, feel more, and connect more – with the landscape, with strangers, and with yourself. In this post, I’m sharing what it was really like to cross the country by train, why I chose rail travel over flying, and what I learned from the unexpected beauty and occasional chaos along the way.
Why I Chose Amtrak Instead of Flying
Most people fly across America because it’s quicker and easier. I get that. But I wanted something different. I wanted to experience every mile, watch the country unfold outside my window, and give myself time to think without the constant rush that comes with airports and planes.
This trip came at a time when I needed that kind of space. I had been dealing with grief after losing a friend in December, and I knew I needed a slower kind of journey – one that gave me time to reflect instead of distracting me from everything I was feeling. A train felt like the right place to do that.
There was also the practical side. Flights were expensive, gas prices were unpredictable, and I had already been flying to Puerto Rico every year around that time. I wanted a new tradition for the new year: starting in a new place, in a new way. Then an Amtrak ad appeared at exactly the right moment – a $500 USA Rail Pass that allowed up to 10 stops in 30 days. It felt like a sign, so I booked it.
That decision changed everything.
What My Cross-Country Amtrak Route Actually Looked Like
The route itself was a whole adventure. I started in Baltimore, changed trains in Washington, DC, and then headed to Chicago. From there, I traveled through Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona before taking a shuttle to Vegas. After that, I went from Vegas to California, rented a car, and drove to Joshua Tree, then on to San Diego.
From San Diego, I drove to Tucson and visited Saguaro National Park, then took a train to San Antonio to visit my cousin. My original plan was to continue on to New Orleans, but a train-line issue forced a change, so I stayed an extra night in San Antonio and rerouted back through Chicago, then to Cleveland. In Cleveland, I rented a car to visit Cuyahoga National Park and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before finally making my way back to Baltimore.
It sounds like a lot because it was a lot. But that’s part of what made it so memorable. This wasn’t a simple point-A-to-point-B trip. It was a chain of experiences, each one shaped by the place I was in and the people I met there.
And that’s one of the biggest things I learned: when you travel by train, the route becomes part of the story.
What Train Travel Teaches You About Patience and Freedom
One of the first things I noticed on the train was how much slower everything felt. Not slow in a bad way – slow in a way that made me pay attention. Time started to stretch. I’d look up and realize it was already late afternoon, even though it felt like the day had just started.
That shift changed the rhythm of the trip completely.
On a plane, you’re usually locked into a small space, focused on getting through the flight. With a train, you can get up, walk around, move between cars, sit in the observation car, and actually watch the scenery change. There’s a freedom to that. You still have a seat, of course, but you’re not trapped in it.
For me, that freedom made space for reflection. I read and journaled. Took many photos and videos. I looked out the window and let my mind wander. In a world that’s always asking you to move faster, the train gave me permission to do less and notice more.
That’s also why I think slow travel can be so healing. It doesn’t just take you somewhere new – it changes how you experience getting there.
A few things the train taught me about pace:
Patience matters more than control.
Delays happen, and if you fight them, you only make the trip harder.
Slowing down improves observation.
I noticed landscapes, people, and tiny details I would have missed otherwise.
Rest becomes part of the journey.
On the train, resting wasn’t a pause from the trip – it was part of the trip.
These weren’t huge life-changing conversations in the dramatic sense. They were better than that; they were real. Curious. Unforced.
I’ve always liked asking people deeper, less obvious questions, and the train gave me the perfect environment for that. There’s something about shared motion that makes people open up. You’re not just exchanging small talk – you’re sharing a moment.
That’s why I’d say some of the best souvenirs from this trip weren’t photos or tickets. They were the stories people told me.
If I had to pick one thing that surprised me most, it was how many conversations I had with strangers. On a train, you meet people in a way that feels more natural than on a plane. You already know you’re going to be near each other for hours, so the conversation has room to breathe.
I talked to people in the station. Also to people in the dining car. I talked to people sitting beside me on the train. Some were only on board for a few hours. Others were traveling long distances like I was. Every conversation brought something different.
One man I met was doing social media work around healthy lifestyles, and we ended up talking about Instagram strategy. A woman I sat near in the dining car was also on a long train journey, and she told me she takes train trips regularly because she always meets kind people. In Chicago, I chatted with a bartender at Union Station who helped me think through what I’d want to do the next time I came back for longer.
What I Loved - and What I’d Do Differently Next Time
There were also a few realities of train travel I didn’t fully appreciate until I was in them:
- Bathrooms sometimes clogged and had to wait for service stops.
- Window glass wasn’t always clean enough for the photos I wanted.
- Wi-Fi wasn’t reliable, so downloading entertainment ahead of time was essential.
- Dining options varied from train to train, and not every route had the same meal service.
Still, none of that outweighed the good parts. The food was genuinely good when it was available, the staff were mostly kind and helpful, and the views were beyond what I expected.
Colorado was stunning. New Mexico and Arizona were unforgettable. I saw wild horses in New Mexico, and that moment alone felt unreal. The landscapes kept reminding me that America is huge and far more varied than we often remember.
The trip was incredible, but it wasn’t perfect. And honestly, that’s useful to know if you’re thinking about doing a long Amtrak journey yourself.
The sleeper accommodations weren’t included in my rail pass, and I really think that’s the biggest upgrade worth considering for long-distance travel. Sleeping in a reclined seat is manageable for a while, but it’s not nearly as comfortable as having a proper bed and your own space.
Packing was another big challenge. I was moving through wildly different climates – warm weather in San Antonio, cold temperatures farther north, desert heat, rain, and everything in between. In knowing that, I had to bring layers, hiking gear, camera equipment, snacks, water bottles, and all the extras I needed for national parks. That meant packing carefully and not bringing anything I couldn’t carry easily.
The Places That Stayed With Me Most
Vegas was different from what people usually imagine. I stayed outside the strip and spent quiet time with a friend, swimming, catching up, and enjoying a slower version of a city known for constant stimulation. That contrast made it one of the most restful parts of the journey.
San Antonio was probably my favorite stop. I visited my cousin, rode a horse, walked the River Walk, saw the Alamo, and watched the city light up at night with holiday decorations still hanging after New Year’s. There was music everywhere, lights reflecting on the water, and a sense that the city had its own personality. It felt alive in a completely different way than the other stops.
Every stop gave me something different, but a few places really stayed with me.
Chicago surprised me with how welcoming it felt. I expected a massive, fast-paced city, but the people in Union Station were some of the nicest I met anywhere on the trip. Even with only a few hours there, I felt like I could have stayed longer. I’d love to return and explore it properly one day.
Joshua Tree was deeply healing. Being alone in a beautiful place while processing grief reminded me how small I am in the grand scheme of things – and somehow that felt comforting. The desert landscape, the boulders, the strange trees, and the stillness of it all made the experience feel sacred.
Then there was Cleveland, where I visited Cuyahoga National Park and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – something I’d wanted to do for years. And on the way home, I went through Pennsylvania instead of retracing my earlier route, which gave me one final stretch of the country to absorb before returning to Baltimore.
Each place felt like a chapter. Together, they became the whole book.
Travel Tips If You Want to Try This Yourself
If you’re thinking about doing an Amtrak trip, here’s what I’d recommend:
Book early
if you want sleeper accommodations.Pack layers
because temperatures can change dramatically.Bring a refillable water bottle
and save money on the road.Download entertainment before you leave
since Wi-Fi can be unreliable.Carry a portable charger
and, if possible, an extension cord.Spend time in the observation car
if your train has one.Talk to fellow passengers
– you might be surprised by how much people share.Expect delays
and build flexibility into your plan.Don’t overpack.
You’ll thank yourself later.Embrace the slower pace
instead of fighting it.
What this trip ultimately taught me is that travel doesn’t have to be about moving quickly from one landmark to the next. Sometimes the real transformation happens between destinations – in the quiet, in the waiting, in the conversations, and in the landscapes you’d never notice from 30,000 feet. It wasn’t just crossing the country on Amtrak. I slowed down enough to see it, feel it, and let it change me.
If you’ve been putting off an adventure because it feels too slow, too uncertain, or too different from what everyone else is doing, maybe that’s exactly the kind of trip you need. For more travel stories like this, listen to the full episode of Roxy’s World Adventures Podcast
