Image: Mitch Altman ( CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.

Near Grand Junction, Colorado on day two of the Zephyr journey. The descent into Denver makes for a great finale to an epic day of sightseeing, and is ideally timed for a hotel check-in if you choose to break the trip here. The train follows the Colorado River for the day, descending into Denver from the mountains in the evening. Here, the main scenery starts just after Grand Junction in the morning and the most scenic views will be to the right in the direction of travel. For the rest of the day natures best remains on display as the Zephyr follows the Colorado River through to Grand Junction.Įastbound: On the eastbound journey the day happens in reverse. From here, it’s time to settle in near a window. Following the climb is the Moffat tunnel, where the Zephyr crosses the Continental Divide through the 6.2 mile (10km) tunnel that was opened in 1927. The most scenic views will be to the left hand side in the direction of travel. Westbound: When heading west, the train climbs into the Rocky Mountains after leaving Denver. This section is always during daylight hours, regardless of which direction you travel. Most of the Zephyr’s well-deserved reputation comes from the time traversing the rails in Colorado between Denver and Grand Junction on day two. This train however, is best known for its journey through the Rocky Mountains on day two. Along the way there are some 33 scheduled stops, including Omaha, Denver, Winter Park, Salt Lake City, Reno and Sacremento, the Californian capital. It’s an impressive journey that passes through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. With its breathtaking year round scenery you can be sure the 52-hour, two night and three day end-to-end adventure between San Francisco and Chicago is a journey you won’t regret taking. The train travels through remote areas where phone reception isn’t availableĪ trip on the Zephyr covers 2400 miles or 3900km, about twice the distance from Florida to New York City.Checked baggage is available at some, but not all stations.A cafe is available in the sightseer lounge for all passengers to purchase food and drinks.A sightseer lounge car is available as a shared space to meet fellow passengers, read a book or watch the world go by.A traditional dining car is available for sleeper passengers, with three meals a day included.Prices on this train vary according to demand.Coach and sleeper accommodations are available.

The train is scheduled to operate daily in each direction and travels overnight.

Key city stops are Chicago, Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, Reno, Sacramento and San Francisco.

The train crosses California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois.

The journey takes approximately 52 hours, or two nights and three days.

The California Zephyr is an overnight Amtrak train from Chicago to San Francisco.

California Zephyr Ticket Types and Prices.

California Zephyr Train 6 – Eastbound (departs Emeryville).

California Zephyr Train 5 – Westbound (departs Chicago).

Which direction should I travel on the California Zephyr?.

Scenery pictures of california