Amtrak operates the largest passenger rail network in North America, connecting hundreds of cities across the United States and extending into Canada. Its train routes range from short, high-frequency corridors to long-distance overnight journeys covering thousands of miles.
This page provides a complete overview of Amtrak train routes, with links to detailed route guides where available and clear direction to future route pages that will be added to this guide.
Types of Amtrak Train Routes
Amtrak routes generally fall into three main categories:
- Corridor Routes – Short- to medium-distance routes with frequent daily service
- Long-Distance Routes – Overnight and multi-day journeys across regions
- International Routes – Services connecting the U.S. with Canada
Major Amtrak Corridor Routes
Corridor routes focus on city-to-city travel with high demand, business travelers, and commuters.
-
Northeast Corridor
Boston – New York – Philadelphia – Washington, D.C.
Future corridor route guides to be added:
- Pacific Surfliner
- Capitol Corridor
- San Joaquins
- Hiawatha Service
- Keystone Service
Long-Distance Amtrak Routes
Long-distance routes are ideal for travelers covering large distances, overnight trips, and scenic journeys across multiple states.
-
California Zephyr
Chicago – San Francisco Bay Area -
Coast Starlight
Los Angeles – Seattle -
Empire Builder
Chicago – Seattle / Portland -
Southwest Chief
Chicago – Los Angeles -
Lake Shore Limited
Chicago – New York / Boston -
Crescent
New York – New Orleans
Additional long-distance route guides planned:
- Texas Eagle
- City of New Orleans
- Capitol Limited
- Cardinal
- Silver Star
- Silver Meteor
- Sunset Limited
- Auto Train
International Amtrak Routes (Canada)
Amtrak also operates cross-border services into Canada in partnership with VIA Rail Canada.
- Maple Leaf – New York City to Toronto
- Adirondack – New York City to Montreal
- Cascades – Pacific Northwest to Vancouver, BC
Detailed international route guides will be added in future updates.
How to Choose the Right Amtrak Route
- Choose corridor routes for short trips and business travel
- Choose long-distance routes for overnight comfort and cross-country travel
- Consider sleeper accommodations for journeys longer than one day
- Check station access and connections before booking
For help with planning, ticket booking, and onboard services, see: