Book Amtrak rail tickets
Amtrak runs intercity passenger trains across the United States, from busy Northeast Corridor services to long-distance routes that take a couple of days end to end. Search a journey below, compare the options, and we will confirm what is actually running on your dates.
Rail brand
AMTK
United StatesAmtrak rail booking guide
Start with the search above: pick your departure and arrival stations, your dates, and how many of you are travelling. We will come back with the services running on those days, what they cost, and anything worth knowing before you commit.
Why book Amtrak tickets with Travelzeo?
Booking rail yourself is easy enough until something is not obvious - which station is actually closest to where you are staying, whether a sleeper is worth the difference, or what happens to your ticket if plans shift. That is the part we help with. You get a person who looks at your trip, explains the trade-offs in plain terms, and only then arranges the booking.
- Downtown-to-downtown stations
- Generous carry-on allowance
- No airport security queue
How to book Amtrak rail tickets
Enter your origin and destination stations above, choose your travel dates, and tell us how many passengers are travelling and which class you have in mind. Send the request and our team checks live availability, comes back with the realistic options, and confirms the fare with you before anything is booked. No payment is taken on this website.
Manage your Amtrak booking
Plans change, and rail is usually more forgiving about it than flying. Once your booking is arranged, contact us to move your travel dates, add a passenger, adjust seating preferences, or arrange accessibility and dietary requirements. We deal with the operator so you do not have to sit in a queue.
Seat selection and upgrades
Amtrak offers different classes depending on the route and the length of the journey. Which ones are available on your train depends on the service you pick.
- Coach
- The standard option. Reclining seats with noticeably more legroom than economy on a plane, plus power at most seats. Fine for a few hours, and the sensible choice on shorter corridors.
- Business Class
- A step up on many corridor services: more space, a quieter carriage, and usually a complimentary non-alcoholic drink. Worth it if you plan to work on the way.
- Private rooms (Roomette and Bedroom)
- On overnight long-distance routes, private accommodation with seats that convert to beds, bedding provided, meals typically included, and an attendant for the carriage. These sell out earliest, so ask well ahead.
Train change policy
Most flexible Amtrak fares can be changed before departure, and moving to a more expensive train usually means paying only the fare difference. The strictest fare types are the least forgiving, which is exactly why we tell you which type you are looking at before you agree to it.
Rail ticket cancellation policy
What you get back depends entirely on the fare you booked and how close to departure you cancel - some fares refund to your original payment method, others convert to credit with the operator. We will set out the conditions attached to your specific ticket before anything is confirmed, so there are no surprises later.
Baggage policies
Amtrak's allowance is one of the more generous in North American travel, and there is no weighing queue at a check-in desk. The exact rules vary between corridor services and long-distance trains.
Carry-on
You can bring personal items plus larger carry-on bags aboard, stored at the carriage ends or overhead. Considerably more relaxed than an airline, though there are still size and weight limits per bag.
Checked baggage
Available on selected routes and at staffed stations only - plenty of stations do not offer it at all. We check whether your specific journey supports checked bags before you rely on it.
Station check-in options
For most journeys you simply turn up and board with a digital ticket on your phone or a printed barcode. Larger stations have ticket kiosks, Red Cap assistance for luggage and mobility, and lounges for sleeper and premium passengers. Arriving thirty minutes ahead is usually plenty, though allow longer at big stations or if you are checking bags.
Popular Amtrak routes
Journey times are approximate and vary by service. Pick a corridor and we will check what is running on your dates.
- New York - Washington DCabout 3h
- Boston - New Yorkabout 4h
- Chicago - Milwaukeeabout 1h 30m
- Seattle - Portlandabout 4h
- Los Angeles - San Diegoabout 2h 45m
- Philadelphia - New Yorkabout 1h 20m
- New York - Miamiabout 28h
- Chicago - San Franciscoabout 51h
Amtrak questions
Can Travelzeo book Amtrak tickets for me?
Yes. Send us a request with your route, dates and passenger details. Our team checks what is available and contacts you to confirm the fare and complete the booking. No payment is taken on this website.
How far ahead should I request a rail booking?
Earlier is better, particularly for sleeping accommodation on long-distance routes and for travel around public holidays. The cheaper fare buckets on any given train tend to go first.
Do I need to arrive as early as I would for a flight?
Usually not. Boarding is much closer to departure than airport check-in, though busy stations and journeys with checked bags need more time. We will tell you what applies to your journey.
Is the train actually competitive with flying?
On shorter corridors it often is, once you count getting to the airport, security and the trip into town at the other end. On longer routes it is a different kind of trip rather than a faster one.