The California Zephyr is realistically one of - if not the best - Amtrak trips in North America.
The California Zephyr in its entirety takes 53 hours, 3 days and 2 nights, traveling almost 2,500 miles over 2 mountain ranges, between Emeryville, CA and Chicago, IL.
The train is the only way to see some of the breathtaking scenery, as much of the tracks through the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas have no roads nearby.
Tickets all the way from Chicago to Emeryville (or vice versa) start at $629 for a private room and $100 for a comfortable coach seat.
The California Zephyr is an essential Amtrak experience.
