Brand new!!

[Lisadancemom]

Hello all!! I am new to train traveling, I’ve always wanted to, never have. My daughter and I are going from Chicago to Vegas, and back in June! We have a roomette. Any advice welcome!!

 

[danasgoodstuff]

Welcome to AU. How are you doing the last leg to Vegas since there is no passenger rail service currently?

 

[danasgoodstuff]

here's a better picture, you can get close to Vegas by train currently and you can book the whole trip thru Amtrak, but the last little bit won't be by train. Not trying to discourage you but I wouldn't want you to be disappointed either. Perhaps someone here who has made this connection can speak to what it's like.

 

[Rasputin]

If you are going to Las Vegas, New Mexico. You are all set. The Southwest Chief will take you there and Las Vegas is a great place to visit.

If you are going to Las Vegas, Nevada by Amtrak you will probably have a bus connection at inconvenient hours and while some do that, you may want to reconsider your plans.

Welcome to AU and let us know if you have any questions.

 

[Asher]

Wouldn’t that be a surprise. Looking for the bright lights after making a mistake by booking New Mexico instead of Nevada.

 

[Brian Battuello]

And welcome Lisadancemom! Let us know what sort of questions you have. First of all, you are entitled to use the quite nice first class lounge in the Chicago station. Get there early enough to snarf some free soft drinks and grab some snacks. You can take some with you if you aren't super obvious about it.

Second, if you don't know it already, you are legally allowed to bring unlimited alcoholic beverages with you as long as you only consume them in your room. Enjoy!

 

[Lisadancemom]

View attachment 36834
here's a better picture, you can get close to Vegas by train currently and you can book the whole trip thru Amtrak, but the last little bit won't be by train. Not trying to discourage you but I wouldn't want you to be disappointed either. Perhaps someone here who has made this connection can speak to what it's like.

Hello!! Yes, we get off at Kingman AZ. And take a transport van into Vegas! I booked it right through the app!

If you are going to Las Vegas, New Mexico. You are all set. The Southwest Chief will take you there and Las Vegas is a great place to visit.

If you are going to Las Vegas, Nevada by Amtrak you will probably have a bus connection at inconvenient hours and while some do that, you may want to reconsider your plans.

Welcome to AU and let us know if you have any questions.

Haha, yes definitely Nevada! We booked a transport van from Kingman AZ to Vegas. Definitely late hours, but on another thread multiple people had done it and said it was comfortable.

 

[Willbridge]

Haha, yes definitely Nevada! We booked a transport van from Kingman AZ to Vegas. Definitely late hours, but on another thread multiple people had done it and said it was comfortable.

I've done it eastbound and it's one of the smoothest Amtrak Thruway bus connections. Yes, it's at odd hours, but then so is Las Vegas.

Kingman, AZ in 2017.


Rest stop in Bullhead City.


Clean equipment.


One thing to watch out for when you head eastbound -- some taxi drivers (and likely Uber) will try to take you to the South Strip Transit Center where there is an Amtrak Thruway bus for California points. As you'll arrive at the airport, you'll know where to return to, but now you'll understand why they may seem puzzled.

 

[Rasputin]

Haha, yes definitely Nevada! We booked a transport van from Kingman AZ to Vegas. Definitely late hours, but on another thread multiple people had done it and said it was comfortable.

That sounds great. Some of us thought you might be mistaken but you were right on track and ahead of the curve. Welcome to AU and please post of report of your trip. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Lisadancemom]

I've done it eastbound and it's one of the smoothest Amtrak Thruway bus connections. Yes, it's at odd hours, but then so is Las Vegas.

Kingman, AZ in 2017.
View attachment 36841

Rest stop in Bullhead City.
View attachment 36842

Clean equipment.
View attachment 36843

One thing to watch out for when you head eastbound -- some taxi drivers (and likely Uber) will try to take you to the South Strip Transit Center where there is an Amtrak Thruway bus for California points. As you'll arrive at the airport, you'll know where to return to, but now you'll understand why they may seem puzzled.

Thank you! I’m so excited! We are from Michigan and rarely get to this side of the country, I love the idea of the train and being able to see things!!
And thanks for the tip about return trip!

 

[Eternityroad]

That sounds great. Some of us thought you might be mistaken but you were right on track and ahead of the curve. Welcome to AU and please post of report of your trip. Hope you have a great trip.

"Right on track" "ahead of the curve"...rich!

 

[Rasputin]

Thank you! I’m so excited! We are from Michigan and rarely get to this side of the country, I love the idea of the train and being able to see things!!
And thanks for the tip about return trip!

I suggest that you check out this Southwest Chief route guide which used to be available from Amtrak until it was discontinued but fortunately it is still available thanks to Christopher Juckins' website. Be on the lookout for elk from around the Colorado/New Mexico state line at Raton Pass westerly through Shoemaker. I like to take an old-fashioned paper map but I assume an online one will do as well if there is service.

Usually there is time to step off the train for some fresh air at Raton especially if there are a lot of Scouts boarding or de-boarding there. Albuquerque is a much longer stop.

https://juckins.net/amtrak_routes/route_guide_Southwest_Chief.pdf