New York to San Fran, or the other way around?

[Karl]

Hello everyone.
Excuse me if this has been asked before. I’m brand new….
My wife and I would love to do a train ride, coast to coast in America. We have had the absolute pleasure of one previous long distance Amtrak trip, when we went from Fort Worth to Miami a few years ago. We’d now love to pop back over the pond, later this year to do a coast to coast trip. My question to the experienced Amtrackers is which way should we go? Should we fly into NYC and take the train across to San Francisco, or should we fly into San Francisco and train back into NYC? We would spend two or three days in each city too. Your advice and rationale would be greatly appreciated please.
Many thanks

 

[pennyk]

Welcome to Amtrak Unlimited. If you plan to take the California Zephyr between Emeryville (San Francisco) and Chicago, I would go westbound. Fly into NYC and take trains to the San Francisco area. I think the California Zephyr is a nicer ride westbound with better scenery in daylight hours.

 

[BCL]

I would point out that Amtrak train service doesn't actually go to San Francisco. They connect to San Francisco through bus service from either Oakland or Emeryville. This sometimes becomes an issue with people using the USA Rail pass since the short bus trip counts as a segment.

The other thing is that there is no longer any check-in baggage service from San Francisco, if that's a concern. There used to be a series of different Amtrak bus stops (Hyatt Regency, San Francisco Shopping Center, Fishermans Wharf, 4th and King Caltrain Station, Ferry Building. etc.) throughout San Francisco, but that's been reduced to a single bus stop in a random part of downtown. The one near the Ferry Building used to be the primary one, with a station building, waiting room, restrooms, ticket counter, and baggage service. Amtrak lost the lease on that and then moved to the former "Temporary Transbay Terminal" and used their bus bays along with sharing Greyhound's station building. But now they've moved to a nondescript bus stop in front of a Chase Bank location.

 

[Karl]

Welcome to Amtrak Unlimited. If you plan to take the California Zephyr between Emeryville (San Francisco) and Chicago, I would go westbound. Fly into NYC and take trains to the San Francisco area. I think the California Zephyr is a nicer ride westbound with better scenery in daylight hours.

Thanks for your response Pennyk , The
Lint that you mention regarding hitting the best scenery in daylight hours was definitely an issue I needed educating in, so Thankyou.

I would point out that Amtrak train service doesn't actually go to San Francisco. They connect to San Francisco through bus service from either Oakland or Emeryville. This sometimes becomes an issue with people using the USA Rail pass since the short bus trip counts as a segment.

The other thing is that there is no longer any check-in baggage service from San Francisco, if that's a concern. There used to be a series of different Amtrak bus stops (Hyatt Regency, San Francisco Shopping Center, Fishermans Wharf, 4th and King Caltrain Station, Ferry Building. etc.) throughout San Francisco, but that's been reduced to a single bus stop in a random part of downtown. The one near the Ferry Building used to be the primary one, with a station building, waiting room, restrooms, ticket counter, and baggage service. Amtrak lost the lease on that and then moved to the former "Temporary Transbay Terminal" and used their bus bays along with sharing Greyhound's station building. But now they've moved to a nondescript bus stop in front of a Chase Bank location.

Thanks BCL. Whilst I was aware of the issue regarding having to take a bus for the final portion of the journey, I did not know that there was only one pickup/drop off point within San Francisco. Nor did I know about the baggage check in if starting our journey there. That would definitely be a consideration for me, so thanks for the information, appreciated

 

[Rasputin]

I would recommend westbound.

 

[caravanman]

Welcome to the forum, from a fellow Brit!

Folk can get overwhelmed with the advice and information offered here. As mentioned above, the Amtrak train terminus for San Francisco is Emeryville. When you book your tickets you can book to Emeryville, or by booking to/from SFC code station 555 Mission Street, that will then include the connecting coach to or from Emeryville station.
I have travelled both directions, I prefer the westbound. Can I recommend that you spend a day or two in Chicago enroute. The east and west Amtrak systems meet in Chicago, so you need to change trains there anyway.
The scenery between Chicago and Denver is not spectacular, so it is nice westbound to have the excellent mountain scenery after Denver to look forward to.
As you may know, one can carry on quite a sensible amount of luggage with Amtrak, which would go under the coach to or from the SCF stop.
Sounds a great trip in either direction!

 

[BCL]

Welcome to the forum, from a fellow Brit!

Folk can get overwhelmed with the advice and information offered here. As mentioned above, the Amtrak train terminus for San Francisco is Emeryville. When you book your tickets you can book to Emeryville, or by booking to/from SFC code station 555 Mission Street, that will then include the connecting coach to or from Emeryville station.
I have travelled both directions, I prefer the westbound. Can I recommend that you spend a day or two in Chicago enroute. The east and west Amtrak systems meet in Chicago, so you need to change trains there anyway.
The scenery between Chicago and Denver is not spectacular, so it is nice westbound to have the excellent mountain scenery after Denver to look forward to.
As you may know, one can carry on quite a sensible amount of luggage with Amtrak, which would go under the coach to or from the SCF stop.
Sounds a great trip in either direction!

There could be different ways to get to San Francisco from NYC. I suppose NYC to Los Angeles and then north on the Coast Starlight to Oakland. I suppose it depends on the kind of scenery the OP is looking for.

 

[caravanman]

There could be different ways to get to San Francisco from NYC. I suppose NYC to Los Angeles and then north on the Coast Starlight to Oakland. I suppose it depends on the kind of scenery the OP is looking for.

Indeed, there are several options, one could even go via New Orleans or Seattle. Keeping it simple, I think most folk would agree that the California Zephyr direct route offers outstanding views.

 

[Palmland]

Good advice on taking the Zephyr westbound as well as doing an overnight in Chicago. It’s a great city to visit and eliminates any worry about missing connections. The route through the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada mountains is spectacular.

What are your plans from NYC to Chicago? I assume you’ll take the direct route on the Lake Shore Limited from New York and enjoy the scenic ride out of the city along the Hudson River. But, if you have time, you could take the frequent service to Washington, visit the city (perhaps an overnight), and then take the Floridian (originates in Miami) to Chicago. The afternoon of departure it passes through the Civil War town of Harpers Ferry then follows the Potomac River.

 

[Karl]

Welcome to the forum, from a fellow Brit!

Folk can get overwhelmed with the advice and information offered here. As mentioned above, the Amtrak train terminus for San Francisco is Emeryville. When you book your tickets you can book to Emeryville, or by booking to/from SFC code station 555 Mission Street, that will then include the connecting coach to or from Emeryville station.
I have travelled both directions, I prefer the westbound. Can I recommend that you spend a day or two in Chicago enroute. The east and west Amtrak systems meet in Chicago, so you need to change trains there anyway.
The scenery between Chicago and Denver is not spectacular, so it is nice westbound to have the excellent mountain scenery after Denver to look forward to.
As you may know, one can carry on quite a sensible amount of luggage with Amtrak, which would go under the coach to or from the SCF stop.
Sounds a great trip in either direction!

Hi Caravanman,…Firstly well done to Forest,..Great performance thus far.
Thankyou for your input and recommendations,.. interesting to hear that you also suggest a westbound journey having had experience of both. The mountain scenery that you mention is something that is one of the motivating factors for the trip and something that sounds exciting to experience!
Pleasing to hear the coach has the capacity to accept luggage. The wife does tend to overpack
Thanks again for your kind input. Cheers mate