Please help me.

[Shannon Kerr]

I'm 18 and from the UK and I would really love to travel around America. I've been told that travelling by train is probably the cheapest way to do it. I would really like to start in New York and hopefully move on to visit Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Arizona, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. I realise it probably won't be possible to visit all these places but I was hoping that maybe someone could help me plan the best route to take and how to do it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[amamba]

Head on over to amtrak.com to look at the routes. If you fly into New York, you can take a train to Atlanta, Florida and Chicago. But if you go to Florida, you would need to head back north to visit other places.

Also, there is presently no train service to Las Vegas, Nevada (with the casinos and such).

 

[oregon pioneer]

Hi Shannon, welcome to the Amtrak unlimited forum! I've found people to be very helpful when I need information, and it seems to me you should get some great answers here, as each respondent will give you info from their personal experiences.

I am planning a trip to the southeast this coming winter, and I've found in my planning that it's kind of a cul-de-sac as far as trains go. Since Hurricane Katrina destroyed the trcks between New Orleans and Florida, you have to backtrack from that area all the way to Washington DC to get to Atlanta from there. Both Washington DC and New York City, on the other hand, are hubs, and trains go several directions from those cities. So, you might wish to consider flying in to Florida and starting there.

Another thing to consider is a railpass. These are good for so many days/so many segments. A segment is a single train, between the time you get on and the time you get off. So it pays, if you want to see the wide-open spaces, to plan your segments so you spend as long as possible on the train between transfers and stops. But seriously, this is just about the best deal you can get.

You can also use the Amtrak.com trip planner (where it says "buy tickets"), and go through several screens to see what your routing and scheduling options are, before obligating yourself in any way or entering any personal information.

There is no train service to Las Vegas, but I am sure there is a connecting bus. Unfortunately, if you are on a rail pass, even that short segment counts as a segment, but you may choose to pay for short rides as a separate ticket, and save your segments if you need them for the big rides!

Lastly, you can go to amsnag.net, and enter a starting station, destination (use amtrak.com to find the three-letter codes), and date range in order to find the possible routings and cheapest days for a given city pair.

Your trip sounds like a huge amount of fun! Trains are a great way to see the country and have a good time while doing so. Keep us posted and be sure and file a trip report so we can read about your adventures.

 

[TimePeace]

If you really want to see the US, fly to New York or Boston, take the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago, then the California Zephyr to the San Francisco area - that train is considered by many of us to have the most beautiful scenery visible from any Amtrak train, passing through the Rocky Mountains and then the Sierra Nevada. Then you can take the Coast Starlight down to Los Angeles.

The railpass idea is good too, and can save you some money if you plan carefully.

Go through these forums and you can find all kinds of specific information on these subjects.

Good luck and see you on the train!

 

[tomfuller]

At your age you would have a problem with trying to rent a car in the US.

A 15 day or 30 day USA Rail Pass would be your best option for a solo trip.

I doubt that you would get to Las Vegas (bus service).

Starting at New York (NYP) take the Crescent to Atlanta. From Atlanta continue on the Crescent to New Orleans. From New Orleans take the "City of New Orleans" to Chicago. From Chicago take either the Cardinal or the Capitol Limited to Washington. When you have see what you want to see in Washington, take one of the Silver Service trains to Florida (Orlando or Miami). Fly back home from Florida.

For another trip I would fly to California first for a western US train trip.

 

[MikeM]

Regarding Las Vegas, I was thinking Superbus or some service had curb service at LA Union Depot to Vegas, so she could grab the bus there and head on out that way? Greyhound definitely has service, not sure where their station is relative to LAUPT.

 

[GG-1]

Regarding Las Vegas, I was thinking Superbus or some service had curb service at LA Union Depot to Vegas, so she could grab the bus there and head on out that way? Greyhound definitely has service, not sure where their station is relative to LAUPT.

Aloha

Greyhound picks up to the right as you exit the tunnels, past the baggage area. As was mentioned Las Vegas does not have train service. Greyhound has a route from Las Angeles to Vegas. Also From the South West Chief, Amtrak provides a van to the Vegas airport, traveling westbound. The Bus from LA stops downtown, not the best area for a young woman. Their is taxi service in front of the station to anywhere you plan to stay.

Depending on exactly what you want I would recommend the SWC to Kingman, The Van to the Airport, then the bus to LA.

 

[City of Miami]

There is also an Ambus to Las Vegas from Bakersfield if she wanted to come from San Francisco on the San Joaquin for example. It's a long trip but the Amtrak busses are generally much better than the Greyhound option.

 

[TimePeace]

Are we sure this is a young woman asking? Shannon can be a man's name too, can't it? Not that our recommendations would be much different I suppose. Trains are a good way for everyone to travel!

 

[the_traveler]

True, you never can tell. Names like

• Chris
• Sam and
• Joe

and even

• Alice
• Tracy and
• Andy

could be either male or female!

 

[June the Coach Rider]

this is a trip I was going to do before I decided to split my trips up, but using a 30 or 45 day rail pass, depending on how much you want to sightsee.

Fly into New York

Silver Meteor – New York to Miami (or anywhere in Florida)

Stay in Florida

Silver Star – Florida to Washington

Crescent – Washingotn to New Orleans

Stay in New Orleans

Sunset Limited (Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays) – New Orleans to Los Angeles

Stay in Los Angeles

Pacific Surfliner – Los Angeles to San Diego

Stay in San Diego (worth seeing the sights)

Pacific Surfliner – San Diego to Los Angeles

Coast Starlight – Los Angeles to Seattle

Stay in Seattle (great sights)

Empire Builder - Seattle to Chicago

Lake Shore Limited – Chicago to New York

I hope this helps.

 

[Ben_G]

Just be aware at 18 you will be limited to what you can do in Las Vegas.

 

[benjibear]

Alot depends on how much time you have and what you want to see in each city.

 

[chakk]

While Hurricane Katrina did cause severe damage to the tracks in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, the railroad that owns those tracks had them fully repaired within a year. Amtrak chose on their own accord not to restore passenger service once the tracks were rebuilt. And Amtrak continues to stick to that decision, despite many complaints by the affected states and rail passenger groups.

 

[jebr]

As for Las Vegas:

The Megabus also picks up at Union Station in LA and goes to Vegas. But you will be very limited in what you can do there, in terms of what has made it so popular. Unless you have a specific convention you're going to there, I would shy away from it. Until you're 21, you can't gamble in Vegas.

Also, it'll be hard to rent a car. Maybe not impossible, but hard. You may have better luck in a college town or smaller town than a metropolis, but I can't guarantee that.

 

[Bob Dylan]

:hi: Welcome, always good to have New Train Fans from over the Pond! As has been said, since you are 18 Id wait for Vegas since almost everything there involves bein 21+!!! The idea to get a Rail Pass (30 Day/45/60) is Excellent!!

I would suggest that you get the Cheapest Flight you can from England to the US, most would probably Land in New York, Atlanta, Chicago or LA!! If you Fly to New York, take one of the Silver Trains (Meteor or Star) to Miami (Overnight Trip), spend a few Days there utilizing Local Transportation (Tri-Rail/Buses), Ride a Silver Train back to Washington DC (worth a Couple of Days of Sightseeing), then take the Crescent to New Orleans (skip Atlanta, its just a Very Hot and Humid LA!!!!), spend a couple of days there, take the City of New Orleans to Chicago, same drill! Then ride the California Zephyr to the San Francisco Bay Area (Best Scenery in North America as was said!),then the Ride the Coast Starlight to LA for a Couple of days of Sightseeing!

Depending on theT Amount of Time you have for your Trip, and the Number of Segments on your Rail Pass, you could also ride the Starlight from LA to Portland, Oregon, catch the Empire Builder to Chicago via Glacier national Park, then take the Lake Shore Limited back to New York from Chicago and fly home from there! This would give you a pretty good idea of this Large and Diverse Country!

As was said, please read the Trip Reports and Threads on here, Lots of Great Info and Google is your friend when it comes to Hotels, Sights etc.

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

There are a few saying, at 18 not to come to Vegas one can not Gamble. I have not counted but there probably more shows here than London, NYC, Chicago, and LA combined.

 

[NW cannonball]

As for Las Vegas:
The Megabus also picks up at Union Station in LA and goes to Vegas. But you will be very limited in what you can do there, in terms of what has made it so popular. Unless you have a specific convention you're going to there, I would shy away from it. Until you're 21, you can't gamble in Vegas.

Also, it'll be hard to rent a car. Maybe not impossible, but hard. You may have better luck in a college town or smaller town than a metropolis, but I can't guarantee that.

Megabus is good if you are travelling light.

Car renting -- no way -- Under age 21 - almost impossible for anyone and 2-3 times base rates for locals with US valid car insurance to back the rental company rates - even if military or government employees 18-21 can only rent with absoulute restrictions - only on company or government business on the company credit card - limit for DUI and loss of all insurance from renting car-rental place is .01 or less (one-tenth of the EtOH limit for normal drivers)

For under 25 and over 21 renting on your own credit - only twice normal; rates.

 

[roadman3313]

It is also worth noting that rail in the US is a bit different than Eurpoe. Trains are not as frequent or as fast and the infrastructure isn't the same. With that said, rail is a great way to see America (U.S.) and potentially meet people along the way to share stories with, get travel tips from, and just discuss what's rolling by. And it can be more economical (if you have the time) than flying. And a noted, getting a rental car at 18 is difficult to do. Not impossible but expensive after under age fees at the locations that will rent to under 25/21.

 

[MiRider]

this is a trip I was going to do before I decided to split my trips up, but using a 30 or 45 day rail pass, depending on how much you want to sightsee.
Fly into New York

Silver Meteor – New York to Miami (or anywhere in Florida)

Stay in Florida

Silver Star – Florida to Washington

Crescent – Washingotn to New Orleans

Stay in New Orleans

Sunset Limited (Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays) – New Orleans to Los Angeles

Stay in Los Angeles

Pacific Surfliner – Los Angeles to San Diego

Stay in San Diego (worth seeing the sights)

Pacific Surfliner – San Diego to Los Angeles

Coast Starlight – Los Angeles to Seattle

Stay in Seattle (great sights)

Empire Builder - Seattle to Chicago

Lake Shore Limited – Chicago to New York

I hope this helps.

June, that's a great, economical itinerary that takes you across the country with stops in some nice cities.

If going to Las Vegas isn't a necessity, you don't really need to rent a car.

The nice thing about taking the train to major metropolitan areas is that the stations are almost always in the heart of the city,

Public transportation is usually available near or at the station too - all of the cities in June's itinerary have public transportation.

Google Maps has a transit planning feature that's pretty handy, it's what I use when I travel.

 

[caravanman]

Hi, Greetings from Nottingham, UK!

America has a pretty thin rail network, but it is possible to visit the main tourist cities by rail. As others have mentioned, a railpass might be a good idea.

The main Amtrak website has a map showing the rail network, and also shows connecting bus services.

Be aware that a lot of us rail fans "dont get out much", so take our advice witrh a pinch of salt!

Ed