I am looking at booking an Amtrak trip for my family to Disneyland in December and we are considering renting a car and driving to ABQ and getting on the Amtrak and taking the train to LA.

This isn't to save money, but more of a "we'll talk about this forever" experience for my family.

The train leaves ABQ around 5:00 p.m. and gets to LA at 8:00 a.m the next morning. I am looking at a family bedroom.

Is this a really bad idea or will it be an okay memorable experience? I understand this isn't the Orient Express or the Hogwarts Express and won't be nice or fancy.

TIA!

MousepadMarauder said:

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The train leaves ABQ around 5:00 p.m. and gets to LA at 8:00 a.m the next morning. I am looking at a family bedroom.

Is this a really bad idea or will it be an okay memorable experience? I understand this isn't the Orient Express or the Hogwarts Express and won't be nice or fancy.

TIA!

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First of all, don't expect those times to happen. Amtrak is notoriously off of schedule.

Second of all, we did it denver to the bay area, in a family bedroom and it was totally worth it and would do it again... but that was because of the scenery, through the rockies along the colorado, utah salt flats, donner pass, etc. ABQ to LA would be very different, being in the southwest.

We were ~11-12 hours delayed. Instead of 8am departure it was about 3pm, and instead of 3pm arrival, it was 2am. We flew back. Family bedroom is sufficient for 4. We ended up with almost 2 nights, instead of the scheduled 1. So the service was lacking on night two to prep the room for sleeping with clean sheets. And they didn't have a meal really for that second night.. it was basically scrounging eating random stuff. You share a bathroom with 1 or 2 other family rooms, so it's relatively private. It's loud in the room, you are basically above the axle at the end of the car. I found the hum/vibrations soothing, but wife didn't like it.

I would do the exact route thing again if I new it could be on schedule, that way, we would end up seeing all parts of it in daylight. We basically saw the reverse because of the 12 hour delay.

Did Coast Starlight. Just my wife and I and we felt cramped, but were in the bedroom.

Overall we were on time. Sure stops in the middle were off, but over 36 hours, we were good.

We enjoyed it.
Meals, being a couple, we ate with different couples. Food was really good.
While there's an observation car, we enjoyed sitting in our own room.
Sleeping wasn't an issue. Beds small and not as comfortable as home, but for one night we had no issue.

If it wasn't so expensive, I'd ride the train more often. Enjoyable and slow pace.

Assuming your departure/arrival times are actually on time, keep in mind that in December sunset in Albuquerque is about 5 pm. In Flagstaff it's about 5:20.

So it will be dark very shortly after you depart, and there won't be much to see out the windows throughout NM, AZ, and most of CA.

Arrival in Los Angeles will look like any sprawling suburban area in the morning.

So if you're thinking of doing this for the view, you won't get it. If you're wanting it so you can say you've slept on a train, you'll get that.

Aggie87 said:

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So it will be dark very shortly after you depart, and there won't be much to see out the windows throughout NM, AZ, and most of CA.

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didn't even think about this.. yeh that seems like a large part of the fun of the trip is being taken away.

There should be a 5am to 8pm route, so you don't have to get a bedroom, and you actually see the sights.

Aggie87 said:

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Assuming your departure/arrival times are actually on time, keep in mind that in December sunset in Albuquerque is about 5 pm. In Flagstaff it's about 5:20.

So it will be dark very shortly after you depart, and there won't be much to see out the windows throughout NM, AZ, and most of CA.

Arrival in Los Angeles will look like any sprawling suburban area in the morning.

So if you're thinking of doing this for the view, you won't get it. If you're wanting it so you can say you've slept on a train, you'll get that.

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Good points. I don't know that we were necessarily doing it "for the views" but that is certainly something to factor in.

Thanks all. I will check the on time percentages in December.

i did an amtrak trip across half the US when i was a kid, with my grandfather. it was for sure a memorable life experience. i think it's why even today i still enjoy traveling on trains when i can.

the time required and delays are really the only downsides to amtrak. but if you have the patience and time, i'd definitely say go for it. it's not luxurious, but it's easier and more comfy than flying. get the biggest sleeping cabin you can afford, you won't regret having space

The Empire Builder and California Zephyr are on my bucket list.

It sounds like a great idea! Taking a train across the country is a fun and unique way to travel. And a family bedroom is a great way to have some privacy and space to yourselves. The train ride will be long, but you can use the time to relax, sleep, or play games. And you'll get to see some amazing scenery along the way.

Its a great idea, just not in the US. I recommend Canada or any country in Europe. In Europe the cross country will only be a few hours so might as well make it the whole continent.
A friend who does not fly was taking the train from LA -> SA ->Fort Worth, to appear at a court hearing mid day. He left 3 1/2 days in advance just in case. When he got to SA early in the AM he was 3 days behind the scheduled arrival. Grabbed a rent car and did a mad dash to FW. Was only 5Min late for the afternoon hearing and the case was settled by that time. So don't depend on any times given just figure out which train is going to be late enough to move your travel to daylight hours, and hope it does not turn into multiple daylights.

I agree with the comments about the time. If you can find a daytime trip, then I'd do it.

I did a train ride back to DFW from Washington DC when I was a kid with my grandparents. It definitely created the kind of memory you are looking for.