The train would be our temporary “home” for the next 48 hours. One would think that travel like this must be expensive, yet prices starting from $146 are pretty affordable! We will be travelling from Seattle to Chicago on the Empire Builder in two weeks time. Spending 48 hours on a train may seem like a fun idea. But strangely enough, the Empire Builder commanded a unified sense of community, bringing out the best. I’ve been scouring every date imaginable on the Amtrak site – even right up to the end of the schedule – and I can’t see any fares for roomettes even close to $626. I recently quit my job to travel more, and I love Amtrak and I’m trying to get up to the 10,000 mile mark next year. Empire Builder and CZ from Denver to Sacramento. OK, then let’s look at the true cost of the room. Amtrak’s full-service Whitefish, Montana station is about 27 miles from Apgar, the western hub of shuttle transportation within the park. The Empire Builder is an Amtrak long-distance passenger train that operates daily between Chicago and (via two sections west of Spokane) Seattle and Portland.Introduced in 1929, it was the flagship passenger train of the Great Northern Railway and its successor, the Burlington Northern Railroad, and was retained by Amtrak when it took over intercity rail service in 1971. Check with a conductor and ensure timing is synced. Unlikely friendships were formed and the chatter continued in the lounge car over card games and bottles of wine. Amtrak’s East Glacier station is open from April-October. But we can’t say the same about the windows. It’s not ideal, but we found it to be workable. I have always been so curious about how taking an Amtrak train really is. The detailed information was much appreciated and answered a lot of my questions. Why take a train to the park? After arriving in Spokane, Spokane bound passengers in both sections, 7 and 27, are discharged. It was while departing the Windy City that we began to investigate the Empire Builder train layout. Add the two base fares of $144 each ($288). Thank you!! The eastbound North Coast Limited/Empire Builder was combined with the Morning Zephyr, while the westbound train combined with the Afternoon Zephyr. For meals you get D-B-L-D-Breakfast; that’s 5 meals x two. And passengers will actually be able to see the Rocky Mountains when rolling through Glacier National Park. Three major car rental companies have offices near the station. Always check with Amtrak crew about timing. (Originally posted Aug 2016 – still a good review of the Amtrak Empire Builder) I have a love hate relationship with Amtrak. Brrrrrr! If you can get by without those, you’d be fine remaining on the lower deck. Introduced in 1929, it was the flagship passenger train of the Great Northern Railway and its successor, the Burlington Northern Railroad, and was retained by Amtrak when it took over intercity rail service in 1971. 2:32. What an amazing experience. Note: dining car service is included for those with superliner roomettes, which helps to justify the higher cost. Wow, a trip like this via train is my dream. I had been on this rail journey across the US, literally sitting between “Cowboys and Indians.” It was a poetic realization that was the very essence of this American rail experience. Subtract the price you paid of $694 and you get $256. That will ultimately give you more space in your roomette, should prove for a more comfortable trip, and you won’t have to haul any large luggage around the train. If we ever make it back to Cuzco, we’ll have to consider splurging on it. We are planning to take the EB but west to east, East Glacier to Minneapolis. For example, a single round trip roomette passenger could pay $862 for Chicago-Whitefish, but a couple would pay $1,216. We would soon arrive in Seattle. Westbound trains 7 and 27 travel together as one train from Chicago, Illinois to Spokane, Washington. That’s well worth it, in our opinion! There’s a true sense of camaraderie that is fostered on the train. Personally, I’d recommend a full-sized pillow. Amtrak Empire Builder Review. I can’t wait to take the Empire Builder one day. Is it rare to find two seats together when you board, or even four seats close together? Priscilla Singleton. We loved how people from completely different walks of life were all finding common ground to bond over as we collectively crossed the country together. Step outside for fresh air when possible. The track actually runs right along the southern border of this US National Park. Totally subscribing to this blog! We have never traveled on a train. My wife and I just went from Seattle to Chicago Feb 5 and returned ( in our 70’s) week later. Empire Builder westbound -Meet eastbound EB Harlem MT 2008-11-27. The Empire Builder cruises across Montana at speeds of up to 79 miles per hour. And sounds like you got a great price too, particularly considering all meals included. We watched Chicago’s grand skyline disappearing while the Amtrak Empire Builder chugged northbound through Chicago’s northern suburbs. Your clock may be slightly different than onboard. Don’t forget to appreciate the sights of America passing outside the window. It’s not by how far in advanced you check, but how many rooms are left in a cheap bucket. I’ve learned so much by reading this review…I can’t thank u enough…. The configuration in that car has more seats on the right (north) side, so that’s where we sat. We are traveling on the Empire Builder from Chicago to Libby, MT on Sunday. Definitely I’ll remember your tips, to book a sleeper in advance. Thank you so much for notifying us about the broken link too. Although Amtrak trains are known to often run late, it seemed this Empire Builder was keen to keep on schedule. It’s perfectly allowed and acceptable to bring your own food and drinks aboard Amtrak trains. But we questioned our sanity when making the decision to sleep in coach seats for two nights in a row. It was a risky pursuit and one I’m hesitant to recommend to other Empire Builder passengers. A really detailed and useful post about the Amtrak service. There weren’t any long lines for airport security because such screenings don’t exist when riding Amtrak. 3:40. It was nice to be able to enjoy a few cold beers from our seat while watching the country go by. Thought I would share with you. You had me at classic rail journey. Also, note that Amtrak reservations works on the price “bucket” system. Your link to the schedule is no longer valid. Despite all the extra room, you are still sleeping on a train seat. Is it safe to leave bags at your seat when you go to the lounge car? You don’t want to stray too far though, as these trains don’t wait for missing passengers. Kind of regretting not getting a sleeper but it’s too late now. Then COVID hit. We love travelling by train because you get to see so much more and we like seeing the small, everyday differences in small town US compared to the UK. It was easy to spot, yet just as easy to miss if you weren’t looking. While traveling the world non-stop for 6 years to 100 countries, we have been on a search for adventure, fun, and value! Create a personalised content profile. Various amenities, such as wine and cheese tastings, travel kits, and chocolates are removed for sleeping car passengers. Hope that helps and you have a great time on the Amtrak Empire Builder! Thanks for the honest insight into what it’s really like – I love that the trains face out towards the window – I’ve never seen that ona train before. That all totals $438. Empire Builder westbound -by Freight w Havre Aftrnoon 2008-11-27. The Signature Steak is a favorite among Amtrak loyalists. Yet as we pulled into Seattle’s King Street Station, we were ready to get off. And while passengers got on and off throughout the night, so went our sleep pattern. Sometime in the wee morning hours, we had crossed into the fourth state of this rail trip, North Dakota. There are no facilities here for buying tickets or making travel arrangements — but the stop is within 2 miles of several small hotels. If only we had more time, it would have been ideal to include a stopover here in Glacier National Park. Your coach ticket ended up being an incredible deal, and even though it wasn’t your purpose, I can see how it could be a great way to take a sightseeing trip of the area too with all the little stops they ecourage you to take. These accommodations tend to fill up months in advance, especially during the summer season so be sure to reserve far enough in advance.Whitefish also has plenty of hotels, lodges and B&B accommodations. It was as if this awesome sight didn’t even matter. Paul, Minoit, and Spokane. It’s fun to have some idea about where you’re going and what cities you’re passing through. Our T-mobile plan lost service for much of the second day across North Dakota and Montana. Burr is the word. Sleeper accommodations vary in price according to season, trip length and facilities offered. Loved it! Space in the roomette is limited. To be fair we started our journey in Vancouver. Bags left at your seat would probably be fine, but I’d err on the side of caution with any valuables. WS. My roomette, often imagined a luxury, appeared like a necessity. Wish I knew! Mobile phones lost data signal for the vast majority of the day and the Amtrak Empire Builder is not equipped with any wifi. This is America. The Amtrak Empire Builder keeps a schedule and waits for no one. ⚠️ Caution: Do NOT stray far from the train. But no one was pointing out this wildlife. And that’s exactly what we did. It was the Great Northern Brewing Company, located within a 2-minute walk from the Whitefish Amtrak station we were pulling into. Roger Puta photo. Am going to update that right now. Some say the Empire Builder line is also the most scenic Amtrak train route. and trust what they say above this blog, the official schedule, or anything else. Purchasing a multi-city ticket can allow for a lower rate compared to booking two separate one-way tickets. But those brights lights were soon behind us as the Empire Builder chugged across the Great Plains under the cloak of darkness. Would you recommend trying to carry along a full size pillow or would a travel-sized one be sufficient? Although nervously watching the clock, I was able to enjoy the beer and even have a friendly chat with some Whitefish locals at the bar. But we did sleep. 0:41. Roomette rates include full-course meals in the dining car. I did my research! It was probably the least inspiring option on the Empire Builder café’s menu. As an example, say you priced a coach seat for $144, but then you decided you wanted a roomette for $550. The New Tequila Herradura Express: So Much Fun! They always make sure to fill four people to a table. The conductor was making a concerted effort to hurry passengers along. Book as early as possible, even a year in advance. The Chicago-Whitefish trip is 31 hours and 1626 miles. All When pulling out of Chicago’s Union Station, the bathrooms were sparkling clean. We rode the train from Syracuse to Chicago a couple years ago, and have done some shorter train rides, but I would love to go cross country on the train. The eastbound Empire Builder at the Camp Disappontment monument between Cut Bank and Browning, with the mountains of Glacier National Park in the background. Trains reveal views most travelers miss. Best to go to the domed cart. Trains also deliver a far more relaxing experience than air travel — from stress-free boarding, to often times free Wi-Fi — and relaxation is a great way to begin or end a vacation. But fares really shouldn’t be so high. I had literally no idea what was going to happen when I boarded the train at Chicago's Union Street Station. The deals are definitely out there if you keep your eyes on promos and also book early. It was a perfect excuse to actually have an experience outside the windows we’d been gazing out of during these past two days. Cabin goes wall to wall and bathroom is inside. We are riding the Empire Builder in a few weeks, having booked a roomette months ago and loved your review. Some regular train-riders said it was a nicer train than the California Zephyr and was one of the few left with a full dining car (we had a roomette, so meals were included). I dont know if you have ever been on this one (just found the site a couple a days ago). For others, the train was simply a way to get from Point A to Point B. Thanks for sharing your experience! This winter will be my first Amtrak trip without a sleeper, so I appreciated the insight on coach travel. . As we awoke on the third day of this journey across the US, on what had now become a shorter string of train cars, I overheard a conversation from the seats surrounding us. Empire Builder Start – Chicago; End – Portland/Seattle For an ideal trip through the northern part of the United States – particularly if you’re a Lewis and Clark fan and want to retrace some of their steps – Empire Builder is your train. This is the second time I’m doing this. A couple months ago I booked a Superliner Roomette on the Empire Builder from Seattle to Whitefish, MT. I have read a lot of reviews about this train and yours was by far the best. Yes, it’s definitely so well worth it to play around with the dates and find those buckets with more affordable fares. I wonder if he will be taking this train? I am getting really excited! Conservatively, that is $150 worth of meals for the both of you. So we most certainly planned ahead and stockpiled a small cooler with some of Chicago’s great microbrews to enjoy while on this scenic train ride across America. Having a proper bed to lie down in will better allow sleep and provide for a much more enjoyable experience. When we boarded the train, we let the steward know that I would need help getting up the stairs (about 10) and he said no problem. Seattle passengers cover 579 miles over 14 hours between King Street Station in downtown Seattle and Whitefish. This became handy to reference during the scenic 3-day journey to better understand the stops and sights that would be rolling by out the broad train windows. Between April 11 and Memorial Day weekend, you may find a double-whammy of good fortune this route: (1) long enough daylight hours and (2) cheaper tickets. This is where the allure of rail travel across the US takes a turn for the not-so-glamorous. In between farms, we passed quaint towns full of old-timey brick buildings. But it was still possible to feast our eyes on the glimmering glaciers directly from the train car. The westbound Empire Builder … So if you have to “go” often, this is another reason to consider booking a lower level seat on the Amtrak Empire Builder. The lower deck still has windows, albeit lower to the ground, of course. If it is the two of you in a roomette, the price would be (in this example) $694-actually a very realistic fare. Approximately 23 miles west of Cut Bank along Cut Bank Creek is the site of Camp Disappointment, the northernmost campsite of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, July 22-26, 1806. (And also hope that your train is on time!). Trying to decide which direction to take the Empire Builder to … Yet somehow it felt appropriate, as we chugged across the Mississippi River. With all that said, I still enjoy taking the Empire Builder eastbound from Portland than Seattle - due to the scenic Columbia River Gorge etc. Trains are fun to ride on, my partner and I love taking train rides, too! My husband has been wanting to take this journey for a while now and your post has made me a bit more excited!! So even for us, as a couple, we always got seated with two other strangers. Instead, the conductor’s passion for his profession clearly shined through every time his voice came across the intercom. Watching the scenery change before our eyes felt so much more rewarding than seeing it zip by through clouds down below. Drinking in your own sleeper is fine, as Amtrak just doesn’t want a roomette to turn into a party. So this was also a prompt to consider a beer. The Lake Shore Limited consists of a New York section (train number 48 eastbound, 49 westbound) and a Boston section (448 eastbound, 449 westbound), which run combined between Chicago and Albany. I am so grateful n pleased that you took the time to share your experience and all of this, much needed, very helpful info. Hope you have a great trip on the Empire Builder! So we took the calculated risk to stretch our legs through Minot’s antique district and the historic river walk. Tell me about the restroom facilities available. We think this is also a good value. For budget travelers like us, it all sounds like fantastic value! Thankfully, unlike regulations during air travel, Amtrak allows passengers to carry-on and consume their own alcohol aboard trains. This economical ticket covers two nights of accommodation, a scenic rail journey, and transportation from one side of the US to the other. Summer is a preferred time to ride on the Amtrak Empire Builder due to the increased day lengths, enabling passengers to better enjoy some of the best scenery along this rail route. My strong opinion: Scenery is better westbound on the California Zephyr whereas scenery is better eastbound on the Empire Builder (nice scenery both in/out of Seattle and Portland, so that's a toss up). Empire Builder passengers traveling eastbound from Seattle/Portland see much more of the Glacier Park area and less of the plains. We now understand the appeal of this trip and are excited to share it. I can really only afford to go one way on Amtrak (will have to fly the other way). Good Luck. If you can’t sleep on the sleeper beds, you likely won’t get much sleep in coach either, so might as well save the money. Note that a couple traveling together only pays one accommodation charge. Eastbound Empire Builder Essex MT 06 17 2010. And with high drink prices in the Amtrak bar car, it’s a smart move to bring your own booze if you want to tip back a few during the ride. Download books, games, and movies in advance to keep entertained, particularly if traveling with children. So I’d say grab a south-facing seat if you can (and that’s just our opinion), but either way is beautiful really. Coach ticket prices on the Amtrak Empire Builder start at $147 for Saver fare. Station Details Features That’s a fantastic rate for a sleeper for the route. Before we could catch our breath and get settled, the train was already rolling out of Union Station exactly on time at 2:15 PM. Suddenly and without warning, there was a swarm of army tanks passing outside the train windows! If you had to nail me down to more finitely pick a side, I’d say perhaps the left side was slightly more scenic going through Glacier National Park. And awesome! We took a cab back to the train station. So we boarded in Chicago to take the entire length of this train trip to judge for ourselves. The good news: westbound train No. Mentioning the fact that the cheap tickets simply gets you a chair to sleep in for two nights in a row, without showering nonetheless, will kill much of that notion of rail romanticism. Measure content performance. The sleeper would certainly make this a much more enjoyable experience. With that thought, it was time for dinner. Also, my guide dog would probably prefer to stretch out… so roomette for us! It was far too much for us to justify when compared to the $147 coach tickets. Late Spring, before Memorial Day, can be ideal. Thus, if you are only traveling in one direction, east-bound is preferable. Instead of staring mindlessly into those screens we love so much, we were instead forced into conversation with fellow travelers to pass the time. Meanwhile, hiking routes can be pursued right from the hotels near the station. As such, planning a trip on the Amtrak Empire Builder closest to that date will yield the most sightseeing hours. Yet everyone had a “we’re all in this together” attitude that was nice to feel as the midwestern countryside passed by out the windows. That was our cue to attempt sleep, in our coach class seats on the Empire Builder. You can also use it to determine what stations may be worth stretching your legs or perhaps to plan a stopover in advance. My son and I are taking the Empire Builder in April. At around 9:00 pm, we had a 20-minute stopover in Whitefish, Montana. The young man next to me replied, “Well sir, I have about 100 heads of cattle and grow a variety of different crops, ” as the train chugged across through a lush pine forest. Its Empire Builder route enters the southern fringe of Montana’s Glacier National Park, providing riders in picture-window observation cars with spectacular views and up to four stations. Hey, thanks for the informative post! Eastbound Seattle trains leave at 4:41 p.m., connecting overnight in Spokane with eastbound Empire Builder trains from Portland. Even for a single night, sure – they’ll do just fine. Unlike airlines, free baggage allotments on Amtrak include two carry-on bags and two checked pieces. This was a great review! Take the Empire Builder train between Washington state and Chicago with stops in Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis & more. Perhaps the most important consideration for timing is to attempt passing through Glacier National Park during daylight hours. It was contagious. Theoretically, if you could pile 4 people in, each additional person would pay only the base coach fare of $144. The lush forests we rolled through as the sun set in Minnesota had transitioned to rolling plains, farmland, and the sporadic small midwestern town. We had arrived in Minot, North Dakota. It’s something I’d really love to do when I re-visit the USA next time. I’m planning a round trip on the Empire Builder in a family bedroom, and it seems like the fare is consistently more expensive going eastbound than westbound. They could get off and re-board another Empire Builder train at the same time the next day or any day after. That’s slightly more than the price of two nights in a motel. Yet the cost of a Superliner Roomette can also go up to about $1,200 (and even higher). We spent hours there just relaxing and watching the scenery pass by. ➡. Back aboard the Amtrak Empire Builder, we journeyed onward to the fifth state of this rail adventure. So we felt that the lack of window washing to be the Empire Builder’s biggest blunder and such an easy remedy! Yet we found ourselves crossing the aisle to look out the left (south) side many times. One example: a search for late-August from Chicago to Whitefish round trip on Amtrak (coach) was $286, while the cheapest roundtrip airfare from nearby Kalispell was $336. If the day you are looking at has no cheap fares, try the next day. We were already beginning to notice some of the small perks of train travel, as we simply checked our larger packs before swiftly boarding the Amtrak Empire Builder. Otherwise opting to upgrade while on the train may actually end up costing even more. It was a pleasant novelty not having to arrive early to do the hurry-up-and-wait routine that airport check-ins have become. We regularly see viral videos about this rail journey across the US shared on social media, which have piqued our curiosity over the years. We took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland in May a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. Yes, we saw that train during our Jungle Trek to Machu Pichhu. Did you know Amtrak still delivers easy access to one of America’s most spectacular national parks? Trains only call at this “flagstop” when passengers appear on the platform. Many travelers begin their Empire Builder treks to Glacier in Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis or Chicago. The prairie scenery in North Dakota and eastern Montana is peaceful if not spectacular. Big Deals Westbound Tracks: A Michigan Freight Rider s Journal Full Read Best Seller. Our enthusiastic conductor had apparently departed overnight. Best I can see is around $1800. In a nation that’s often portrayed in the media as being harshly divided, you would never know it while traveling on Amtrak’s Empire Builder. And it was a good journey that we reflect back fondly about. But I’m pretty optimistic that you should likely be just fine to sit together. That was disappointing. After spending a few days exploring the Hi-Line and Lewis and Clark sites along the Missouri with him, I again board the eastbound or westbound train. Well, they weren’t strangers anymore after the meal. Expect to pay between $400-$1200 for a roomette between Chicago and Whitefish, $300-$800 from Minneapolis, and $200-$500 from Portland or Seattle. This 2,206-mile rail trip across the US can easily be accomplished by flight in one-tenth of the time and for about the same price. We were still able to get by with enough space to brush teeth and do some rudimentary cleaning. But the Amtrak Empire Builder was not without its shortcomings, as there were many little things that could be improved upon. Hope that helps! But it’s a long time to do all at once. Aboard the Amtrak Empire Builder eastbound from Seattle to Chicago in August 2016. After stepping onto the Amtrak Empire Builder, we soon found out the crew really does belt out an “all aboard” call as the train is departing. 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