Amtrak California Zephyr (Train 5) connects Chicago Union Station to San Francisco (Emeryville) in approximately 52 hours over 3,923 km — considered by many to be the most scenic rail journey in North America. It traverses the Rocky Mountains through Glenwood Canyon, the Sierra Nevada, and arrives at San Francisco Bay.
| # | Station | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago Union Station Chicago | Start | 14:00 |
| 2 | Galesburg Galesburg | 17:01 | 17:06 |
| 3 | Burlington Burlington | 18:04 | 18:08 |
| 4 | Denver Union Station Denver | 07:58 | 08:25 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City Salt Lake City | 21:33 | 21:55 |
| 6 | Reno Reno | 08:11 | 08:26 |
| 7 | Sacramento Sacramento | 11:54 | 12:05 |
| 8 | Emeryville Oakland | 13:38 | 13:40 |
| 9 | San Francisco San Francisco | 14:10 | End |
Timetable data is sourced from official United States railways records and may vary due to delays or seasonal changes. Always verify with the official operator before travelling.
The California Zephyr is one of Amtrak's most celebrated long-distance trains, running since 1970 between Chicago and San Francisco (Emeryville) and passing through the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada on one of the most scenically dramatic rail routes in North America.
The California Zephyr covers 3,924 kilometres between Chicago Union Station and Emeryville (across the bay from San Francisco) in approximately 51 hours, making it a two-night journey across the American Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada. The route passes through Denver, Salt Lake City, Reno, and Sacramento, with the Colorado Rockies section between Denver and Grand Junction considered one of the finest rail journeys in the world.
The westbound Zephyr enters the Rocky Mountains through the Moffat Tunnel at 2,820 metres above sea level and then follows the Colorado River canyon for several hours through towering red rock walls and dramatic gorges. The Sierra Nevada crossing on the following evening includes the snow sheds at Donner Pass before descending into California's Central Valley.
Onboard accommodation options include Coach (reclining seats, no bedding), Roomette (private room for two with fold-down beds and meals included), and Bedroom (larger private room with an en-suite toilet). Coach passengers purchase food from the Dining Car or Café Car at their own expense. Sleeping car passengers receive all meals included in the Dining Car as part of the accommodation price.
Book California Zephyr tickets at amtrak.com. Long-distance fares fluctuate by availability and are significantly cheaper when booked months ahead. The Auto Train accepts vehicles if you are travelling to the East Coast from Florida instead. A USA Rail Pass provides unlimited long-distance journeys for a fixed period and can be good value for multi-leg itineraries.
Travel tip: Book a Superliner Roomette or Bedroom sleeping accommodation rather than Coach for the California Zephyr, as sightseeing through the Rockies and Sierra Nevada takes a full day and proper meals are included with sleeping car tickets.
Reserved seating
Reserved seating
Reserved seating
Book California Zephyr tickets at amtrak.com, the official Amtrak portal. Compare fares and seat availability before booking. Online booking typically opens 30 to 90 days before departure.
Book NowVisit any Amtrak booking office in person. Staff can help with seat selection, group bookings, and special assistance. Book early for popular departure times and holidays.
Contact Amtrak for schedule information, delay updates, and booking assistance via their official website or station helpdesk.
Visit AmtrakCalifornia Zephyr departs at 14:00 and arrives at the final destination at 14:10. The total scheduled journey time is approximately 0h 10m. Times use the official United States timetable and are local times at each stop. Always verify with Amtrak on the day of travel as schedules can change due to engineering work or seasonal adjustments.
California Zephyr fares start from approximately USD 85 for Coach class and go up to USD 495 for Bedroom. Higher-class fares include wider seating, climate control, and on long-distance services may include meals. Book through amtrak.com for the latest published fares and to check current seat availability.
Tickets for California Zephyr are sold through amtrak.com, the official Amtrak booking platform. Online booking opens between 30 and 180 days before departure depending on operator. Book in advance for the cheapest available fares. Tickets can also be purchased at station booking offices during opening hours, typically 08:00–20:00 daily.
California Zephyr makes 9 scheduled stops along its route. The journey starts at Chicago Union Station and ends at San Francisco. Major intermediate stops include Galesburg, Burlington, Denver Union Station, Salt Lake City, Reno. The full stop sequence with arrival and departure times is shown in the table above.
California Zephyr running days are shown in the hero section at the top of this page (badges indicate which days of the week the train operates). Some long-distance services run daily while others operate only on specific days (typically weekday-only or weekend-only). Operating days can change with the annual timetable revision (usually December) so verify current running days with Amtrak before booking, particularly for trips planned more than 6 months ahead.
Yes, amtrak.com typically accepts international debit and credit cards from major card networks. Some operators require a local phone number for SMS confirmation — check the booking requirements before starting your reservation. Booking platforms display fares in the local currency of the operator.
California Zephyr offers 3 travel classes: Coach, Roomette, Bedroom. Economy or standard classes have reserved numbered seats at the lowest fare. Premium classes (business, first class, sleeper) add wider seats, climate control, and on overnight services berths for lying flat. The fare table on this page lists current published prices for each class.
Platform numbers are not pre-published — they are announced on station information displays between 20 and 60 minutes before scheduled departure. Arrive early at the originating station to check the platform allocation displays. At larger stations, platform numbers can also be viewed on the operator's app. If the train is delayed or rescheduled, the platform may change at short notice — always verify against station displays immediately before boarding.
Opens Amtrak official booking site