Have any of you taken Amtrak for any extended trip? I am considering buying my RV from a dealer in CA (great price quote, rave reviews from the Newmar community, etc) and since I hate flying, I thought I might take the train from WV. If I'm reading the schedules right, should take just under 4 days and it'll be ~$800.

I've only done Amtrak on the East Coast. DC/Baltimore to NYC.

Are you dead set against flying. A one-way ticket would be less and get you there the same day. Unless you're looking at some sightsing train trip I wouldn't want to spend 4 days on a train and then it would have to be something special.

I hope that cost includes some kind of room with some sort of bed.

Have never ridden Amtrak, but there was a thread on another forum I look at which said they are notorious for being hours late. Something to keep in mind if you’re tryingto maintain a schedule.

Yeah, those are.....berths? Staterooms? Whatever they call them on trains. LOL

And yes, flying scares the crap out of me nowadays. LOL Not sure why, it makes no sense. But even the smoothest flights have me white-knuckling the armrest and sore for hours after untensing from the flight.

I figure this is a once-in-a-lifetime kinda thing. Ride out there, spend a day or two getting the RV, then driving back.

Yup have done it.
Delivered a Jeep out to a buddy in Colorado. Rode Amtrak back it was just fine we were cheap and used the AAA discount and did not get a sleeper car so it was silly cheap. Our destination there was no station literally got dropped off in the middle of a crossing at 1am.

I’d prefer to rent a car one way than take Amtrak though. We were 18 so no rental company would rent to us and I too hate flying and will only do it if there is an ocean between.

We both bought skis while in Colorado (it was summer and got a killer deal on some demos still use them to this day) and to keep them protected we wrapped them up in our sleeping bags which happened to be black. One on one end and one on the other with some straps to carry them and keep the bags in place. Got it all packaged up and if for damn sur did not look just like a body bag.
So what was any 18 year old jokester to do pre 9/11 as there were ZERO bag checks for what you carried on. That’s right bought some good old stencils and spray paint and painted CORONER on each side.

Man did we get some looks.

Friends of the family do a trip about every year and love it. They always get a sleeper.
They fly as well can definitely afford whatever travel they would want.
My personal experience is getting home from college 30 years ago. Not bad but nothing special for the fairly short trip.

I've taken a couple 400+ mile trips a couple decades past just to enjoy the change.

Take extra snacks/reading/batteries/occupational therapy.

Expect delays. If there comes a situation where they offer you a bus ride somewhere, TAKE IT.

Not to make boring talk, one trip started catching the Starlite Express out of Eugene. It was late due to derailment IN the railyard!!!

Coming back from Seattle, all was delayed due to the VP plane landing at Boeing Field. Just got rolling & had to stop as somebody ran a truck into an overpass abutment. More unexpected delays over the next 100 miles made us have to pull over to wait for a freight to pass (yes, they have right of way) then another stop because our schedule now was so behind a 2 hour trip segment, more stop & wait. Then going a bit but we literally ran out of go juice for the engine. Then it got into town 6+ hours behind schedule. Then my own stop 100+ miles down the line I arrived 7 1/2 hours behind schedule.

Pretty zen-like way to travel. I'd do it again with expectation of interruptions, & come better prepared.

And I'd rent the little sleeper suite, not just the bunk style Pullman on some routes.

Consider it your own 'Voyage of Discovery' and read the Journals of Lewis & Clark or similar that will augment.

only one piece of advise. Don't. It truly sucks. Rent a car.

I don't like flying either but 4 days on a train? I think I would suck it up and fly. Take a Xanax maybe.

When the boys were in about 5th/6th grade, rode from St Louis to Flagstaff. Loved the scenery but your going through generally the oldest parts of cities with urban issues. Got into the middle of a large police bust in Albuquerque. It will run late, food was surprisingly good, and if you get off and the train has left, don't worry. There will be another in 24 hours. Sleeper rooms are a little pricey.

The computer company I used to work for had a training center in Lisle, Il. I've made quite a few trips there over the years.

I've driven, flown and taken the train there from New Orleans. I've never cared for flying and unless the course was several weeks long there was no point in driving. Taking the train was the most relaxing and the company always paid for a sleeper room.

The longest trip I took on Amtrak was from New Orleans to Glacier National Park. It was four full days on the train and five days at the park.

I booked a sleeper car for only one night. The other three nights I spent in coach. The sleeper cars between Chicago and Glacier were way too expensive.

I highly recommend getting sleeper room if possible. The trip is much more enjoyable traveling that way.

I'm too lazy to verify this, but I'm pretty sure that statistically you're more likely to be involved in an accident with either a train or bus. I'd just suck it up and fly if I was in your shoes.

But that's just me, but if you decide to go by train I'll wager it will be the first and last time you do it.

Jim

I had a positive experience riding Amtrak across country in 2006. Rode from Va to Seattle, 3 days, flew to Alaska, came back to Seattle, then down the West Coast to LA, through AZ, NM and back to Va 3 days.

I had a sleeper compartment,and first class ticket, it wasn't cheap, but I had a good time.

The only time things (schedule) was messed up was when I went through California. However. I would not travel coach for more than one night after seeing some of the miserable people taking long trips via coach.

Wife rode from San Antonio to Alpine, a drive of around 6 hours. Took over 12 hours on Amtrak. Apparently freight trains take priority over passenger service. Hop a freight.

I would just rent a car.This summer I just drove to the Rocky Mountains and through South Dakota from NY.from WV it should take you 3 days at most to get there.

quote:

Originally posted by MoreCowbell:
I would just rent a car.This summer I just drove to the Rocky Mountains and through South Dakota from NY.from WV it should take you 3 days at most to get there.

I was going to suggest that when I first saw this thread. Maybe he can do a lot better, but I did quick and dirty research on a one way rental from (using these towns as an example) Wheeling to LA and it was $1400+!

I've used Amtrak between MN and MT. It was peaceful and I did enjoy the scenery (prairies, foothills and mountains). Though you'll likely not be going that route.


I've not had a sleeper car, but if I was going on a 4 day trip via Amtrak, I would seriously consider that. I can't imagine sleeping in coach for 3 or 4 nights - that would be a challenge for me (slightly bigger than bus seats and zero privacy). Bring plenty of snacks and a few things that will occupy your time (good books?) because you'll have a lot of free time.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:

quote:

Originally posted by MoreCowbell:
I would just rent a car.This summer I just drove to the Rocky Mountains and through South Dakota from NY.from WV it should take you 3 days at most to get there.

I was going to suggest that when I first saw this thread. Maybe he can do a lot better, but I did quick and dirty research on a one way rental from (using these towns as an example) Wheeling to LA and it was $1400+!

One way car rentals are awful unless you are able to find a really good deal somewhere. It can happen but often its hundreds of dollars a day or a crazy 1-way drop fee.

For that long a train ride, I see a sleeper as a must. I've done some West Coast train rides (Central Valley CA, short 3-5 hour rides) when it made sense a handful of times, but otherwise I have better things to do with my time than be stuck on a train for 4 days.

Son and I went from New Orleans to DC

We enjoyed it even though most was at night

I do recommend getting a sleeper. The price includes meals. Our trip the kitchen car was broken. Sleeper cars still got meals

It worked ok for John Madden.