Every year, instead of flying home to southeastern Virginia, I always opt to take the train.
My journey typically starts in New York, winding down the Northeast Corridor before stopping in Washington, DC. While this busy stretch of track is far from the most scenic train ride in the US, there were still moments when I found my face pressed against the window—like near Havre de Grace, Maryland where the Susquehanna River widens—unable to look away. It was a reminder of how the joys of slow travel can sneak up on you, even in familiar places you may have traveled through countless times before.
That said, there are certain train routes in the US with scenery so mesmerizing that they are worth taking for the sights alone. Amtrak, of course, has more than 30 different train routes crisscrossing every US region, from the vast deserts of the Southwest to the sparkling coast of California, and majestic mountain ranges in between. But even more private rail operators in states like Alaska and Hawaii offer their own scenic train rides that shouldn’t be overlooked. The challenge, then, becomes picking which train trip to take—and when. Below, we’ve selected 13 of the most scenic train rides in the US that are worth booking for the views alone.
This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
