As a native of Washington, DC, I’ll never forget looking out the window of an Amtrak train to take in the desert scenes of the American Southwest. The view looked just like the cowboy movies I loved as a kid.
On other rides, I took in the endless open skies around Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the rising mountains on the way into Colorado. I could feel the Rockies approaching, and with them, a sense of the hugeness of the United States.
Rides like these are why I love traveling with Amtrak’s $500 USA Rail Pass — a package of 10 “segments,” or tickets, that allow me to visit more than 500 destinations across the country.
The pass savings stack up quickly. For example, a longer-haul round-trip ride, such as one from DC to New Orleans and back, can cost over $500 — the same price as a full 10-ride pass.
The USA Rail Pass is valid for 30 days after the first ride and, in my opinion, includes access to some of the most beautiful journeys that US rail travel has to offer.
I’ve purchased the pass three times, and though the rides aren’t perfect, they’re definitely worth the money.
The rides aren’t luxurious, but they’re comfortable enough
To be completely honest, most of the rides I’ve taken have been slow and sometimes uncomfortable.
The USA Rail Pass is valid only in the coach class, which means the train doesn’t provide a private bedroom or a place to shower. During long-haul rides, I sometimes wished I had access to more than the train’s standard, public restrooms.
But the seats do recline, and I’ve found them to be comfortable enough. Plus, the crew usually dims the lights during nighttime rides, which helps with getting some shuteye.
There’s also plenty of space to keep my personal belongings organized.
Even though the WiFi isn’t great, I’ve used this as an excuse to live in the moment
In my experience, Amtrak’s onboard WiFi is often unreliable, which is fair given the remote areas crossed on some routes. There’s also no option to buy an upgraded connection.
During each of the three times I used the pass, my internet connection wavered throughout my rides.
However, this led me to step outside my comfort zone to pass the time. Instead of scrolling on my phone — which I could do anywhere — I embraced the now-or-never opportunities on board.
In the café car — or the observation car, which features floor-to-ceiling windows on some trains — I’ve literally watched the world go by.
I’ve even gotten to chat with people from diverse backgrounds, from New York City restaurant workers to Belgian newlyweds who were celebrating their marriage with a grand tour around the US. I don’t know that I would have had these experiences if I had been glued to my phone or laptop.
I’ve been able to see parts of the country I never thought I would
My life in DC means I have few connections to the farther corners of the country. But the pass has encouraged me to venture across regions I may not have seen otherwise.
Long rides through the Pacific Northwest, or the desert landscapes between California and Texas, were made possible — and affordable — because of the USA Rail Pass. Had the journeys been more expensive, I might not have taken them at all.
The rides have also offered views I probably couldn’t have seen on any other form of transportation.
Often, I noticed that the rails followed no other road or river, meaning the stark scenes of nature and wildlife I saw were thanks to the train’s unique vantage point.
I have no plans to stop traveling with the USA Rail Pass
Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass is a scenic, cost-effective way to get around the country.
The package may run short on luxury, but the charms of an all-American rail journey — or 10 of them — mean riders can connect with the country, and each other, in stimulating new ways.
Through it all, I’ve learned to appreciate the pass as a total package. It provides the chance to cover vast distances for less than $50 a ride and the opportunity to meet fellow riders from all over America and the world.
This story was originally published on July 2, 2025, and most recently updated on July 24, 2026.
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