The United States is set to celebrate 200 years of commercial rail travel in 2027, and now is the time to plan a trip to see the vast nation from a different perspective.
From Rocky Mountain crossings and Route 66 adventures to vintage steam trains and hotels made from restored carriages, the anniversary is putting the spotlight on the many ways to explore the US by rail.
Ahead of the anniversary on 28 February next year, Brand USA is not just throwing its weight behind the country’s varied train routes, but also through ways to experience the heritage, including staying in restored railway carriages.
When US passenger rail travel began in 1827, it quickly became a key way to cross the huge country. Railways linked cities, opened up new destinations and turned the train journey itself into part of the American travel experience.
While many of us now associate the US with driving and flying from state to state, admittedly, its rail network is significantly less comprehensive than we’re used to in Europe, but it does offer some real gems.
"Rail is where America's travel story began, and 200 years later, the romance of the rails endures,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of Brand USA.
“The 2027 bicentennial is a timely invitation for travellers to slow down, look out the window, and take in the unique beauty of the USA mile by mile.”
The 200th anniversary will be marked across the US throughout 2027, with museums, historic stations and heritage railways hosting exhibitions, special train rides and other events. The Mid-Atlantic state of Maryland is highlighting its rail heritage, offering visits to its rail-themed museums and scenic train rides across the state.
Meanwhile, Branchville, South Carolina, will host its long-running Raylrode Daze Festivul, which began in 1969. The town is home to the oldest railroad junction in the US, making it a fitting place to celebrate two centuries of American rail travel.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan a successful rail adventure in the US in 2027.
Explore from the rails rather than by road or air
The US has wildly different landscapes, from rugged coastal spots and metropolises to deserts and mountains, and so many of them can be missed if you choose to fly across the country or go by car.
Luckily, there are a number of train routes which allow travellers to see some of these geographical phenomena in a unique way.
If you’re keen to explore the west of the country in a different way, a trip aboard the Canyon Spirit is an excellent plan.
Taking passengers between Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, the train only runs in daylight, meaning those onboard can take in dramatic canyons, mountains and red-rock landscapes rather than sleeping through them. Guests can see the best of the West in the daytime, before disembarking and sleeping in hotels along the route.
You may think that Route 66 – arguably the ultimate American road trip – might only be done by road, but in fact, you don’t necessarily need a car to follow its path.
The Amtrak Southwest Chief runs from Chicago towards Los Angeles, passing through communities and landscapes associated with the legendary highway.
Stops including Albuquerque and Flagstaff offer a chance to explore the Southwest, with the Grand Canyon also within reach, before continuing west to LA.
Other routes can be explored by using Amtrak, the country’s national passenger rail system.
The California Zephyr links Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area via the Rockies and Sierra Nevada, while the Coast Starlight runs from Seattle to Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the Empire Builder travels from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest, passing Glacier National Park and enormous plains and mountains which give travellers an idea of how awe-inspiringly large the US really is.
A new wave of American trains – and some heritage options
America’s rail network is also getting a modern makeover, with new trains and services opening up different corners of the country.
In the Pacific Northwest, Amtrak’s soon-to-be-launched Airo trains will serve the Cascades route between cities including Seattle and Portland, linking urban breaks with mountains, forests, wine country and the coast.
Down on the Gulf Coast, the Mardi Gras Service connects New Orleans with Mobile, Alabama. That means visitors can extend a stay in New Orleans beyond its jazz, food and historic neighbourhoods, continuing east by rail and discovering lesser-known coastal communities along the way.
If you’re keen to experience a taste of America’s railway past, hop aboard one of its many heritage trains.
Colorado’s Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad winds through the San Juan Mountains, while the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad crosses into New Mexico, with themed rides including dinner and live music.
Elsewhere, Pennsylvania’s Strasburg Rail Road operates in one of the country’s oldest railway regions, while West Virginia’s Cass Scenic Railroad ferries passengers into the Appalachian Mountains on tracks once associated with the logging industry.
If you want to see some of the best fall foliage the Northeast has to offer, New York’s Finger Lakes Rail Experience offers scenic journeys through historic landscapes, which boast plenty of reds and oranges in the autumn.
Stations and museums offer historical insight
Railway history isn’t confined to the tracks, with museums and former stations offering a closer look at how trains shaped the US.
Baltimore is a good place to start, with the former B&O Railroad Museum marking the bicentenary with special programming and a new Innovation Hall.
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is also opening a new accessible roundhouse in 2027, housing six historic steam locomotives.
Elsewhere, historic stations have been given new lives, including Denver Union Station, which houses the Crawford Hotel, where Pullman-style rooms are designed to mimic vintage sleeper cars.
In Omaha, Nebraska, the Durham Museum is inside the 1931 Art Deco Union Station. Visitors here can climb aboard restored 1940s passenger train cars and buy a malted milkshake from a working 1931 soda fountain.
Los Angeles Union Station is a particular architectural highlight, with tours exploring its design, history and artwork.
Sleep in a piece of railroad history
If you want to fully embrace all things railways-themed, you don’t even have to leave the station to sleep in America’s railway history.
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo lets guests stay in restored Pullman carriages, while the nearby Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers historic train rides.
In Salt Lake City, the Asher Adams occupies the former Union Pacific Depot, while Minneapolis’ Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot retains its railway heritage.
For something more unusual, Idaho Train Stays in Deary has restored carriages and a caboose, while Antigua Inn in Madrid, New Mexico offers stays in converted cabooses. Nearby, Lamy’s The Hamilton has a restored 1920s Pullman railcar, while Sky Railway offers themed journeys from Lamy and Santa Fe.
From here, travellers can opt to ride the Sky Railway, a railroad dating to 1880 which was revived and restored in part by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. Today, it hosts experiences with themes including stargazing, murder mystery, live jazz and margarita tastings.
In Omaha, 10 restored Union Pacific cabooses at Two Rivers State Recreation Area can be booked for overnight stays in warm-weather months.