I've spent 128 hours on overnight Amtrak trains. These are the 8 biggest mistakes I've made.
A reporter shares lessons learned from spending over 128 hours on overnight Amtrak trains, focusing on common travel mistakes. Key advice includes joining the rewards program early and checking for complimentary lounge access to improve the travel experience.
Why it matters
Practical travel advice for long-distance rail passengers helps optimize costs and comfort, reflecting a growing interest in alternative travel methods.
Business Insider's reporter has spent over 120 hours on overnight Amtrak trains. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Overnight Amtrak train travel can be the journey of a lifetime if you can avoid common mistakes. After spending 128 hours traveling 5,000 miles on overnight Amtrak trains, I have some regrets. I've forgotten to check for WiFi access, slept in the wrong bunk, and overlooked lounge access. I've made far more than eight mistakes in the 128 hours I've spent on overnight Amtrak trains. These are just the biggest ones. It all started in October 2021, when I took two 30-hour Amtrak rides between Miami and NYC. My next Amtrak sleeper journey was in January 2025, when I traveled 15 hours from Denver to Salt Lake City. Most recently, in February 2026, I took Amtrak's longest train from Chicago to Emeryville, California, in 53 hours.
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