I've traveled over 4,500 miles on Amtrak trains. My rides have been great and filled with surprises.
A frequent traveler shares their positive experiences with long-distance train travel across the United States via Amtrak. The author highlights the comfort of the seating arrangements and the social benefits of interacting with fellow passengers.
Why it matters
This reflects a growing interest in alternative, flight-free travel methods and the cultural value of rail infrastructure in the US.
After traveling over 4,500 miles on Amtrak, I've learned some surprising things about train travel. Malia Yoshioka In three months, I've traveled over 4,500 miles on Amtrak trains and come across some surprises. For example, my routes sometimes coincide with Amtrak's partnership with the National Park Service. I've also learned that Amtrak trains don't have middle seats. From taking a bullet train in Japan to backpacking around Europe, I've visited 43 countries so far, and I try to travel by rail whenever possible. However, when I reviewed the states I've visited in the US over the years, I found that I almost always flew to get from point A to point B, bypassing most of the country in the process. So, I recently decided to focus on flight-free travel in order to see as many states as I could from the ground.
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