Enjoy 50% Off Private Room Rates on Amtrak’s Most Scenic Routes This Spring

Amtrak is currently offering a buy-one-get-one-free sale on its private Roomettes, which are compact rooms for up to two travelers, available until March 21, 2022, for journeys between March 16, 2022, and May 22, 2022.

While Amtrak Roomettes may not offer luxury train travel, they provide enough space for two seats facing each other that convert into a bed at night, along with an additional bunk that folds down from the ceiling for a second guest. The Viewliner Roomettes on trains to and from New York City feature an in-room toilet, unlike the Superliner Roomettes. (The larger Amtrak Bedrooms can fit a third guest and come with in-room showers as well as toilets.)

Roomette fares cover access to hot showers, coffee, and room service, along with evening turn-down service. Meals are also included, featuring Amtrak’s flexible dining service on select routes. It’s a cozy travel option and one of the finest ways to enjoy the stunning scenery of the United States without the hassle of long-distance driving. (Amtrak still mandates that passengers wear face masks on trains, except when in their own private room.)

Although this sale is not applicable on the popular Auto Train from Lorton, Virginia, to Sanford, Florida, you can take advantage of these fares on several scenic routes: California Zephyr, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder, Lake Shore Limited, Silver Star, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, and Texas Eagle.

For more inspiration, explore these long-distance Amtrak train routes renowned for their stunning scenery across the United States.

Coast Starlight

This remarkable 35-hour journey from Seattle to Los Angeles is often regarded as the most beautiful train ride in the United States—and for good reason. Traveling from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California on the Coast Starlight, you traverse the Cascade Range, witness the majestic snow-capped peak of Mount Shasta, and enjoy breathtaking views of the California coastline for miles on end.

We discovered one-way Roomette fares for two travelers from Los Angeles to Seattle starting as low as $432 during this promotion.

California Zephyr

While you could fly from Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area in under five hours, the California Zephyr offers a chance to enjoy the scenic plains of Iowa and Nebraska before ascending into the Rockies and crossing the Sierra Nevada to reach Emeryville, California, just across the bay from San Francisco.

We discovered one-way Roomette fares for two passengers on the Salt Lake City to Sacramento segment of this route starting as low as $239 during this promotion.

Lake Shore Limited

Beginning in either New York City or Boston, the Lake Shore Limited connects in Albany, New York, and travels to Chicago. Along the way, you'll experience the picturesque Finger Lakes region of New York before following the southern shore of Lake Erie and the banks of Lake Michigan, ultimately arriving in Chicago.

During this Amtrak promotion, you can find one-way Roomette fares for two passengers at $740 on the New York to Chicago route.

Empire Builder

The Empire Builder route from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago is one of our top picks for winter train rides, but it offers stunning views all year round.

Traveling through the Columbia River Gorge and exiting Oregon toward Spokane, Washington (with departures also from Seattle), you'll pass by Glacier National Park before traversing the plains of North Dakota. Along the way, enjoy stunning views of the Mississippi River and the Minneapolis skyline as you make your way to Chicago.

Currently, one-way Roomette fares for two passengers are available for as low as $193 on the Minneapolis to Chicago segment of this route.

Sunset Limited

The Sunset Limited train travels from New Orleans to Los Angeles, stopping along the way in San Antonio, Tucson, and Phoenix. On Amtrak’s southernmost route, you can experience Bayou Country, the deserts of the Southwest, and the mountains of California. National park enthusiasts can enhance their journey by disembarking in Tucson to visit Saguaro National Park and in Alpine, Texas, to explore Big Bend National Park.

During this Amtrak promotion, we discovered one-way Roomette fares for two passengers at $570 on the Los Angeles to Alpine, Texas, route.

Southwest Chief

Have you always wanted to explore the American West but dread the thought of spending days driving along Route 66? Amtrak’s Southwest Chief follows a similar path from Chicago to Los Angeles, stopping in cities like Kansas City, Albuquerque, and Flagstaff. Once you leave the Midwest, the train journeys through the Southwest, weaving through canyons and providing views that are inaccessible from the highway.

We found one-way Roomette fares for two passengers on the Los Angeles to Albuquerque segment of this route for just $497 during this sale.

How to book this Amtrak deal

To take advantage of these buy-one-get-one Amtrak fares, simply enter the discount code "C450" while booking, or visit the promotion page at amtrak.com/privateroomsale, where the price will be automatically adjusted.

This Amtrak offer includes one complimentary companion fare with the purchase of a standard full adult fare. Passengers must travel together in the same room for sleeping arrangements and on the same reservation.

This article was first published online in June 2018 and was updated in April 2021, with further revisions made on March 15, 2022, to incorporate the latest information.