Amtrak’s Southwest Chief train route from Los Angeles to Chicago rolls through the desert to New Mexico before pivoting northeast through the Midwest.
The 2,265-mile journey takes two full days, traversing some of the most scenic parts of the country, plus major cities such as Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and Kansas City.
It also happens to criss-cross the westernmost part of Historic Route 66 between Los Angeles and Albuquerque, giving travelers an opportunity to experience some of the most iconic desert stops.
Here’s a closer look…
The Train of the Stars
Today’s Southwest Chief line was once a Santa Fe flagship line nicknamed the “Train of the Stars,” due to its high ridership of Hollywood clientele who used the route to travel between L.A. and Chicago.
Passenger lists from this time included Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and more.
Nearly a century later, the route still draws a few hundred thousand passengers a year.
Route 66 highlights on the Southwest Chief
Along the way, the route hits a string of major cities and small towns, including several Route 66 intersections.
In California, travelers visit Needles on the Colorado River, the Harvey House depot in Barstow, and the Route 66 museum in Victorville.
The train eventually hits Flagstaff, which is a common jumping-off point for visiting the Grand Canyon. Albuquerque is the route’s longer service stop, where travelers can purchase from Native art vendors right on the train platform, or end their journey in the Sandia Mountains.
From Albuquerque, the Southwest Chief turns northeast toward Chicago. Dodge City brings Wild West history, Kansas City offers jazz and barbecue, and of course Chicago makes for a memorable end point.
Riding the Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief departs daily from Los Angeles’ Union Station, offering a mix coach, sleeping accommodations, and shared spaces where you can pass the time.
The experience is built around the Superliner double-decker train cars, and the glass-walled Sightseer Lounge car is a popular spot to take in the scenery of the American West.
Would you take a ride aboard the Southwest Chief?
🌐 Learn more: Amtrak Southwest Chief