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Amtrak Southwest Chief train tickets—Search & book deals

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About Amtrak Southwest Chief

The Southwest Chief is a long-distance passenger rail service operated by Amtrak, the biggest train service in the United States. It runs between Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA connecting 32 cities across Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The Southwest Chief operates daily in either direction, transporting over 1,000 passengers every day. A full end-to-end journey covers about 2,265 miles and takes approximately 43 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief service is largely considered to be one of the most scenic train routes. Trains on this line pass through several natural phenomena, including the Painted Desert, the Red Cliffs of Sedona, and the Grand Canyon, offering stunning views of America’s unique landscape.

Contact Amtrak Southwest Chief

Phone number:
1 (800) 872-7245

Amtrak Southwest Chief Amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Toilet
  • Extra legroom
  • Loyalty rewards
  • Power points
  • Snacks

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Amtrak Southwest Chief train coverage

Daily Trips
62
stations
32
cities
32
countries
1
  • United States

What travellers are saying about Amtrak Southwest Chief

Here’s what Wanderu users who have booked trips with Amtrak Southwest Chief had to say about their travel experience.

Travelling During COVID-19

  • “They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
    92%

Onboard Experience

  • “I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
    84%
  • “Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
    95%
  • “The train got there on time.”
    67%
  • “Seats were really comfy and spacious”
    93%
  • “The train was almost suspiciously clean”
    90%

Amtrak Southwest Chief reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Southwest Chief Based on 261 reviews

4.6

Ratings (Out of 5)

Comfort
Timeliness
Staff
Value

Amtrak Southwest Chief passenger reviews

  • Margaret6 October 2026Lamy – Flagstaff

    Pros Without cell service or a agent, having the train two hours late and zero communication was frustrating

  • Alice3 August 2026Fort Madison – Chicago

    Pros Observation car, friendly staff, scenic ride Tips Put the phone down and enjoy the views and talk to the people around you :)

  • Alice3 July 2026Chicago – Fort Madison

    Pros Observation car Cons Everything went well, the delay was due to weather and wind restriction so cannot fight mother nature Tips Enjoy!

  • Cleveland1 July 2026Winslow – Los Angeles

    Pros I Like that it set me down in the center of town, I was able to ride the metro right to my hotel, Cons It could be modernized a bit , it moves quite slow like 60 mph Tips dress comfy and settle in for the ride, make it fun, or plan to rest during the trip

  • David6 November 2025Victorville – Los Angeles

    Pros Smooth and comfortable Cons Punctuality

Amtrak Southwest Chief Routes & Network

Amtrak Southwest Chief’s train network features 297 train routes that connect 32 cities serving 32 stations. On average, Amtrak Southwest Chief performs about 62 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Southwest Chief offers the highest number of daily train service include Chicago and Kansas City.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Southwest Chief
CityDaily TripsEarliest trainLatest train
Chicago130:3723:22
Kansas City41:1023:15
Albuquerque50:3723:24
Los Angeles61:4023:54
Flagstaff31:3723:24
Gallup13:3916:55
Fullerton33:5223:54
Riverside31:4023:54
Galesburg31:5120:47

Amtrak Southwest Chief Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Southwest Chief tickets can be cancelled for a full refund within the first 24 hours after purchase. If more than 24 hours have passed, the cancellation policy and change fee structure for Amtrak bookings depend on the type of fare you purchased:

Saver Fare tickets: A 25% fee applies for any changes. If you cancel the trip, you will receive an eVoucher worth 75% of the original ticket price.

Value Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable up to 15 or more days before departure. If cancelled less than 14 days before departure, a 25% cancellation fee applies.

Flexible, Business and Premium Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable if cancelled or changed before departure.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable after the train has departed, so be sure to make your updates as soon as possible if your travel plans change.

If your Amtrak Southwest Chief ticket is eligible for change or cancellation, you can do that by calling Amtrak’s customer service phone number at 1 (800) 872-7245. To cancel or change your booking online, simply go to www.amtrak.com and click on the “Modify Trip” tab in the upper right corner.

Wanderu also offers an affordable trip protection option by Allianz Global Assistance that you can purchase when booking your tickets. In addition to 24-hour assistance during your trip and coverage for lost or damaged baggage, trip protection can help you get your money back in case you need to cancel or change your trip. You can file a claim to have any Amtrak change or cancellation fees reimbursed if you cannot travel due to covered reasons such as illness, extreme weather, or required work shifts.

Amtrak Southwest Chief Baggage Policy

Hand Luggage

  • One (1) personal item – max. weight: 25 lbs (12 kg), max. dimensions: 14 x 11 x 7 in (35 x 28 x 18 cm)

  • Two (2) hand luggage items – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 28 x 22 x 14 in (71 x 56 x 35 cm)

Additional Hand Luggage Rules:

  • Pushchairs and car seats do not count toward the hand luggage limit.

  • Overweight bags must be repacked so they are under 50 lbs. Boxes may be purchased at staffed stations to aid in repacking.

  • A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each hand luggage and personal item above the quantity and size limits. A maximum of two excess bags are permitted per passenger.

Checked Baggage

  • Two (2) items for free – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 75 in / 191 cm (length + width + height)

  • Up to two (2) additional items: $20 fee per item

  • Oversized baggage (76-100 inches total): $20 fee per item

Not all Amtrak Southwest Chief routes offer checked baggage service. Check ahead before travelling.

Additional Checked Baggage Rules:

  • Your luggage should be checked at least 45 minutes before the train departs.

  • ID tags are required for all luggage.

  • All luggage must be in containers that are suitable for transport (storage tubs and plastic bags are not allowed).

Special Items

  • Bicycles up to 50 lbs (23 kg) may be checked for $20.

  • Folding bikes (max 34 x 15.5 x 48 inches / 86 x 39 x 122 cm) can be carried on board for free.

  • Skis & snowboards count as checked baggage if under 50 lbs (23 kg) and 75 linear inches (191 cm).

  • Wheelchairs, walkers, and CPAP machines can be brought onboard for free.

For more information, check out Amtrak's Baggage Policy page.

Amtrak Southwest Chief Train Guide & FAQs

No, unfortunately Amtrak Southwest Chief does not offer WiFi aboard its trains at this time. However, we find that a good book makes the time fly by and streaming services like Netflix allow you to download TV shows and films that you can then watch during your trip. Plan ahead and you will stay entertained during the entire train ride.

Yes, there are power sockets onboard Amtrak Southwest Chief trains. You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbour might want to charge up their devices as well. With the onboard power sockets, you can charge both a computer and USB devices with a USB power adapter that typically comes with most phones and tablets.

Since Amtrak Southwest Chief might sometimes use replacement train vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. We recommend bringing a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

On a typical day, Amtrak Southwest Chief has 62 scheduled train trips in total. However, the exact departure and arrival times vary depending on the day and route. The best way to find the exact schedule for your trip is to use the search tool on this page.

No, Amtrak Southwest Chief does not offer will call tickets. You should purchase your tickets online and make sure you have everything you need to board before you arrive at the station.

Yes, Amtrak Southwest Chief requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the train. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, such as a college ID, won’t work.

Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak Southwest Chief trains. The bathrooms are pretty basic and include a toilet, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Most bathrooms don’t have running water. As you will be using a bathroom on a moving vehicle, please use caution and hold on to a rail at all times.

Amtrak Southwest Chief provides snacks to satisfy your hunger during your travels. Be sure to pack a credit card and some cash in case you get hungry.

Amtrak Southwest Chief does not require a printed ticket to board the train. Instead, an eTicket is sent to you by email when you make your reservation. You can use your smartphone to show this eTicket to the ticketing agent as you board.

Amtrak Southwest Chief goes the extra distance to deliver premium features to its customers.

Do you find yourself squished in a regular seat or just love having extra room to sprawl out? Well you’re in luck as Amtrak Southwest Chief offers extra legroom seating. Since there is no standard of what extra legroom is, the extra space you get may vary between train lines, but getting extra is always good.

Yes, Amtrak Southwest Chief allows minors 13-16 years of age to travel unaccompanied, with restrictions. Children aged 12 and under must travel with another person who is at least 18 years old.

Tickets for unaccompanied minors cannot be booked online and must be booked by calling Amtrak at +1 (800) 872-7245.

Cheap Amtrak Southwest Chief tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 62 trips per day on Amtrak Southwest Chief, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter, and Amtrak Southwest Chief tickets start at just SEK 138.75. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak Southwest Chief tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak Southwest Chief tickets. Wanderu offers the lowest available fares every day and charges no extra booking fees. Plus, you can compare Amtrak Southwest Chief prices with trips offered by other train companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal on your tickets!

Pro travellers know that booking your ticket well in advance is key to finding the lowest price. Ticket prices normally go up the closer you get to the travel date, so don’t miss out on a good deal when you see one. If you can be flexible with your travel date, you can also get cheap tickets by travelling on weekdays instead of weekends.

When you’re ready to book, type your departure city and destination city in the search bar above, select your travel date, and let Wanderu work its magic to show you all of the best coach and train ticket prices available for your trip. Pick the ticket that’s best for your budget, schedule, and preferences, and complete the booking right on Wanderu to secure your great deal.

More transport options

Top Amtrak Southwest Chief Routes

Top Amtrak Southwest Chief Destinations

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With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare coach and train timetables and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap coach and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading coach and train companies, we always have the best coach and train deals out there.