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Amtrak California Zephyr train tickets - Search & book deals

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Wanderu is an official partner of Amtrak California Zephyr

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel in North America and Europe. We partner with more than 300 bus & train companies around the world to help you search, compare, and find the best travel deals all in one place.

About Amtrak California Zephyr

Amtrak California Zephyr is one of the longest train routes in the United States, spanning from Chicago to Emeryville in the San Francisco Bay Area. The whole end-to-end journey lasts about 51 hours, crossing seven states during its three-day, two-night journey. For those not interested in the entire trek, there are more stops in cities, including Omaha, Denver, and Salt Lake City.

Despite its expansive coverage, the line is Amtrak's second-longest passenger service - but with views of the Colorado and Mississippi rivers, Sierra Nevada mountains, and the Rockies, it is arguably North America's most scenic. There's a special observation car with extra large windows to allow passengers to enjoy the gorgeous views.

Onboard, there are options for either a seat in coach class or a berth in the aluminum double-deck Superliner carriages sleeper cars. Sleeper car passengers also receive three meals per day during the trip as part of the ticket price, served in the dining car.

Seats on Amtrak California Zephyr during peak tourist times can sell out quickly. So take advantage of booking with Wanderu to get the cheapest tickets available for the trip of a lifetime!

Contact Amtrak California Zephyr

Phone number: US: 1 (800) 872-7245

Online support: Amtrak California Zephyr website

Amtrak California Zephyr Amenities

Air conditioningAir conditioning
RestroomRestroom
Extra legroomExtra legroom
Loyalty rewardsLoyalty rewards
Power outletPower outlet
SnacksSnacks

Quickview

Amtrak California Zephyr train coverage

Daily Trips112
stations35
cities35
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak California Zephyr

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

Traveling During COVID-19

"Masks are required on the train."
based on 190 reviews

Onboard Experience

"The WiFi service worked well."
based on 121 reviews
"Wonderful conductors on board who took time to share the highlights."
based on 306 reviews
"Good price. Very easy and cheap."
based on 369 reviews
"Departed and arrived on time."
based on 198 reviews
"Seats tilt back nicely and there's even a foot rest. "
based on 366 reviews
"Very clean and tidy."
based on 322 reviews

Amtrak California Zephyr reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak California Zephyr

(Based on 433 reviews)

4.0
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.4

Timeliness

3.2

Staff

4.2

Value

3.8

Condition

4.1

Amtrak California Zephyr passenger reviews

1.0

Russell

March 2, 2024- Solo travel

Denver to Omaha

Rerouted halfway through trip with no notice. Ended up over 3 hours late to destination on trip from Denver to Omaha.

5.0

Eric

January 24, 2024- Business

Grand Junction to Denver

Pros: Very Scenic! Cons: Beverage pricing! Tips: Bring your own lunch & drinks!

5.0

Renee

January 2, 2024- Visiting family

Grand Junction to Denver

Pros: Informed staff. Gave continuous updates. Cons: Continue good service. Tips: Follow rules and enjoy the ride.

5.0

Kevin

December 31, 2023- Visiting family

Denver to Grand Junction

Pros: The staff was amazing and very helpful. They let us know if there was anything that might stop us for a little bit. Cons: There should be some handle bars to help those who have a hard time getting up from the seats or getting to the bathroom or their seats. Tips: Don't be afraid to talk to others around you, because you never know if you might make a new friend.

5.0

Renee

December 20, 2023- Visiting family

Denver to Grand Junction

Pros: The view with snow was wonderful. The conductor announced points of interest all along the way. Relaxing train ride. Lots of information about train safety. Cons: The only issue I had was getting on the train. Jessica didn't offer me the step I could use so I had to take a large step to step into the train. The step was right behind her. Tips: Train travel is safe and the views are beautiful. Enjoy the ride!

Amtrak California Zephyr Routes & Network

Amtrak California Zephyr’s train network features 395 train routes that connect 35 cities serving 35 stations. On average, Amtrak California Zephyr performs about 112 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak California Zephyr offers the highest number of daily train service include Denver and Glenwood Springs.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak California Zephyr

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Denver65:14 am4:25 am
Reno510:03 am5:40 am
Chicago65:54 am4:49 am
Salt Lake City75:14 am4:05 am
Glenwood Springs65:14 am4:25 am
Omaha65:54 am4:49 am
Sacramento710:03 am5:30 am
Grand Junction69:30 am4:05 am
Lincoln69:30 am4:05 am

Most popular Amtrak California Zephyr routes

The train from Denver to Glenwood Springs is Amtrak California Zephyr’s most popular route. Trips from Denver to Grand Junction and Denver to Omaha are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak California Zephyr routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Denver to Glenwood Springs15h 42m$39
Denver to Grand Junction17h 50m$46
Denver to Omaha18h 49m$38
Sacramento to Reno14h 49m$72
Truckee to Reno11h 18m$21
Denver to Chicago118h 40m$57
Omaha to Chicago19h 34m$36
Salt Lake City to Reno110h 0m$21
Denver to Lincoln17h 11m$34

Amtrak California Zephyr Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak California Zephyr 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 California Zephyr 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 California Zephyr Train Guide & FAQs

The California Zephyr is one of the longest passenger train routes in the world. End-to-end, the full journey takes 51 hours and 20 minutes to get from Union Station in Chicago to Emeryville Station in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In total, the Zephyr stops at train stations in 33 cities spanning 7 states. There are several major cities on the route between Chicago and San Francisco, including:

  • Sacramento, California
  • Reno, Nevada
  • Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Denver, Colorado
  • Omaha, Nebraska

No, unfortunately Amtrak California Zephyr 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 download TV shows and movies that you can then watch during your trip. Plan ahead and you will stay entertained during the entire train ride.

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

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

On a typical day, Amtrak California Zephyr has 112 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 California Zephyr 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 California Zephyr 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 California Zephyr 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 California Zephyr 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 California Zephyr 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 California Zephyr 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 California Zephyr 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.

Cheap Amtrak California Zephyr tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 112 Amtrak California Zephyr trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak California Zephyr tickets start at just $3.00. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak California Zephyr tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak California Zephyr tickets with the lowest available fares every day. Plus, you can compare Amtrak California Zephyr prices with trips offered by other train companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal on your tickets!

Pro travelers 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 traveling 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 bus 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.

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules 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 bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best deals out there.

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