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Amtrak City of New Orleans train tickets - Search & book deals

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Official Amtrak City of New Orleans partner

Wanderu is an official partner of Amtrak City of New Orleans

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 City of New Orleans

The City of New Orleans is a passenger train service operated by Amtrak that connects Chicago with New Orleans, by way of Memphis. As the average one-way start-to-end journey takes about 19 hours and 30 minutes, there is only one trip per day in either direction. Along the way, the train stops at 20 cities, including Champaign, IL, Fulton, KY, and Jackson, MS. In New Orleans, you can transfer to Amtrak’s Sunset Limited service that travels west to Los Angeles. Depending on your departure city and final destination, in addition to how far in advance you book your ticket, ticket prices for the City of New Orleans train can vary from $3.50 to $575.00.

To take advantage of the scenic views that surround the train as it cuts through some of America’s most breathtaking natural landscapes, the City of New Orleans train comes equipped with a Sightseer Lounge that features panoramic windows, allowing passengers to take in the beauty of the passing scenery.

The City of New Orleans train first started running back in 1947. It was part of the Illinois Central Railroad until 1971 when Amtrak took over. This is the only Amtrak route that serves the state of Kentucky.

Contact Amtrak City of New Orleans

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

Online support: Amtrak City of New Orleans website

**2023** #1 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Southeast **2022** #1 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Southeast

2023
#1 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Southeast
2022
#1 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Southeast

Amtrak City of New Orleans Amenities

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

Quickview

Amtrak City of New Orleans train coverage

Daily Trips73
stations20
cities20
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak City of New Orleans

Here’s what Wanderu users who have booked trips with Amtrak City of New Orleans had to say about their travel experience.

Traveling During COVID-19

“They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
based on 88 reviews

Onboard Experience

“The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
based on 52 reviews
“I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
based on 115 reviews
“Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
based on 130 reviews
“The train got there on time.”
based on 125 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 124 reviews
“The train was almost suspiciously clean”
based on 125 reviews

Amtrak City of New Orleans reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak City of New Orleans

(Based on 143 reviews)

4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.4

Timeliness

4.6

Staff

4.5

Value

4.1

Condition

4.5

Amtrak City of New Orleans passenger reviews

5.0

Cheryl

September 3, 2023- Vacation

Jackson to New Orleans

Pros: I have no complaints about the trip. Cons: Nothing. Tips: Do it.

5.0

Ranjit

August 25, 2023- Vacation

Chicago to Champaign

It was a memorable experience traveling by Amtrak

5.0

Lloyd

August 12, 2023- Business

New Orleans to Memphis

Pros: This was my first over many years. The warmth and welcoming nature of the crew was amazing. I am already thinking about my next trip. Fantastic voyage. Cons: Warm meals. Tips: My colleague also accompanied me and he had a great experience as well.

4.0

Howard

August 4, 2023- Solo travel

New Orleans to Memphis

Pros: Cost. Cons: Food selection. Tips: It would be a relaxed way to travel and less expensive than flying.

5.0

Kimberly Ann

July 4, 2023- Vacation

Jackson to New Orleans

Pros: The speed. The comfy seats! The scene! Our Conductor!!! Cons: Nothing! Tips: Be safe and kind to the best Conductor you’ll ever have!

Amtrak City of New Orleans Routes & Network

Amtrak City of New Orleans’s train network features 186 train routes that connect 20 cities serving 20 stations. On average, Amtrak City of New Orleans performs about 73 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak City of New Orleans offers the highest number of daily train service include New Orleans and Chicago.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak City of New Orleans

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Chicago185:22 am3:40 am
New Orleans85:25 am4:37 am
Champaign116:04 am3:40 am
Jackson1311:40 am3:34 am
Memphis86:26 am4:37 am
Carbondale75:25 am4:37 am
Greenwood111:40 am1:05 am
Mattoon148:16 am3:34 am
Hammond15:25 am3:34 am

Most popular Amtrak City of New Orleans routes

The train from New Orleans to Chicago is Amtrak City of New Orleans’s most popular route. Trips from Kankakee to Chicago and Chicago to Champaign are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak City of New Orleans routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
New Orleans to Chicago119h 30m$110
Kankakee to Chicago12h 2m$8
Chicago to Champaign12h 24m$14
New Orleans to Jackson13h 43m$23
Memphis to New Orleans19h 7m$51
Chicago to Carbondale15h 16m$31
Memphis to Chicago110h 35m$89
Jackson to Chicago115h 31m$102
Mattoon to Chicago13h 52m$18

Amtrak City of New Orleans Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans Train Guide & FAQs

No, unfortunately Amtrak City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans has 73 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 City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans 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.

Visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide to view the most up-to-date information about Amtrak City of New Orleans’s cleaning protocols and adjusted ticket change policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans 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 City of New Orleans tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 73 Amtrak City of New Orleans trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak City of New Orleans tickets start at just $3.50. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak City of New Orleans tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak City of New Orleans tickets with the lowest available fares every day. Plus, you can compare Amtrak City of New Orleans 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.

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Top Amtrak City of New Orleans Routes

Top Amtrak City of New Orleans Destinations

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