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Amtrak Illinois Zephyr train tickets—Search & book deals

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About Amtrak Illinois Zephyr

The Illinois Zephyr is a passenger train operated by Amtrak, providing travel between Quincy and Chicago. The Illinois Zephyr performs 13 trips daily stopping at 10 cities, including Macomb, Princeton, and Plano. Notable attractions near these destinations include the Willis Tower, DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville Riverwalk, and easy access to the Chicago Loop.

In November of 1971, the Amtrak Illinois Zephyr started its service to connect students from Quincy University and residents in Western Illinois to East and Northeastern Illinois. It has since become the longest continuously running state-sponsored train. The Illinois Zephyr still has strong support from the towns and cities it passes through. In 2006, Amtrak added the Zephyr's sister train, the Carl Sandburg, to the same route to provide additional trips for passengers. Together, the trains serve one of Amtrak's most successful routes.

Despite the Illinois Zephyr's long history, the accommodations onboard are anything but dated. The Amtrak Illinois Zephyr features airline-style coach seating, a cafe on board, power outlets, restrooms, and free Wi-Fi. Travelers also love the overall cleanliness of the train and the helpful service from the staff.

The Illinois Zephyr has been available to book on Wanderu since 2015. You can compare tickets and prices from all Amtrak lines and trains on Wanderu and earn Amtrak Guest Rewards. Whether onboard the Illinois Zephyr or the Carl Sandburg, find the cheapest train tickets to travel between Quincy and Chicago with Wanderu at no additional cost.

Contact Amtrak Illinois Zephyr

Phone number:
1 (800) 872-7245

Amtrak Illinois Zephyr Amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Toilet
  • Extra legroom
  • Loyalty rewards
  • Power outlets
  • Snacks
  • Wifi

Quickview

Amtrak Illinois Zephyr train coverage

Daily Trips
13
stations
10
cities
10
countries
1
  • United States

What travelers are saying about Amtrak Illinois Zephyr

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

Traveling During COVID-19

  • “They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
    84%

Onboard Experience

  • “The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
    85%
  • “I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
    86%
  • “Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
    98%
  • “The train got there on time.”
    94%
  • “Seats were really comfy and spacious”
    87%
  • “The train was almost suspiciously clean”
    100%

Amtrak Illinois Zephyr reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Illinois Zephyr Based on 62 reviews

4.8

Ratings (Out of 5)

Comfort
Timeliness
Staff
Value

Amtrak Illinois Zephyr passenger reviews

  • StacyAugust 11, 2026Mendota – Chicago

    Pros Easy and convenient Cons Na you all do not have any control of the weather.

  • SusanJuly 30, 2026Chicago – Naperville

    Pros Ok Tips Ok

  • BalaiahFebruary 14, 2026Chicago – Quincy

    Pros Awesome Cons Technology, putting entertainment on the train . Tips Enjoy the nature while traveling

  • DaleDecember 2, 2025Chicago – Galesburg

    Pros Nice and quiet i Cons It was great have not travel on a train on a bus in a long while Tips Just be respectful to others

  • AlexanderMay 4, 2025Kewanee – Chicago

    Pros Everything Cons To install Ada lifts for people with walker or wheelchair to get on Tips Depends

Amtrak Illinois Zephyr Routes & Network

Amtrak Illinois Zephyr’s train network features 49 train routes that connect 10 cities serving 10 stations. On average, Amtrak Illinois Zephyr performs about 13 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Illinois Zephyr offers the highest number of daily train service include Chicago and Macomb.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Illinois Zephyr
CityDaily TripsEarliest trainLatest train
Chicago56:12 AM9:24 AM
Macomb26:12 AM8:43 PM
Galesburg26:12 AM8:08 PM
Quincy15:55 PM9:24 PM
Mendota15:55 PM6:14 PM
Kewanee17:01 AM6:54 PM
Princeton17:01 AM5:55 PM
Naperville26:12 AM6:14 PM
Plano27:37 AM6:30 PM

Amtrak Illinois Zephyr Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois Zephyr Baggage Policy

Carry-On Baggage

  • 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) carry-on items – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 28 x 22 x 14 in (71 x 56 x 35 cm)

Additional Carry-On Rules:

  • Strollers and car seats do not count toward the carry-on 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 carry-on 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 Illinois Zephyr routes offer checked baggage service. Check ahead before traveling.

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 Illinois Zephyr Train Guide & FAQs

Yes, Amtrak Illinois Zephyr offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with Amtrak Illinois Zephyr will have WiFi as advertised, some trains might not come equipped with WiFi and onboard WiFi can lose its connection in rural areas. We recommend you bring a book or download a movie just to play it safe. Amtrak Illinois Zephyr WiFi is generally best used for surfing the web, checking emails and chatting with friends; you shouldn’t count on the WiFi to binge watch your favorite show.

Yes, there are power outlets onboard Amtrak Illinois 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 Illinois Zephyr 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 Illinois Zephyr has 13 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois Zephyr does not require a printed ticket to board the train. Instead, an eTicket is sent to you via email when you make your reservation. You can use your smartphone to show this eTicket to the ticketing agent as you board.

Amtrak Illinois 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 Illinois 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.

Yes, Amtrak Illinois Zephyr 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 Illinois Zephyr tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 13 trips per day on Amtrak Illinois Zephyr, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter, and Amtrak Illinois Zephyr tickets start at just SEK 49.55. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

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

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak Illinois Zephyr tickets with the lowest available fares every day. Plus, you can compare Amtrak Illinois 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.

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