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Cheap train tickets from Sacramento to Portland

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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Sacramento to Portland Train Schedule

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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Sacramento to Portland?

There are usually 2 daily bus trips available from Sacramento to Portland.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$97.46
Avg. Price
$122.78
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
2
Daily Trips
1
Duration
Duration
12h 7m
Duration
15h 51m

Trip Summary

There is one daily train from Sacramento to Portland. Traveling by train from Sacramento to Portland usually takes 15 hours and 51 minutes, but some trains might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled.

Distance483 mi (778 km)
Fastest train15h 51m
Lowest price$91.00
Trains per day1
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Coast Starlight
Train lines1

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Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for trains from Sacramento to Portland

(Based on 4 ratings and reviews)

4.5

5.0

Indiana

October 2, 2022- Visiting family

Amtrak Coast Starlight

I like it very well

4.0

Ramona

April 15, 2022- Visiting family

Amtrak Coast Starlight

Pros: Seat space. Plenty of rooms in the seats. Cons: More room for large bags and move the area away from the stairs to go up. Was hard to place your bag on the very crowded rack and then a line to up the stairs. It was a choke point. The grill was broken, so only expensive oat meal. $20 for oatmeal is outrageous. Fix the grill. Maybe there was a staff shortage so had no one to cook. Tell us instead of grill broken. Tips: Bring your own sacks, food.

5.0

Rowan

June 28, 2019- Visiting friends

Amtrak Coast Starlight

Pros: Smooth ride. Cons: Bigger seats for larger passengers.

What is the price of a train ticket from Sacramento to Portland?

The average price for a train ticket from Sacramento to Portland is $101.00, Tickets are generally pricier for this train route, which is to be expected given the long distance. By booking your trip at least 15 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay $81.00 more.

Monthly avg. prices

$175$140$105$70$35MJJASONDJFMA
You can find the lowest prices on this route during October. This time of year offers the best deals on train tickets from Sacramento to Portland, with the average price at just $91. Train tickets on this route are most expensive in December, when the average price goes up to $173. You can still score cheap deals below this average price, though, especially if you plan ahead and book your ticket in advance.

Prices as travel date approaches

$200$160$120$80$403020100

By booking your train trip from Sacramento to Portland on Wanderu at least 15 days ahead of time, you can save about $81.00 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!

Which train should you take from Sacramento to Portland?

Amtrak Coast Starlight is the one and only train line which connects Sacramento to Portland. Furthermore, there is only one train per day, so you will have to plan your travel around this limited availability. On the other hand, you won't have to spend a ton of time comparing a bunch of possible options.

TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Coast Starlight115h 52m$145.61

  • The Amtrak Coast Starlight is a service provided by Amtrak that connects Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles on the US Pacific coast. The full journey winds through the Cascade Mountains, perfectly clipped vineyards, and dense coastal forest, allowing passengers to get a glimpse of the US west coast while enjoying air-conditioned cars, power outlets, complimentary onboard WiFi, and snacks.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Sacramento to Portland

The distance between Sacramento and Portland is approximately 483 miles, or 778 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 15 hours and 51 minutes,

Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Trains departing from Sacramento to Portland tend to have the most passengers on Monday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Monday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Thursday as the least number of people tend to travel then.

Most days, there is only one train which leaves Sacramento at 11:00pm and arrives in Portland around 15 hours later.

Typically there is only one scheduled train per day. Luckily, this train will get you to Portland with direct service. While there might still be stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains.

You can also take a train for your return trip from Portland to Sacramento.

City Information

Sacramento

As the long-held capital city of California, Sacramento has a rich and vibrant history that is reflected in its historic buildings and quarters. The Old Sacramento Waterfront quarter is the best place to explore the city’s rich heritage. Boasting ages-old constructions and a quaint vibe that is reminiscent of the Wild West, the area allows visitors to travel back in time and relive the Gold Rush era. Among the most interesting destinations in the area is the California State Museum, located at the northern edge of the quarter. It offers numerous restored locomotives as well as exhibitions on the United States’ westward expansion. If history is not really your thing, then the Midtown quarter, which boasts a vibrant and expanding art scene, will be a great alternative.

Sacramento is famous for its vast tracts of farmland, so it makes sense that the best dishes are the ones made from locally-grown produce. Among the best places to try out homemade dishes are The Firehouse and The Kitchen. For a bit of an Asian taste, visit Mikuni in Midtown Sacramento.

The busiest bus station in Sacramento is located right in the heart of the city and offers bus service to Portland, Reno, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, among many other places. The main Amtrak train station is the nearby Sacramento Valley Station, which also serves the Gold Line of the local transit light rail. The principal regional airport is the Sacramento International Airport, located 10 miles northwest of Downtown.

Portland

Portland, OR - PDX-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Portland, OR - PDX-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Portland, OR - PDX-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Portland is the largest city in Oregon and accordingly one of the state's best vacation destinations. Also known as the City of Roses, this city along the Willamette River wows visitors with its diverse street food, quirky counterculture, and sprawling bookstores such as the world-famous Powell's Books.

Portland is the 5th best city in the United States for outdoor activities, thanks in part to open-air grounds like the expansive Forest Park. Gardens are also excellent outdoor date locales for couples on a romantic getaway: stop and smell the roses at either the International Rose Test Garden or the Portland Japanese Garden.

Once you've gotten hungry from a long day wandering outside, nearly every block downtown has a plethora of food trucks waiting to tickle your taste buds. Or, kick back at one of the many breweries in the #3 best city for craft beer in the United States. Unique locations like McMenamin's brewpubs in renovated cinemas or historic hotels do their part to "keep Portland weird."

As the biggest city in Oregon, Portland is a hub for travel throughout the Pacific Northwest. Amtrak train service and various bus services operate primarily out of Union Station, conveniently-located downtown, and nearby Portland International Airport makes it easy to travel to Portland from near and far.

Station Information

Where is the train station in Sacramento?

Valley Station - 401 I St - SACAMT-0

Image credit: rosemarie_mckeon

Link to image attribution
Valley Station - 401 I St - SACAMT-1

Image credit: Lev Lazinskiy

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: Valley Station - 401 I St

Sacramento Valley Station is the second busiest transport hub in California and is used by more than one million people every year. Originally constructed in 1926, it now serves as a major center for Amtrak trains traveling within California, northwards along the West Coast, and eastwards into the American Southwest. The station also falls along four Amtrak Thruway bus routes and operates as the western terminus for the Sacramento Light Rail network. Located between Old Sacramento and Downtown, the station is within walking distance of several Gold-Rush era historical monuments as well as an ultra-modern retail district filled with shops and restaurants.

All train stations in Sacramento:

  • Valley Station - 401 I St

Where is the train station in Portland?

Union Station - 800 NW 6th Ave - PDXAMT-0

Image credit: Ian Sane

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Union Station

Located in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown area at 800 Northwest Sixth Avenue, Union Station features a glowing neon sign encouraging you to “Go By Train.” Union Station serves several iconic Amtrak routes including the Cascades through the Pacific Northwest, the scenic Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, and the long-distance Empire Builder which travels all the way to Chicago. Along with train service, Union Station serves intercity bus service via Greyhound, and connects to the Portland Streetcar, MAX Light Rail, and several local TriMet buses. There is a restaurant and bar onsite, as well as a Metropolitan Lounge reserved for Amtrak’s first- and business-class passengers.

All train stations in Portland:

  • Union Station

Get around town with Moovit

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