Amtrak SuperUltraMega Trip Plan: Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise?

[sambdking]

OK,

This is my initial plan:

Leave LAX(home) via Sunset Ltd for New Orleans.

Spend 2-3 nights exploring NOL

Leave NOL via Crescent for NYC

Spend 2-3 Nights exploring NYC

Leave NYC via Lakeshore Ltd & Empire Builder for Seattle (4.5 hour layover in Chicago)

Spend 2-3 Nights exploring Seattle

Head Home to LAX via Coast Starlight

What do you all think about this? Should I flip it around from counter-clockwise to clockwise? I sort of like the idea of ending the trip with the finale of the Coast Starlight. But I hear Empire is better going East, but I don't know much about the other 4 trains East vs. West (or North vs. South).

Roomette the whole way for my best friend and I.

thanks for any input!

 

[AutoTrDvr]

OK,

This is my initial plan:

Leave LAX(home) via Sunset Ltd for New Orleans.

Spend 2-3 nights exploring NOL

Leave NOL via Crescent for NYC

Spend 2-3 Nights exploring NYC

Leave NYC via Lakeshore Ltd & Empire Builder for Seattle (4.5 hour layover in Chicago)

Spend 2-3 Nights exploring Seattle

Head Home to LAX via Coast Starlight

What do you all think about this? Should I flip it around from counter-clockwise to clockwise? I sort of like the idea of ending the trip with the finale of the Coast Starlight. But I hear Empire is better going East, but I don't know much about the other 4 trains East vs. West (or North vs. South).

Roomette the whole way for my best friend and I.

thanks for any input!

Mine would be to go "clockwise," but I'd be departing from NYP or WAS.

Sooooooooo....

Cardinal (or CL)-->SWC-->CS-->EB-->LSL (or CL return).

If departing from WAS, I'd take an NEC regional to get there & back. The only reason to do that would be a greater chance of getting a room (only 1 sleeper on the Cardinal). But I admit the view/scenery is probably better on the Cardinal, and I would be traveling a good bit of same route as the CL on the LSL.

 

[the_traveler]

I like the idea of ending the trip with the CS also, but I also like the CS northbound, with the southern CA coastline in the daytime. I like both ways.

(Sounds like one of my trips!

)

 

[NY Penn]

The timekeeping is usually better on the EB westbound, so I'd keep it the way it is.

BTW, you may find the link in my signature useful.

 

[TraneMan]

I don't know about the other routes, but I'd say going East (#8) on the Empire Builder would be better since you can see Glacier in the day light hours, vs night time when it goes west.

 

[Acela150]

This was mine back in 2007 with my Dad.

Card from PHL to CHI overnight in CHI

SWC to WMJ

SWC to LAX

LAX to SAN

SAN to SBA

SBA to SJC

SJC to San Fran on Caltran

EMY to SEA on the CS

On the "Cascades" Superliners replaced them at the time SEA to VAC, BC

VAC, BC to Banff, Alberta

Banff, Alberta to Jasper, Alberta by way of the Icefields Parkway

Jasper to Vac, BC by way of Via's Canadian which was a true treat!

Vac, BC to SEA by Ambus

SEA to ESM spent two days at the Izaak Walton trackside! Nice place.

ESM to CHI

CHI to WAS

WAS to PHL

Total time..... 31 days! Trip of a lifetime.. To much.. Memories I'll remember... Priceless

 

[VentureForth]

This was mine back in 2007 with my Dad.

Card from PHL to CHI overnight in CHI

SWC to WMJ

SWC to LAX

LAX to SAN

SAN to SBA

SBA to SJC

SJC to San Fran on Caltran

EMY to SEA on the CS

On the "Cascades" Superliners replaced them at the time SEA to VAC, BC

VAC, BC to Banff, Alberta

Banff, Alberta to Jasper, Alberta by way of the Icefields Parkway

Jasper to Vac, BC by way of Via's Canadian which was a true treat!

Vac, BC to SEA by Ambus

SEA to ESM spent two days at the Izaak Walton trackside! Nice place.

ESM to CHI

CHI to WAS

WAS to PHL

Total time..... 31 days! Trip of a lifetime.. To much.. Memories I'll remember... Priceless

Was that before they got rid of the North American Rail Pass?

 

[sambdking]

Thanks for all the input so far! Another question: since our trip is exactly 15 days, would USA Rail Passes be more economical? We would still want sleeping accommodations. But would the Passes be cheaper than the base ticket fare? I believe I am travelling 5 segments, and the pass allows for up to 8, so I should be ok there, right?

thanks