Rail journey · Illinois to California
California Zephyr
Two nights and most of three days across the American interior: the Mississippi, the Rockies, the Colorado canyons and the Sierra Nevada, ending at the edge of San Francisco Bay.
California Zephyr · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota · CC BY-SA 2.0
The ride
What you'll see
The route
Station by station
- Chicago Union Station
- Denver
- Glenwood Springs
- Reno
- Truckee
- Sacramento
- Emeryville
Before you go
Good to know
Book a roomette or bedroom for the overnight legs — coach works but is long.
The Rockies section runs in daylight only if the train is close to schedule — it often is not; sit west side leaving Denver.
Emeryville connects by bus to San Francisco.
Typical times and distances are for guidance only — check the operator's timetable before you travel.
Photography credits
- California Zephyr — Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota · CC BY-SA 2.0
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