This Overnight Train Passes 5 States and 3 National Parks-and It Has an Observation Car With Floor-to-ceiling Windows

"The Sunset Limited runs in both directions between Louisiana and California three times a week. If you're traveling east to west, the train departs New Orleans in the morning and arrives in Los Angeles two days later. Those traveling west to east will board in Los Angeles in the late evening and arrive in New Orleans two days later. And since the journey clocks in between 46 and 48 hours in duration, travelers are treated to overnight accommodations, full-service dining,"

"The Big Easy sets the tone for the entire journey. Before boarding the train, travelers can meander down the shady streets of the Garden District or pay a visit to The National WWII Museum. The train takes off from the Union Passenger Terminal just south of the French Quarter, making it easy to enjoy a nightcap at a world-class jazz club before heading back to your hotel to prepare for the next day's adventure."

Amtrak's Sunset Limited runs three times weekly in both directions between New Orleans and Los Angeles, traversing Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The journey takes roughly 46 to 48 hours, offering overnight accommodations and full-service dining for a true long-haul experience. Passengers travel through bayous, vast desert landscapes, and coastal scenery, with a seasonal onboard national park guide who explains geology and history along the route. The train departs New Orleans at 9 a.m. east-to-west and leaves Los Angeles late in the evening west-to-east. No extensive layovers occur, but any scheduled stop may serve as a final destination.

Read at Travel + Leisure