What if we tour the US by train?
Here is the reduced version of how to go around the world in 80 days: Wanderu.com, the search engine for land and air travel, proposes to carry out a circular route across the United States in 7 days, 4 hours and 39 minutes using the Amtrak train network.
Trip part of the extreme northeast of the USA , traversing the East Coast and the Sun Belt all the way to the west coast. Once there, you will head to the upper midwest and to rust belt bound for New England, where the route also starts.
A circular route of only seven days
In total, passengers will be able to try seven different Amtrak services , including the iconic lines Sunset Limited, Coast Starlight and Empire Builder . Although the prices of the sections of the journey are approximate, Wanderu.com calculates that the trip can be made for less than $1,000.
THE ROUTE STEP BY STEP
The trip makes the following stops: Boston, Washington, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago. And, as the map on Wanderu.com reflects, some of the journeys are excessively long: arriving from New Orleans to Los Angeles requires 46 hours in the wagon
For that reason, the travel portal also suggests alternative routes that divide this type of sections, increasing the number of stops.
BOSTON-WASHINGTON DC (DIRECT JOURNEY: 8 HOURS AND 11 MINUTES)
The expedition starts in Massachusetts heading south through seven states - Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland - en route to the District of Columbia.
Although you can make the eight-hour trip in one go, Wanderu.com recommends make a stop in the always surprising New York.
WASHINGTON DC-NEW ORLEANS (DIRECT JOURNEY: 26 HOURS AND 2 MINUTES)
The Amtrak Crescent will take you southeast from Washington D.C. to New Orleans. By the way you can cross out seven more states from your list of pending destinations: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
New Orleans
From one point to another, the travel time is approximately 26 hours and 2 minutes. If you prefer to stretch your legs, **Wanderu.com suggests making a stop in Atlanta, thus dividing the trip into two legs. **
NEW ORLEANS-LOS ANGELES (DIRECT JOURNEY: 46 HOURS AND 35 MINUTES)
Here is the longest stage of the circuit: 2,687 kilometers from New Orleans to Los Angeles aboard the Amtrak Sunset Limited . That equates to 46 hours and 35 minutes of direct train travel across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California to end up in Los Angeles. If you prefer to make a pit stop, you can do it **in San Antonio or El Paso. **
LOS ANGELES-SEATTLE (DIRECT JOURNEY: 29 HOURS)
After this intense section by train, the best way to stretch your legs will be taking a walk through Seattle's iconic Gas Works Park. A more leisurely alternative would be the one that heads north with stops in Sacramento and Portland.
According to Wanderu.com, the route made by the line Coast Starlight, that runs the Route 101 from Oxnard to San Luis Obispo winding along the Pacific Coast , is one of the most spectacular.
Glacier National Park
SEATTLE-CHICAGO (DIRECT JOURNEY: 45 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES)
The Amtrak Empire Builder goes through seven states, beginning through Washington and the tip of Idaho . From there crosses Montana and North Dakota and then descends southeast through Minnesota and Wisconsin , in direction to Illinois.
Among Whitefish and Shelby -one of the possible stops, next to Fargo-, the Glaciers National Park will give passengers some unforgettable postcards.
CHICAGO-CLEVELAND (DIRECT JOURNEY: 6 HOURS AND 5 MINUTES)
From this point, the distances between stop and stop are reduced. aboard the Amtrak Capitol Limited , the journey continues from Illinois, Through Indiana, to Ohio . The views that star the great lakes They will not leave anyone indifferent.
CLEVELAND-ALBANY (DIRECT JOURNEY: 8 HOURS AND 41 MINUTES)
Going forward on the shores of Lake Erie , at the end of Pennsylvania , the rails will lead you to Buffalo (New York) leaving the Midwest behind. Do not be in a hurry to reach your destination: take a break to see Niagara Falls , it will be worth it.
This route on Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited runs just north of the Finger Lakes, with possible stops in Rochester, Syracuse and Utica . If you travel in winter, you can enjoy the beauty of its snowy landscapes.
Embark on this adventure in winter and delight yourself with the snowy landscapes
ALBANY-BOSTON (DIRECT JOURNEY: 4 HOURS AND 47 MINUTES)
With 10,599 kilometers behind, the grand finale arrives. After touring 27 states and have enjoyed the beauty of places blessed by both the Atlantic and the Pacific , the train winds its way back to Boston through the stunning Berkshires.
This last section invites you to look nostalgically out the window, while the doubt of when you will let yourself be conquered by America's beautiful postcards round your mind
Shall we take a tour of the United States?