Forget the airport hassle. If you’re seeking breathtaking landscapes, historic routes, and stress-free travel, America’s scenic railways offer an experience that rivals Europe’s legendary trains. Picture snow-dusted peaks, cliff-hugging tracks, and vintage train cars rolling through nature’s grandest cathedrals.
Whether you’re craving a Swiss Alps-style journey or an Italian riviera ride, these U.S. train routes evoke that same sense of romantic movement and slow travel magic.
1. Amtrak Empire Builder — Chicago to Seattle/Portland
European Equivalent: Glacier Express, Switzerland
This 46-hour journey rolls through the wheat fields of North Dakota, along the Missouri River, into the jaw-dropping Glacier National Park, and finally into the Cascade Mountains.
Why It Feels European: Towering peaks, mirrored alpine lakes, and small mountain towns that flash by like postcards.
Best Segment: Whitefish, MT to Everett, WA — where the Rockies give way to the Cascades.
2. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado
European Equivalent: Bernina Express, Switzerland
A vintage steam train chugs along sheer cliffs and over roaring rivers in the San Juan Mountains. This is an experience — not just a ride.
Why It Feels European: Narrow gauge rails hugging mountain ridges, waterfalls beside your window, and restored 1880s cars.
Best Time to Ride: September–October for fall foliage or December for a “Polar Express” ride.
3. Coast Starlight — Los Angeles to Seattle
European Equivalent: Cinque Terre Coastal Trains, Italy
Regarded as Amtrak’s most scenic route, the Coast Starlight hugs the Pacific Ocean before diving into Oregon’s green valleys and Washington’s evergreen corridors.
Why It Feels European: Oceanfront rails, vineyard views, and alpine ridgelines.
Highlight: San Luis Obispo to San Jose, where the tracks flirt with the sea.
4. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad — Colorado/New Mexico
European Equivalent: Glacier Bernina Route (CH–IT)
Often called the best heritage railway in the U.S., this steam-powered train crosses mountain passes at 10,000+ feet, clinging to rocky cliffs and winding through high-desert meadows.
Bonus: The scenery changes every 30 minutes — from alpine to desert to lush pine forest.
Best For: Fall color seekers, history lovers, and slow travel fans.
5. Amtrak Adirondack — New York City to Montreal
European Equivalent: Rhine Valley Routes (Germany/France)
This underrated ride through upstate New York and the Hudson River Valley is a fall foliage powerhouse. The scenery? Castles, vineyards, old-world bridges, and the mirror-like Lake Champlain.
Why It Feels European: Vineyards and valleys, heritage towns, and even signs in French near the border.
Highlight: Albany to Plattsburgh — best enjoyed with a window seat and local cheese from the café car.
6. White Pass & Yukon Route — Alaska
European Equivalent: Mont Blanc Express, France–Switzerland
Built during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow-gauge marvel in Skagway ascends into glacial valleys, across trestle bridges, and into misty alpine tundra — all in under 3 hours.
Why It Feels European: Mountain passes, waterfalls, and tundra all in one short ride. Pure drama.
Best Time: Summer cruise season (May–August), or shoulder season for fewer crowds.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to leave the U.S. to experience the timeless joy of train travel — where the journey is the destination. These scenic routes offer the wonder of Europe’s best railways with American landscapes: vast, wild, and unforgettable.
So slow down. Grab a window seat. And rediscover the art of watching the world go by — one rail tie at a time.
In another related article, How to Find Cheap Train Tickets
