How to Ride the Texas Eagle Amtrak Route

You’ve heard of “The Little Engine That Could,” but Amtrak’s Texas Eagle just might be the little train that could. Amtrak announced plans to discontinue the route in the 1990s, but the communities in Texas were so passionate about the service between San Antonio and Chicago that they rallied together, determined to stay on Amtrak’s map. They saved the beloved train, and it still runs today. 

In additon to that colorful history, the Texas Eagle also has an interesting relationship with the record books. It’s often referred to as Amtrak’s longest route, but, on its own, the roughly 30-hour Eagle doesn’t quite live up to that claim. As Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari told Travel + Leisure, it’s only on the three days a week when the Eagle joins up with the Sunset Limited — a route connecting New Orleans and Los Angeles — that you can ride an Amtrak route that’s longer than any other. That Chicago to Los Angeles journey takes a whopping 65 hours and 20 minutes. 

No matter how you define the route, though, the passion and enthusiasm for the Texas Eagle is palpable, especially in its namesake state. 

“There are people who think all of Texas looks like Southport Ranch from the Dallas TV show, when in fact, Texas is a very diverse state,” said Magliari, describing areas ranging from Hill Country to urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth, as well as more forested areas. “We’re in piney woods and lakes the deeper we get into East Texas — and I’m not sure people expect that in Texas, if they’re thinking about dusty prairie towns. It’s a more diverse state than I think people understand.” 

Of course, the Lone Star State is only the southern end of the Texas Eagle. If you’re thinking of boarding the north-south train through the heart of the country, here’s everything you need to know.

Route and Schedule

Starting in San Antonio, the train goes northeast through Texas, making stops in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and some smaller towns in between before crossing into Arkansas. There, it cuts diagonally up through the state, with stops in Hope and Little Rock, among other places. Crossing the border into Missouri, the train makes stops in Poplar Bluff, Arcadia, and St. Louis. Finally, the route goes into Illinois, stopping at seven downstate stations before pulling into its northern terminus, Chicago Union Station. The southbound journey makes the same stops in the reverse direction. 

The northbound Texas Eagle departs San Antonio at 6:48 a.m. daily on an overnight trip that arrives the next day in Chicago at 1:44 p.m. In this direction, the ride takes 30 hours and 56 minutes. Those starting in the north in Chicago can board at 1:52 p.m. daily and arrive in San Antonio at 10:16 p.m. the following day, a ride lasting 32 hours and 24 minutes. Bookings can be made between any two cities along the Texas Eagle route.

For those who take the add-on with the Sunset Limited out to Los Angeles, the next section of the route traces the Texas border from San Antonio with stops in Del Rio, Alpine, and El Paso. The train then goes into New Mexico with stops in Deming and Lordsburg; Arizona with stops in Benson, Tucson, Maricopa, and Yuma; and California, stopping in Palm Springs, Ontario, Pomona, and Los Angeles’ Union Station. 

That longer route is available on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, with a departure time in Chicago of 1:52 p.m. and an arrival time in Los Angeles three days later at 5:35 a.m. In the opposite direction, the train leaves Los Angeles on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10 p.m., arriving three days later in Chicago at 1:44 p.m.

Tickets and Reservations

The most direct way to book a trip on the Texas Eagle is through Amtrak.com. In our searches on the site, we were able to find one-way coach seats between San Antonio and Chicago from $118 for value fares, in which no changes are permitted and a 25 percent cancellation fee is enforced. For those who need flexibility, we found fares starting at $157 for the Flex rate, which allows changes and cancellations before departure with no penalty.

For those who’d like more privacy, private rooms begin at $555 one-way for a roomette or $847 for a bedroom, both for up to two passengers. There’s also a family room option from $747, which can accommodate up to two adults and two children. 

On the full ride between Los Angeles and Chicago, we found one-way coach fares from $150 and one-way room fares from $885.

An alternative way to enjoy the trip between Los Angeles and Chicago is through Railbookers’ Route 66 by Rail package, which “takes time and breaks up the train ride with overnight stays in some of the cities along the way,” said Dan Reisig, communications manager at Amtrak Vacations, which is part of the Railbookers Group. “Whether it’s a ride to the top of the iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis, sightseeing your way around the Southwestern charm of Albuquerque, [or] even venturing north in Arizona to experience the majesty of the Grand Canyon,” he says, “we make it easy to transform the epic journey on board the Texas Eagle into a complete, once-in-a-lifetime vacation.”

Classes of Service

On the Texas Eagle, seats range from modest to roomy and private. Coach service offers reclining seats, spacious legroom, and a tray table, reading lights, and electrical outlets for each passenger — with no middle seats. The bi-level superliner cars offer a higher vantage point, Magliari said. 

The private rooms start with the roomette, which is two seats by day transformed into upper and lower beds at night. Also available is the family room, which can accommodate up to two adults and two children, with seating for four during the day and two upper and two lower beds at night. Both include access to a shared bathroom and shower in the car.

For even more privacy, the bedroom option is twice the space, with a sofa and separate chair by day and upper and lower beds by night — as well as an in-room sink, restroom, and shower. 

All of the rooms come with bedding, pillows, linens, and towels, as well as a dedicated attendant, lounge access, priority boarding, and complimentary meals.  

That said, there are a limited number of each class on every departure. “The Texas Eagle is unfortunately Amtrak’s long-neglected child,” said Noah Gershoff, a travel video creator specializing in documenting train travel on Lonestar Trip Reports. “This means no observation lounge car like on other long-distance routes, and no traditional dining for sleeper car passengers,” he added.

More cars are added for the Sunset Limited extension, so Gershoff notes that passengers can expect more services and higher-end meals between Los Angeles and San Antonio. On eastbound trips between those two cities, there is breakfast both mornings, lunch both days, and dinner on the first night, while westbound trips start with dinner, followed by breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

As for which option is best for the trip, he said, “For extended journeys, a roomette is a great option. You get a private compartment, a lie-flat bed at night, and complimentary meals throughout your travels.” But he adds: “Coach seats are a great value too, and are super comfortable, but bring a pillow and blanket if traveling overnight.”

What to Expect on Board

“When planning a trip on any long-distance Amtrak route, there is a lot to consider, from your accommodations on board [to] what to pack and how to enjoy the journey,” Vacations by Rail’s Michael Sauer told T+L. That includes looking at the route map and timing out key places you want to catch views — like those entering and exiting Chicago — as well as when there might be long stretches to sleep.

He added that “It is also good to dress in and bring layered clothing, as temperature preferences in the rail cars can vary by traveler.” While those in private rooms will have blankets provided for free, coach passengers will not — though Magliari notes that they can purchase a passenger comfort kit on board, containing a blanket, eye mask, ear plugs, and neck pillow. 

As a frequent train traveler, Gershoff suggested to buy snacks and food ahead of time when riding the Texas Eagle, since the cafe selections can be limited and pricey. He also suggested packing a power splitter or long charging cable. Those in coach will only have access to the wall outlets, and aisle passengers will need that long cable. Since roomettes only have one outlet, a power splitter is essential so multiple people can plug in. “Bedrooms are a little less limiting, with three outlets total,” he added.

Another insightful tip from Gershoff: “Take advantage of smoke stops,” he said. “Getting off the train and walking around is a great way to keep blood circulating and refresh the mind after sitting on board for long periods of time. It’s also a great way to break up the journey when traveling the whole route.”

One thing to note is that Wi-Fi is not an onboard amenity, so passengers might want to prepare to use their phone as a hot spot if staying connected is important. 

Otherwise, the journey is the perfect opportunity to advantage of the time. “Be sure to pack things you enjoy, whether that be a camera to capture the scenery, a few books to read, or card games and board games,” Sauer said. 

But, of course, you can also just enjoy the view. “The scenery out the window is more than enough to capture the attention of any traveler,” Reisig said.

Points of Interest

Though the extended Texas Eagle route passes through many of America’s greatest cities — as well as the less-trodden areas in between — Gershoff admitted that the true Chicago to San Antonio segment is mostly small towns and farmland interspersed with occasional urban centers. 

“The arrival and departure in St Louis is easily the best part of the north-south corridor,” he said. “Heading south, passengers will get a great view of the St. Louis Gateway Arch and downtown cityscape as they cross the Mississippi River into Missouri. Second to this is the bridge across Lady Bird Lake in Austin, but that view only lasts for a minute or two.”

During the combined journey with the Sunset Limited, the Southwestern deserts create a stunning landscape — with one highlight being the tracks coming within feet of the Mexican border near El Paso, Gershoff added.

Magliari notes that the Texas Eagle is also a great way to explore President Bill Clinton’s legacy in Arkansas. The train stops seasonally in Hope, where the birthplace home of “The Man from Hope” is located. “We have a lovely station there, staffed by volunteers, that you can explore,” he said. A couple stops north in Little Rock, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is near the station. “It’s certainly worth at least half a day, if not a full day, because it’s huge — there’s even a full-scale mock-up of the Oval Office,” Magliari said. “If you’re into history, you can make the Texas Eagle a history train by getting off in Little Rock and Hope and spending a day in each.” 

Another under-the-radar station stop of note is Marshall, Texas, which hosts the Texas & Pacific Railway Museum and Gift Shop, recently restored by the community. Elsewhere in Texas, the stops in Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth offer plenty of opportunity for sightseeing, as does San Antonio. The station there is close to the grounds of the 1968 World’s Fair, known as HemisFair ‘68, as well as the city’s downtown and the San Antonio River Walk.

As for the combined journey with the Sunset Limited, Reisig said, “From rolling plains and farm fields to Texas Hill Country and the rugged deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, the journey provides a multitude of experiences out the window of the Texas Eagle train, while also connecting the culture and excitement of major cities like Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin and so much more.”