I've spent hundreds of hours on long-haul Amtrak rides. Here are my 10 best tips for first-time riders.

Jill DuttonSep 1, 2024, 20:35 IST

I've been on many Amtrak rides. I'm a travel writer who's found ways to make long-haul train rides more enjoyable and comfortable.Laser1987/Getty Images

As a frequent train traveler, I've found ways to make my time in coach more enjoyable.
I always pack a cooler with delicious, high-quality foods so I don't have to rely on the café car.

I've been on over 25 long-haul train rides since I started working as a travel writer in 2015. I tend to take one or two train trips each year, traveling the US in quadrants and stopping in multiple cities along the way.

I've learned a lot since my first trip in an Amtrak train's coach section. Back then, I packed way more luggage than I needed — which is easy to do with Amtrak's lenient baggage allowance — yet failed to bring basic necessities, such as a blanket and a pillow.

Travelers who are new to long-haul train rides should learn from my mistakes and follow these tips and tricks.

You don't always get to choose where you sit in coach, so be prepared for all possibilities.

I prefer to travel in coach on Amtrak trains.Jill Dutton

Keep your essential items in a bag that's easily accessible from your seat.

The view from my coach seat on the Southwest Chief.Jill Dutton

Bring a portable charger so you don't have to rely on the train's outlets.

I like being able to charge my devices without bothering the person next to me.Laser1987/Getty Images

Pack pillows, blankets, and slippers that don't take up too much space.

Make sure you bring enough layers to stay warm during your train ride.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Settle in for the ride and make sure you take in the passing views.

The trains often pass by stunning landscapes.Jill Dutton

Bring a cooler and stock it with plenty of food that you actually enjoy eating.

Having more food than you need will keep you satisfied during a long train ride.Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Pick up fresh snacks and meals for your cooler when you make extended stops on the train.

I pick up fresh foods, like fruits, when I stop in cities along the way.Alexandr Spatari/Getty Images

Spend as much time as possible in the observation car.

I prefer to spend the majority of my trip in the observation car.Jill Dutton

Sleeping well in coach may be challenging, but it's not impossible.

I always bring an eye mask on long train rides to help me sleep.iStock / Getty Images Plus

Freshen up and change into new clothes in the train's dressing room.

I find the restrooms small on Amtrak trains, but I have more space to change my clothes in the trains' dressing rooms.Richard Thornton/Shutterstock

See inside the Airbus A400M Atlas military plane made famous by Tom Cruise that can carry helicopters and land on beaches

Cookies on the Business Insider India website