The fall foliage countdown is well and truly on right now. With the leaves starting to transform, the chill in the air, and the days getting shorter, everyone is looking around for a cozy fall getaway. Whether you want to escape to a charming small town or embrace hiking amongst stunning natural colors, fall is a spectacular season to travel.
One of the best ways to travel in the fall is by train. Sit back, relax, and watch as the picturesque scenery passes by. You can enjoy a warming coffee, pick up a book, or just gaze out of the window. As Amtrak has a huge number of routes across the US and into Canada, there are plenty of fall foliage-filled train journeys to check out this season.
While many people may naturally gravitate towards the northeast of the country, some of the best fall foliage Amtrak routes can be found all around the country. So, if you’re looking to leave the car at home and enjoy a relaxing fall trip, you’ll want to bookmark some of these journeys for later! Let’s dive in and find out more.
The Best Fall Amtrak Routes
There are plenty of incredible rail journeys across the Amtrak network. However, some are truly spectacular when it comes to seeing fall foliage. These seven routes glide through the scenery, past the various traffic jams in popular spots, and allow you to be surrounded by the colorful splendor of the season.
Empire Builder
Spanning seven states, the Empire Builder has been called one of the most scenic train routes in the US. Going from Seattle to Chicago and with two stops in Glacier National Park, the entire journey takes 46 hours and is not short of scenery. For the peak of the fall foliage, look for sections around Glacier National Park in Montana, or jaunt to the Wisconsin Dells for more laid-back vibes, a short 4-hour journey from Chicago. Of course, there is also a bounty of fall views in Washington State, especially around the Leavenworth area.
Downeaster
If you’re looking for a shorter train journey that packs a ton of fall vibes into a couple of hours, check out the Downeaster route. This route starts in Brunswick, Maine, then takes you through New Hampshire, before ending in Boston, Massachusetts, all of which are popular spots for leaf-peeping and fall city breaks, taking just 3 hours and 25 minutes in total. You’ll get a great mix of cities, cooler coastal views, and forested vistas. There are plenty of great small towns and cities to stop off at if you want a weekend getaway, and soak up some of that New England fall (or spooky Halloween) charm.
Vermonter
Is there any place that exemplifies the cozy, natural elements of fall better than Vermont? Well, you can ride its namesake train, the Vermonter, through nine states, winding all the way up from Washington D.C., to the north of the state in St. Albans, taking 13 hours and 45 minutes. Expect stunning color-filled forests, amazing small towns, Connecticut River views, and mountain vistas. There are several historic stops in Vermont, so you can explore once you get up to this part of the country. This train also goes through a few major cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Hartford, so it’s accessible from various points across the Northeast.
Adirondack
Fancy a cross-border adventure? Well, the spectacular Adirondack Route is an underrated gem that goes through the heart of the Hudson Valley and up through the stunning Adirondacks. Starting in Montreal, Quebec, and ending in New York City, and taking 10 hours, this is a perfect gateway journey if you’re looking to get into longer train vacations. The Hudson Valley and Adirondacks are covered in incredible views and tree-filled landscapes, which means that the fall foliage here is some of the best in the world. Including a jaunt across the border into Quebec allows you to soak up even more nature and check out the incredible French-inspired city of Montreal — the perfect walkable city for a fall weekend getaway.
Northeast Regional
The mighty Northeast Regional route might just be the most popular option with leaf-peepers who are looking to ride the rails. Traversing from Boston, MA, down through the northeast all the way down to the warmer climes of Virginia Beach, VA, this 12-hour, 30-minute journey encapsulates stunning beauty, passing forests and countryside lit up with reds and golds, as well as world-class cities. Going through 10 states (including the District of Columbia), there are plenty of incredible places to hop off and enjoy the fall vibes. The Connecticut leg of this journey is particularly good during the fall, with small-town vibes that’ll have you feeling like you’re in Gilmore Girls.
Cardinal
While many of these routes take a relatively direct line, the Cardinal opts for a huge U-shaped loop to encompass more natural beauty. Although it goes from Chicago to New York, taking 26 hours and 30 minutes, the route dips as low as southern West Virginia. It’s because of this, it has some of the best fall scenery, and it’s one of the most underrated fall Amtrak options. You get the incredible colors and scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Allegheny Mountains, and the Shenandoah Valley, without having to drive around the nerve-racking hairpin bends of the mountain roads.
Maple Leaf
There’s something spectacular about heading to Niagara Falls in the fall. With the extra rainfall, the falls themselves get even more spectacular, and the foliage on display along the way is incredible. On the 12-hour and 30-minute Maple Leaf route, you’ll ride through the Hudson River Valley and the Finger Lakes of New York State before crossing the border into Ontario, Canada. This provides an amazing autumnal experience, with sweeping valleys, rushing rivers, glassy lakes, and an awe-inspiring range of fall colors.
Things To Know About A Fall Train Trip
If you’re planning to take a fall season trip on Amtrak, you need to plan. Certain routes, like the Vermonter and the Northeast Regional, can get booked up in advance pretty quickly, especially on weekends. If you can, try and go during the week to avoid the peak of the fall foliage traffic. In a similar vein, try to leave either before or after the rush hour traffic. Many of these routes, like the Downeaster and Northeast Regional, are busy commuter routes to the various larger cities, and you don’t want to be in that crush if you don’t have to be.
Try and get on board early, if you can. While some routes will have designated seat reservations, others are free-for-all, so if you want the coveted window seat, get to the station around half an hour before departure if you’re leaving from the train’s terminus. If you want a guaranteed window seat, you can book Business Class and request a seat, or if you’re on a long-haul train, like the Empire Builder, you can check out the sightseer lounge cars.
It’s also worth looking at what’s going on at the stops along the way. While many people may just ride the entire route and spend a day or two at the end of the line city, there are so many cool small towns and cities along these routes. Do a bit of research and see what small town experiences or nearby hiking routes can be reached from the train station.
Why Should You Opt For An Amtrak Fall Trip?
There are so many great reasons why you should opt for an Amtrak fall trip instead of a road trip to see the foliage. Especially around the popular spots in New England, the tailbacks of traffic can be insane. The train bypasses all this. As you’re not focused on the road in front of you, you also have more time and opportunity to enjoy the scenery all around you.
It can also be a less stressful way to travel. You can sit back and relax, or you can have a snooze without having to pull over or stop making progress along your journey. Train travel is having a resurgence for a reason. It’s comfortable, easy, and helps you make the journey a beneficial part of the vacation experience.
So, if you’re looking for a fall vacation by train, these seven Amtrak routes encompass some of the most beautiful foliage areas in the country. All this, and you get to leave your car at home!
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