I spent 53 hours on an Amtrak train. Here's what I'm glad I packed, wish I'd brought, and should have left at home.

Sep 01, 2026 12:46 AM - 1 day ago 3

Traveler wearing earbuds sits successful a train compartment beside an unfastened suitcase, laptop, camera, and window.

I didn't moreover usage the biggest point I packed. And the point I longed for astir could person fresh successful my overgarment pocket.

I didn't deliberation I'd make packing mistakes connected my astir caller long-distance Amtrak adventure. As an knowledgeable overnight train traveler, I've had plentifulness of clip to study precisely what to battalion for a nighttime connected the rails.

But this wasn't conscionable immoderate overnight Amtrak train. In February 2026, I took the 53-hour California Zephyr, the longest train thrust successful the US.

I'd spent 30 hours connected the rails connected aggregate occasions. I'd moreover spent back-to-back nights connected different routes. Still, this was my first clip spending 3 days and 2 nights connected 1 train.

I booked a $2,200 bedroom for the three-day journey. Here's a rundown of what I packed and didn't.

I stepped aboard the train pinch a carry-on suitcase and a backpack.

Split position shows a Superliner rider train astatine a snowy level and a traveler taking a reflector selfie inside.

My travel connected the California Zephyr was portion of a five-day travel that began pinch a two-night enactment successful Chicago, truthful I packed much clothing than I would person for this thrust alone. Other than that, everything other I brought I utilized connected the train — aliases astatine least, I planned to.

Families and different travelers pinch heavier loads should cognize that each Amtrak rider tin bring 2 carry-on bags, 2 checked bags, and 1 individual point astatine nary other fee.

Since sleeper cars person showers, I'm gladsome I packed waterproof clogs and slippers.

Cream Crocs clogs beryllium beside slippered feet connected a bluish patterned carpet adjacent a reflective surface.

Amtrak sleeper cars person private cabins, and immoderate person showers; others person entree to shared showers successful the sleeper car.

I booked a chamber accommodation. For $2,200, this 50-square-foot compartment had a afloat bath inside, and I was thankful to person my ain shower.

But I astir apt wouldn't person utilized it if I hadn't brought my Crocs. The waterproof clogs made my feet consciousness safe from immoderate imaginable germs. And erstwhile I stepped retired of the ablution pinch bedewed feet, I was grateful I'd packed a soft brace of slippers that slid into my container seamlessly.

I'm besides gladsome I brought toiletries to support my hygiene habits, for illustration skincare and mouthwash.

Hand holds mini toiletries nether a descend faucet beside a recreation toiletry container pinch deodorant and mouthwash.

The cleaner I am, the much comfortable I feel. Packing mini skincare and oral hygiene products was worthy the abstraction they took up successful my suitcase.

Amtrak provided immoderate toiletries (more connected that next), but I didn't find immoderate toothpaste aliases deodorant successful my room, truthful beryllium judge to battalion your own, arsenic I did.

If I'd known the train provided towels and ablution products, I would person near excavation astatine home.

Three towels connected a support successful an Amtrak ablution pinch the ablution caput connected the near and toiletries connected the wall connected the right

I recovered Beekman 1802 shampoo, conditioner, and assemblage wash, arsenic good arsenic 3 towels successful the shower.

Packing an assortment of activities was the correct move.

Person sounds by a train model beside a collage of a Nintendo Switch, phone, and notebook.

When spending 53 hours successful a confined space, the past point I want to beryllium is bored. That's why I packed my Nintendo Switch pinch a twelve downloaded games, a book astir train travel, and a spiral pad for drawing, journaling, and penning poetry. Time passed quickly arsenic I jumped from 1 activity to the next.

But I should person near the noisy ones behind.

Person pinch glasses holds a ukulele wrong a train sleeper compartment pinch bunk beds and a window.

For context, I'm a vocalist and drummer successful a band. And arsenic a touring musician, I wanted to usage this long-haul travel arsenic an opportunity to practice.

So I brought a mini drum pad, a brace of sticks, and a ukulele, which I clipped to my backpack while flying truthful it would count arsenic a azygous item. It was a spot of a hassle that wasn't worthy the effort since I didn't extremity up utilizing either of them. Sound traveled acold successful the sleeper car, and passengers were asked to play immoderate audio done headphones successful their cabins.

I'm gladsome I downloaded movies and shows connected my telephone since location was nary WiFi connected the train.

A manus holds a telephone playing anime successful a acheronian room pinch a dim, bluish light

There's nary WiFi connected the California Zephyr train, truthful I downloaded movies and episodes of shows successful different genres to fulfill immoderate I was craving. Watching TV astatine nighttime made maine consciousness astatine location connected the train.

But it would person been worthy bringing my iPad for a larger screen.

Close-up of a personification lying down while holding a sticker-covered smartphone adjacent their face.

With my activity laptop, smartphone, and Nintendo Switch, packing my iPad seemed for illustration a small much, but I didn't deliberation astir watching TV astatine night. I didn't want to consequence falling dormant pinch my laptop successful bed, since the rails were bumpy and it could autumn off.

I settled for squinting astatine my telephone surface and regretted leaving the tablet astatine home.

The California Zephyr is known for being 1 of the astir scenic train rides successful the US, truthful I'm gladsome I packed my cameras and lenses.

Split position shows a traveler taking a reflector selfie beside a reddish stone canyon stream landscape.

I brought 2 cameras pinch maine connected this trip. One was mini and light, which was awesome for speedy snaps successful crowded spaces without disturbing others. The different was larger, pinch detachable lenses, truthful I could get a assortment of perspectives connected the passing landscape.

More than thing else, I wish I'd packed a brace of binoculars.

Black binoculars remainder connected a greenish canvas backpack successful an outdoor mounting pinch a blurred background.

The California Zephyr way took america done the wilderness, from the Rockies of Colorado to California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Zooming successful arsenic overmuch arsenic my camera lens allowed didn't fulfill my craving to get closer. A brace of binoculars would person been perfect.

It's not each time you get the chance to rotation done the chaotic American West.

From Illinois done Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada to California's Bay Area, the lands we passed done are location to a assortment of wildlife: birds specified arsenic eagles, hawks, geese, and herons; bighorn sheep; antelope; coyotes; and moreover moose. I deliberation I would person been capable to spot immoderate of these animals if I'd had a person look. Missing this opportunity to spot wildlife was my biggest regret of the trip.

Without my towel, toiletries, and noisy activities, I would person easy been capable to battalion my iPad. But moreover pinch the other items I didn't need, binoculars would person been easy to fresh into my backpack, suitcase, aliases perchance my pocket.

Joey Hadden is simply a recreation newsman and photojournalist astatine Business Insider based successful NYC. She covers proscription modes, replacement lifestyles, and luxury travel. Many of Joey's stories are ocular features that springiness readers a front-row spot to her individual experiences astatine location and astir the world.Joey graduated from St. Edward's University successful May 2019 pinch a BA successful Photocommunications. Since joining BI successful 2019, Joey has traveled by train successful 7 different countries, from day trips to overnight rides arsenic agelong arsenic 30 hours. She's ridden connected galore different train lines, including Amtrak, Via Rail, and the iconic Orient Express of the 21st century, among others. During her travels, she's slept successful countless accommodations — five-star hotels, unique mini homes, and backstage train cabins, to sanction a few.When walking successful North America, Joey takes readers wrong the continent's wealthiest enclaves wherever billionaires hide away, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Medina, Washington. She spends her free clip singing and playing drums for the indie-rock set Blanket Approval. You tin travel Joey connected Instagram or nonstop her an email at [email protected].Popular ArticlesI spent $1,000 to person a room to myself connected a 30-hour Amtrak ride. It was the champion acquisition I've had connected an overnight train successful the US.I booked basal system flights pinch Delta and United. They felt for illustration 2 wholly different classes.I went connected an adults-only cruise for the first time, and 8 things amazed meI spent 2 nights successful a 2-story, 100-square-foot mini location successful Germany that was smaller than immoderate I've seen successful the USStep wrong the richest metropolis successful Arizona, wherever able Californians are flocking for backstage mountainside estates