The Cost Of An Amtrak Overnight Roomette Might Surprise You

There is more than a little romance in the notion of traveling the country by train. While experts already recommend traveling Europe in second-class cars, experiencing the gorgeous American landscape via railway can be just as surreal. Several Amtrak routes allow passengers to watch oceans, canyons, mountains, and city skylines pass from their windows, and you can often get this experience comfortably by booking an Amtrak overnight roomette.

An Amtrak roomette features two private landscape window seats that convert into bunk beds at night. Those who purchase a roomette have access to a shower and bathroom facility that coach riders do not, as well as free meals, priority boarding, the assistance of a First Class attendant, and free lounge access in certain train stations. Roomettes are not as spacious as larger bedroom accommodations, but they do provide a narrow slice of privacy for long-distance trips. Of course, a glance at their prices can seem staggering. 

Roommettes on Amtrak's California Zephyr route from Chicago, Illinois, to California's Bay Area can go for hundreds of dollars or more, and that's not at all uncommon for multi-day, interstate travel on Amtrak. However, roomettes use dynamic pricing. This means a pricey route can sometimes be snagged for far cheaper, proving the romance of affordable rail travel can only really be achieved with some planning and price comparison.

Let's use Chicago to San Francisco to compare the current cost of Amtrak roomettes and flights. Roomettes are only available on Amtrak Superliner or Viewliner trains. The California Zephyr takes an estimated 51 hours and 20 minutes to cruise through Chicago, Omaha, Denver, and Salt Lake City before reaching its destination in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, a nonstop flight from Chicago to San Francisco is only about five hours long.

Booked roughly three months in advance, a one-way coach ticket on an Amtrak train departing Monday, February 16, 2026, costs $106. A roomette for this trip costs $713. While that's much higher than a coach ticket, it is nothing compared to the rate for a full Amtrak bedroom (complete with in-room bathroom and shower) for $2,619. This rate also covers daily meals over the roughly two full days of travel on the rail. All Amtrak tickets include a wide variety of luggage options. A passenger can bring one personal and two carry-on items onto the train, and check up to four bags. They can also check two bags for free, and two more for $20 each.

A fully-refundable economy flight fare for the same journey lists for only $243, with one free carry-on and checked luggage for additional fees. For those with the average net worth required to regularly fly first class, a first-class flight from Chicago to San Francisco costs $650, which includes one free carry-on and two checked bags.

If you have a lot of luggage and no hard deadline, a roomette may be a more spacious way to enjoy long-distance travel, even if it's a bit pricey. It's also worth considering that neither timeliness nor quiet are guaranteed on trains, though the scenery could be worth it to some passengers who are looking to enjoy a journey as much as their destination.

It also pays to do research on shorter, more scenic trips. The full Zephyr ride is a long journey. A shorter, scenic trip from Seattle to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight passes through the Bay Area and features stellar views of snow-capped mountains and the Pacific Coast. This 35-hour journey has roomettes with a view (and meals included) for just $516.

For those looking to save a little extra, the Amtrak BidUp program offers upgrades that can be cheaper just before departure. If you know your departure date far in advance, watching prices and booking early could also get you cheaper tickets. Scan social media message boards to see how people scored the cheapest possible roomette tickets at the last minute. New sign-ups to Amtrak credit cards may also make upgrades possible with free points. Alternatively, traveling with a friend in a roomette cuts travel prices in half, since two people are covered under one fare. Booking a "shoulder season" trip to save money also helps with hitching a roomette ride in cheaper times of year.