Does the US Have Any Sleeper Trains? Here’s What’s Actually Running in 2025

Most people think of sleeper trains as something out of a movie - a romantic glide through the Swiss Alps or a luxurious ride across the Trans-Siberian. But if you’ve ever wondered whether the US has any sleeper trains, the answer is yes - and they’re not just surviving, they’re thriving in their own quiet way.

Amtrak Is the Only Game in Town

The United States doesn’t have a national network of sleeper trains like Europe or Japan. There’s no private competition. There’s no high-speed overnight rail like in China. The only option is Amtrak - and it’s the only passenger rail service left that still offers sleeping accommodations across the country.

Amtrak runs six long-distance routes with sleeper cars. These aren’t just seats with a recline. These are real bedrooms - with beds, private bathrooms, and service that includes meals and attendant support. If you’ve never ridden one, think of it like a hotel room on rails, with views that change every hour.

Which Routes Have Sleeper Cars?

Not every Amtrak train has sleepers. Only the long-distance routes do. Here are the six routes you can book a sleeper on in 2025:

• California Zephyr - Chicago to Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area)
• Coast Starlight - Seattle to Los Angeles
• Crescent - New York to New Orleans
• City of New Orleans - Chicago to New Orleans
• Texas Eagle - Chicago to San Antonio (with a connection to Los Angeles)
• Southwest Chief - Chicago to Los Angeles

Each of these routes crosses multiple time zones and runs overnight. The California Zephyr and Coast Starlight are the most popular - not just because of the scenery, but because they’re the only ones that offer full-service private rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

What’s Inside a Sleeper Car?

Amtrak’s sleeper cars are divided into three main types: Roomettes, Bedrooms, and Family Bedrooms. All include meals, bedding, and access to the lounge car.

Roomettes are the smallest option - about the size of a walk-in closet. Two seats convert into an upper and lower bed. There’s a fold-down sink and a shared bathroom down the hall. It’s compact, but perfectly functional. Many solo travelers prefer them for the privacy and value.

Bedrooms are twice the size of a Roomette. They have a private toilet and shower inside the room. The bed is wider, and there’s room to move around. This is the sweet spot for couples or anyone who wants to avoid sharing facilities.

Family Bedrooms are designed for two adults and two children. They’re the only option with a dedicated space for kids - and they come with a separate area to fold out a bed. If you’re traveling with family, this is your only real choice on Amtrak.

Every sleeper passenger gets breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. Meals are served in the dining car. You don’t have to eat at set times - just let your attendant know when you’re hungry. The food is better than you’d expect - think fresh ingredients, regional specialties, and actual waitstaff.

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices vary wildly depending on the route, season, and how far in advance you book. A Roomette on the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco starts at around $500 one-way in the off-season. In peak summer or fall, it can hit $1,200.

Compare that to flying: a round-trip economy ticket on the same route might cost $400-$600. But flying doesn’t give you a bed, meals, or 24 hours of moving scenery. The sleeper isn’t cheap - but it’s not just transportation. It’s an experience.

Pro tip: Book early. Amtrak releases fares 11 months in advance, and sleeper cars sell out fast - especially on the Coast Starlight and California Zephyr. If you’re flexible, traveling midweek or in late fall can save you 30-50%.

Why Choose a Sleeper Train Over Flying?

Let’s be honest - flying is faster. A flight from Chicago to San Francisco takes 4 hours. The train takes 51. But here’s what you get on the train that you can’t get on a plane:

• Real sleep - no cramped seats, no crying babies, no turbulence
• Uninterrupted views of the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada, the Mississippi River
• No airport security lines, no checked baggage fees, no shoe removal
• Meals included - no need to pay $18 for a sandwich
• Freedom to move around - walk the car, sit in the observation lounge, read, write, nap

People who take these trains aren’t just trying to get from A to B. They’re slowing down. They’re savoring the journey. One woman I met on the Coast Starlight told me she’d taken the train three times since her husband passed away. "It’s the only place I feel like I can breathe," she said.

What About Luxury?

Amtrak’s sleeper cars aren’t luxury in the Ritz-Carlton sense. There’s no champagne service. No butlers. No heated floors. But if you’re looking for a quiet, comfortable, and deeply human way to travel across America - it’s as close as you’ll get.

There’s no private dining room. No spa car. No Wi-Fi that actually works. But there’s something better: real human interaction. The attendant remembers your name. The dining car server asks how your day was. The guy in the next Roomette shares his photos of the Grand Canyon.

It’s not about opulence. It’s about presence.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking for the fastest, cheapest, or most efficient way to get across the country - no, this isn’t for you. But if you want to see America at a pace that lets you notice the details - the way the light hits the desert at sunset, the smell of pine trees in the Rockies, the quiet hum of the train at 2 a.m. - then yes. It’s worth every dollar.

And if you’ve never tried it? Start with the California Zephyr. It’s the most scenic, the most reliable, and the most popular for good reason. Book a Roomette. Pack a book. Bring snacks for the lounge car. And let the landscape do the talking.

What’s Next for Sleeper Trains in the US?

There’s talk of new routes - maybe a sleeper from Washington D.C. to Miami, or a coastal route from Portland to San Diego. The Biden administration has pledged $66 billion to rebuild Amtrak over the next decade. But progress is slow. Funding is political. And in a country obsessed with cars and planes, trains still feel like an afterthought.

Still, ridership is growing. More millennials and Gen Z travelers are choosing trains over flights. More retirees are rediscovering them. And for the first time in decades, people are starting to see sleeper trains not as relics - but as a better way to travel.

The US doesn’t have a sleeper train network like Europe. But it has six routes that offer something rarer: time. Time to think. Time to watch. Time to be still.