I spent 53 hours on Amtrak's longest train. These were the 6 best and 4 worst parts of the journey.

Source: Business Insider

The author took Amtrak's California Zephyr train from Chicago to Emeryville, California. Joey Hadden/Business InsiderI took Amtrak's longest train, the California Zephyr, from Illinois to California in early 2026. I booked a $2,200 bedroom for the 53-hour journey across the American West.