The route hugs the coast the whole way, stopping in 27 stations along 351 miles throughout San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obisbo counties. Build the right vacation to fit your budget. Discover our newest vacations created just for you. Create the perfect train vacation designed exclusively for you, by you! At one time, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Slogan promoted this beach town with a huge billboard along Highway 101, Tan Your Hide in Oceanside. These days the Chamber of Commerce has a slightly different vision Oceanside Classic California Beach Community.. Save time for mini golf at Neptunes Kingdom and carnival games located at the Midway Games section of the park. Some sections of the trip are inland. Luckily, we no longer fell these giant beauties, and some of the machinery used to move them once upon a time remains, giving visitors a peek into the past. Looking for the perfect Pacific Surfliner trip? The route . The route takes passengers on a journey from Los Angeles to Seattle, stopping in Sacramento and Portland along the way. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Take the famous Coast Starlight all the way through California (with the possibility of continuing to Oregon and Washington). Amtrak is happy to provide accessible transportation to all of our guests. The park also features a few historic train cars that guests can tour. The seven-mile round-trip Pudding Express departs from the Fort Bragg depot and runs along the estuary of the same name, where blue herons, ospreys, egrets, and more wildlife all make their homes. Don't leave your car behind when you travel - bring your car with you while on the Amtrak Auto Train. Or an extra day in between in a different destination? One way adults tickets from Los Angeles to San Diego about $35 and from Los Angeles to San Barbara about $30. TripSavvy rounded up some of the best train routes in California to supplement your staycation, road trip, or domestic travel plans. Sign up today to save up to $350 on your next vacation! And the best part is, tickets start at only $101 for a one-way trip. The Surfliner drops off passengers at the San Clemente Pier and only steps to the sand. Extend the trip with a longer stay in downtown Los Angeles, which has abundant hotel options, including the historic Hotel Figueroa, one of the citys oldest; it opened nearly a century ago as lodging for professional women travelers, a rarity for the era. Learn about your dining choices, onboard dining reservations, and the different types of dining cars. Whether its a full sit-down meal or more informal food service, many trains have one or more options for onboard dining. California is a great state for a road trip, but theres one drawback to that: if youre driving, youre sure to be missing something worth looking at, and wheres the fun in that? Learn More Meals and Dining After turning inland, the Surfliner travels through oak-covered valleys filled with miles of grapevines until it reaches the rich farmland of Santa Maria Valley. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains run along the coast of Southern California from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. Start from any of the 500+ Amtrak Stations across the United States. Courtesy of Amtrak Amtrak is happy to provide accessible transportation to all of our guests. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Amtrak's private sleeping rooms include in-room features, services, and amenities to ensure a smooth and relaxing journey. 35 hours Daily Departure A grand west coast train adventure, en route daily between Los Angeles and Seattle, the Coast Starlight train passes through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. Warning for riders: If you're hoping to take a trip, you should plan several weeks in advance if you want to book multiple tickets. For the last eight years, she has been a lifestyle journalist for. Your options are unlimited, we have thousands of stations from Florida to California and everywhere in between. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Amtrak Vacations is a proud part of the Railbookers Group family of brands. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Metrolink has a $10 Weekend Day Pass that is good for unlimited system wide travel either Saturday or Sunday (perfect for that Disneyland vacation) and a five day flex pass that gives riders 10 percent off. Passengers still get comfy reclining seats with power outlets, free Wi-Fi, restrooms, bike and luggage racks, and massive windows to enjoy the views of the sea as it whips by. The slow ride takes passengers through stunning redwood forest, and the steam whistle is plug-your-ears loud. Open since 1907, this seaside amusement park was the bees knees for NorCal kids growing up in the 1990s, and the fun continues today. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Reservations are not normally required on Pacific Surfliner trains; however, its best to book a few days ahead of your departure date on busy summer weekends. Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Explore helpful videos and webinars with virtual tours of our rail journeys. The journey includes a ride along one of California's most beautiful stretches of . Visit Santa Cruz County/Walter Scriptunas. The extensive Thruway Bus network can even take passengers as far as Las Vegas or Napa, and the train connects directly to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) at the Richmond Station. It doesn't make a difference if you know anything about how engines work or if you can tell the difference between a carburetor or a crankshaft, or a, Copyright 2023 https://www.daytrippen.com | Site Design by 3200 Creative | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | User Agreement | Contact Us, Places to Ride Trains in Southern California, 2023 Southern California Events Festivals & Fairs, Queen Mary Long Beach Tours and Attractions 2023, Hollywood Day Trip What to Do Along Hollywood Blvd, Santa Clarita Valley Day Trip Attractions Things to Do, La Purisima Mission Day Trip Lompoc California, Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum Vintage Car Rides, Unusual Things to Do in Southern California. The Pacific Surfliner route runs along California's central and southern coastline, transporting passengers from San Diego north to Santa Barbara and terminating at San Luis Obispo. For a limited time only, save $150 per couple on any of our Grand Canyon National Park vacations inclusive of 4 nights or more. They are sure to bring you relaxation, joy, and memories to last a lifetime. Combine the best of land and sea with these vacations exploring the breath-taking beauty of Alaska. Ride the rails of California from San Francisco to San Diego. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. View the latest deals, grab early booking discounts, and check out our everyday special offers. Fullerton has a large modern train station with a short walk to the old town with dining & shopping options. After increasing service last fall, the route now offers 11 round-trip services each day, and five between Santa Barbara and San Diego. (Under new owners, no train excursions are scheduled yet) Fillmore and Western Railway winds through the Heritage Valley, offering views of miles of orange, lemon, and avocado groves. Explore California National Parks The San Joaquins Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and safely moving people between large cities and rural towns are key to sustaining our business for decades to come. And if you need a break from the lines or crowds, the beach is right there, so you can dig your toes in the sand or even catch a wave between rides and concessions. While riding Amtrak's Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Seattle is spectacular following the coast for nearly 350 miles, traveling through mountains and rolling hills, including Mount Shasta, Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier it can be an even greater adventure if you plan to stop at some of the amazing destinations Coach passengers will still enjoy roomy, comfortable seats with much more legroom than a plane or car, and Business Class guests receive an onboard credit for food or drinks and a fully refundable ticket. The romance and convenience of train travel is something that countries throughout Europe and Asia have embraced with open arms. Among the many sites you'll see along the way, you can gaze upon gorgeous mountains, forests, valleys, and the Pacific Ocean during just one trip. Keep in mind that this route has a lot of stops, and can get pretty crowded. From here, the Surfline route turns inland to San Luis Obispo. That was the genesis of what is now commonly known as the Skunk Train (for the pungent fumes it once emitted). This charming vintage railroad rides around - not unreasonably, youll surely agree - the Niles Canyon, a region in the San Francisco Bay Area. Your Amtrak Vacation journey can start from any of the over 500 Amtrak stations across North America. more adult-oriented evenings. Travel the entire route, and the Coast Starlight will be a starting cost of about $100 to $150, or closer to $200 for a business-class seat. The Spanish adobe-style building has 268 rooms and suites and offers a lively, creative scene with top-notch food and drink outlets. Sleek double-decker trains whisk you along the coast at speeds up to 90 miles an hour. San Diego, which has an average temperature of 70 degrees, has over 70 miles of gorgeous coastline. The train ride takes about 15-minutes and runs along the Southside of Charles H. Wilson Park in Torrance, California. Your included sightseeing tour visits many of the famous spots, like: Plus, there are great hotels to choose from for your stay, like the Wyndham San Diego Bayside, which features an outdoor heated pool and is right next to Waterfront Park and the USS Midway Museum. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is a surfer's dream train journey, taking passengers and their surfboards along the California coast. Make a trip of it with a stay at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento, with curated political art throughout and architecture from George Selland, the first state architect of California. The Fort Bragg Redwood Company originally built the fort Bragg Skunk Train as the Fort Bragg Railroad in 1885. Weve put together 5 great options to enjoy the California Coast from onboard the train! When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Safe, efficient, and comfortable service to all of our customers is very importance to us. The Pacific Surfliner takes travelers 351 miles along the California coast, but other trains explore different parts of the state. Now, it offers dreamy rides through the majestic redwoods with a heavy dose of nostalgia; the views have remained largely unchanged since its original days. If youre looking to take the scenic route then this selection offers some of the very best views in North America. Both of these destinations offer easy access to numerous nearby attractions along with connections to a trolley or underground train systems. Tour options range from 2-3 hour journeys complete with a four-course meal to full or half-day trips that last for 3 to 6 hours and include wine tastings at some of Napa Valleys most famous wineries. It would be nice to travel from Seattle to LA. The park itself is pretty, fringed around with trees and filled with greenery, but there is certainly something about the boxcars youll spend time on in these hour-long rides - a pleasing gentility that makes for a relaxing ride. Subscribe to our newsletter for inspiring travel guides and articles from around the world! It also hosts live bands most weekends. Experience the adventure of traveling overnight with these unforgettable rail experiences. Theres nothing quite like a scenic train ride, and California has no shortage of wonderful reminders of this. Along the West Coast of the United States, 1,377 miles of railroad tracks run from Seattle to Los Angeles - a route often named as one of the most beautiful train journeys in America. Business Class tickets offer guaranteed seating and a few other perks like more legroom and complimentary snacks, but advance reservations are required. There is also an excellent museum on-site with rolling stock and railroad artifacts. Visitors can ride on a vintage 1907 Baldwin Steam Locomotive during the summer and holiday weekends. Also, Amtrak San Joaquins doesnt offer a Business Class ticket selection, so reserving seats isnt possible. From the Merced River and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range to the tall redwoods and rushing waterfalls, Yosemite is truly a sight to behold. Sign up today to save up to $350 on your next vacation! It's a one-of-a-kind experience through the beautiful redwoods. Visitors can enjoy a day at the beach and avoid summer traffic and parking problems. If you're cruising the westernmost edge of the Golden State, you'll find Santa Cruz County right in the middle a low-key swath that may surprise you with its redwood-lined trails, historic boardwalk, and shorelines adorned with seabirds and formidable rock formations. Plus, you can take some home by the case if you find a favorite. Then, stroll Shark Fin Cove, named for a massive rock formation that stands guard just off the sand. It would be best to contact Amtrak for exact cost and departure dates. This carefully curated list has the top suggestions of vacations for first-time rail travelers. Then board the Pacific Surfliner and head to San Diego to spend your final day of your California vacation exploring on your harbor cruise. Its about as California as it gets. But if you are, Hollywood's reputation as an iconic place to rub, Located in the northern part of Los Angeles County, the Santa Clarita Valley is home to Six Flags Magic Mountain and the epicenter of Hollywoods film. Fullerton offers a family-friendly environment. If you wish to travel further north from here, you can continue on the Coast Starlight train. We have you covered - if the train goes there, so do we. If you were to travel the full 350-mile route, the trip would take a little over eight hours. Carpinteria is south of Santa Barbara, and the Amtrak station is within easy walking distance of Carpinteria State Park. Login in for helpful resources, free trainings, and promotional items. Prices start at $265 per bike. The solution, obviously, is to let the train take the strain, and enjoy the chance to look out the window onto the wonders of the Californian landscape. Your options are unlimited, we have thousands of stations from Florida to California and everywhere in between. Choose from three- or six-hour daytime journeys or a two-hour dinner ride. The $101 super saver option is for a one-way, single ticket. Login in for helpful resources, free trainings, and promotional items. Learn from our experts with insider tips, read helpful suggestions, be inspired for your next trip, and much more! The Los Angeles to San Diego track was once served by the Santa Fe San Diegan trains. Pismo Beach, Oceano, Arroyo Grande, and Shell Beach. Learn more from our most commonly asked questions from travelers. A local, family-run train line, the journey takes you on a 14-mile (22.5km) jaunt from West Sacramento to Woodland. Sunny Santa Barbara awaits you on this roundtrip getaway. Amtraks private sleeping rooms include in-room features, services,and amenities to ensure a smooth and relaxing journey. With a coastline over 1,000 miles long north to south, California is an enormous and geographically diverse state, well known for scenic road trips. Don't leave your car behind when you travel - bring your car with you while on the Amtrak Auto Train. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner travels along the California coast from San Luis Obispo and ends in San Diego. 5 hours 45 minutes Multiple Departures Daily The Pacific Surfliner travels along a 351-mile route through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, with portions of the route hugging the Southern California coastline. The train passes through Santa Barbara, Gaviota State Beach, Jalama Beach, Santa Maria, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo. The train station is located at 1275 McKinstry Street, Napa, CA. Through groves filled with Giant Redwoods, over pretty bridges, towards the spellbinding estuary of the Noyo River.