Amtrak’s Long-Haul Sleeper Train Tickets Are Two for One This Week

Think overnight train trips in your own cabin cost a fortune? Not with Amtrak’s latest flash sale. Book an Amtrak roomette for one and get the companion ticket free if you buy by June 26. The deal is valid for travel this August 20 through February 15, 2019, with only a single blackout date: November 25, 2018.

The offer is good on all long-haul trains that offer roomette accommodations. Those trains include some great routes: The Amtrak Auto Train from Orlando to D.C. (northbound only), the California Zephyr between San Francisco and Chicago, the Capitol Limited between D.C. and Chicago, Cardinal between New York and Chicago, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight between Seattle and L.A., Texas Eagle, and more (see all the options here).

This is a significant sale because it’s one of the few that applies to overnight trains that count as sleeping accommodations. In recent years, almost all Amtrak sales have been limited to coach travel that’s not upgradable.

Several of these Amtrak train options are excellent two-night “land cruises,” but two nights in coach is a deal-breaker for many travelers. Still, Amtrak’s standard roomettes make a big difference. They’re designed for two travelers, with comfortable daytime seats and two beds: The seats convert to a lower bed, and an upper folds down. Roomette accommodations also include full meals, although that’s becoming less attractive as Amtrak switches from full-service dining cars to prepackaged cold-box meals.

If you’ve ever wanted to try a long-haul Amtrak train but were put off by the choice between a sit-up coach or expensive sleeper arrangement, this is your best chance in years. Two-night trip options include the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, and Sunset Limited.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Taking the Train to Now Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer
• The World’s 6 Most Incredible Luxury Train Trips
• Top 10 Reasons to Travel by Train

Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuses every day at SmarterTravel.