The Ultimate Amtrak Packing Guide For Coach & Sleeper Cars

You guys asked for an Amtrak packing for coach and sleeper cars video and we made this one for you. We get the question often of what to pack for an overnight train trip on Amtrak Southwest Chief, Amtrak Empire Builder, Amtrak California Zephyr, Amtrak Coast Starlight, Amtrak Crescent and Amtrak Sunset Limited. If you plan to do an overnight in coach on Amtrak, this video will also be helpful for packing. If you are packing for your trip on Amtrak or planning on what to put in your bags on Amtrak, we can help you here.

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[SuperTopher]

My must have if traveling Coach is gloves and Clorox wipes for the bathrooms. I clean it before my daughter goes in. On the overnight trip, trains bathrooms are not good. It’s a passenger issue not the attendants . Be prepared. Thank you for your wonderful, informative videos! We have our first auto train trip coming up soon.

[vuiusxu]

Mini rolling cooler = utility room (h20, clorox wipes, snacks, sleeping bag liner or blanket, shower shoes in their own bag if in roomette, small baggu)
Bag = bedroom (clothes, sundries, jewelry, shoes) which slides over the luggage handle of a mini rolling cooler.
Best set up in my years of rail travel.

[destinysisco]

I always wrap my shoes/slippers etc..in small plastic shopping bag to have a barrier between the bottom of the shoes and anything else in my bag. The shopping bag adds no weight and keeps most bacteria contained.
Love your videos ❤

[jlynn]

My #1 hack for sleeping overnight on coach is I play white noise on my phone & have it going into my earbuds. Takes care of any ambient noise.

I also thinks it helps a LOT in coach if you're traveling with someone else. My teenage daughter and I take a long haul train journey every summer and at night we just curl up in those great big seats. She's a fantastic cuddler, and I'm SO lucky that my teenager still wants to hang out with her mom!

[stephenkehl]

For coach, add a light blanket and small pillow. I included a pair of sweat pants to change into at night— more comfortable than trying to sleep in regular pants, yet I wasn’t running around the train in pajamas. I also liked to have a water bottle and small little squirt bottle of flavoring so I didn’t have to rely on plain water but wasn’t always paying for and drinking soda.

[SeventhSonStudios]

I was planning on taking an electric kettle and aeropress for coffee on my next trip, so I'm glad I watched this.

[georgemcdowell]

Great suggestions!! To be clear, Amtrak does not provide towels, washcloths, shampoo, & bath soap for coach passengers. I always pack a cheap pair of rubber slippers or shower shoes & store them in a ziplock bag after drying. I don't think their showers are cleaned regularly & don't know who I'm coming behind.

[marilynsue]

I prefer solid shoes in coach, especially in the middle of the night on the steep stairs.

[joanphilbin]

It has been a while since I last traveled by Amtrak, from TX to RI, to attend my grandson's wedding, in 2014, in December. I wish I had seen a video like this one, before my trip. God bless you for your terrific information and video. Wow. I wish I had seen this, before I went.

[carra]

Yes, cooking in the sleeper cars is a fire hazard, but I understand their reasoning. My grandmother brought a percolator coffee pot on a roadtrip with us once. Just when I thought she brought it for making coffee, she boiled wieners for making us hot dogs in the hotel room. The hotel room could handle the extra power usage better than a train car. 😊

[spykep]

My number one travel must, is one ear plug. I find that when I get motion sickness, I just pop one ear plug in. It seems to do something to my equal Librium that combats the nausea. Please give it a try, I'd love to hear your feedback on it.

[danaginsberg]

Absolutely love your videos! I started going cross country via Amtrak in the late 80's, its always been a great experience. Personally I've learned wearing a good pair of jeans is a great idea, they can handle almost anything, sweats or yoga pants at night, and to always have an extra pair in case something spills (learned that last summer, it wasn't pretty, lol). Also, I have a camping blanket from costco that rolls up into a small bag that clips to the side of my backpack, as well as a mini umbrella I slid into the side picket of the backpack.

[TMB]

I never knew any of this. Thanks for sharing I would have gotten this wrong.

[Niteskate]

Thank you Allie, you and Rob always give the best advise, and often on things that wouldnt even occur to us, but make so much sense.

[billyhunter]

The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking input on 15 proposed new long-distance Amtrak routes. I love your channel.

[lynnwilliams]

My favorite thing from all of your videos. They weren't expensive at all and they are so comfortable when sleeping. I recommended them to the train attendants on my trip last month. You can barely hear anything, so in case of an emergency you would be able to hear, but I never heard people banging the bathroom doors during the night (I was in roomette #2).

[elizabethchamberlain]

Thank you! My mom and I will be traveling extensively week. Luckily, I have several of the items you showed. I need to order ginger chews for my mom because she experiences motion sickness. Love your channels. ❤

[DavidThomas-]

24 in Ifly hard shell luggage fits perfect above Amtrak seats. I also have backpack with important entertainment stuff and a good snack bag. Nice info on your ch.

[divasmusic]

Great information. May I add some of my travel tips? I wear regular Crocs on trips. I can wear socks and kick them off when going through TSA. I can use them as shower shoes in hotels. Dry them off and you can use them as bedroom shoes and regular footwear. I find them to be very versatile.

I use the single use Purell packets. They are convenient to stuff in a pants or coat pocket instead of the travel size bottles. Use the packet once and throw them away. I know it is as not as environmentally sound as as refillable bottles but the convenience cannot be beat.

Lastly, I buy travel size toiletries, and other items in bulk when I see them on sale. Surprisingly, Staples is always having BOGO sales on such items that are sometimes cheaper than Amazon or Walmart. Even if you don't travel a lot, those items are great to keep in your car, office or workplace, to put in student's bookbags or packpacks, for guest rooms, or just around the house for convenience.

[nickjulyA]

I bring an extension cord with 3 plugs at the end for either the person sitting next to me in the aisle or myself if I'm in the aisle.