Amtrak California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco

Amtrak’s California Zephyr will blow your mind. If you’re thinking of taking the ultimate Amtrak train journey, watch this!

With its unmatched scenery, Amtrak’s California Zephyr should top not just your train trip list, but your entire travel bucket list.

In this video, we’ll travel from Chicago to San Francisco onboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr in a luxurious Bedroom, the ultimate Amtrak Train accommodation. We’ll also explore the California Zephyr Roomette to see how big that train accommodation really is!

And, for the first time ever, I’ll even show you the shower on the California Zephyr.

You’ll see the sights, the food, and gain insight into what it’s like to travel on Amtrak’s most scenic train: The California Zephyr.

Amtrak’s California Zephyr train was named for the original train operated jointly by the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad; the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad; and the Western Pacific Railroad. It was inaugurated March 19, 1949.

From its earliest days, the marketing and advertising for the California Zephyr train route has focused on the spectacular views along the way. And, in this video, you will see why!

This video started with five and a half hours of raw California Zephyr footage, distilled down to the best. That was a tough task because nearly every mile of the California Zephyr’s 2,438 mile journey was spectacular.

0:00 Introduction to the California Zephyr
2:48 Boarding the California Zephyr
13:10 Starting Day Two of the California Zephyr
16:02 Ultimate California Zephyr Rocky Mountain Views
24:17 Starting Day Three of the California Zephyr
32:37 Bloopers

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Don’t miss my video about Amtrak’s Empire Builder:

And here’s a link to the video we made about Amtrak’s Southwest Chief:

Here's a video I made comparing Amtrak's Acela to a plane:

And, while we’re at it, here’s a playlist of all of the train videos on my channel:

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For some amazing Amtrak drone footage, check out Ryan's channel here:

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Music:
The Twelve Spies – Silver Maple
Candle Light – dream
Ring Wear Saga – Dusty Decks
Illusory Motion – Gavin Luke
Way Out West – Epocha
La Ciudad – El Equipo Del Norte
For Those Who Know – Gavin Luke
Swirly Bird – Arc De Soleil
The Break of Dawn – Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
Think About You (Instrumental Version) – Sture Zetterberg
Second Wind – Northside
In the Tunnels – Ethan Sloan
A Gentle Invitation – Dawn, Dawn, Dawn
Today Is a Good Day to Live (Instrumental Version) – John T. Graham
Evergreen Fields – Tape Machines
I’ve Been Thinking of Ways to Leave You (Instrumental Version) – Staffan Carlen
Sandcastle – Magnus Ludvigsson
No One Is Safe Here – Kikoru
Living Life – DJ DENZ The Rooster
Chaos Theory – Ava Low
The Fight (Instrumental Version) – Amos Noah
Uphill Aspiration – Trevor Kowalski
The Street Performer – The Fly Guy Five
Fortune of Hearts – Hailman

[toddkowalcyk]

I’ve never traveled by train. I just booked this trip with a bedroom for my wife and I in 2024 because of this video and the work you do. Thanks for all the hard work.

[ViscidBeltUSA]

I am giving a moment of respect for the workers who sacrificed their lives to build railway tracks on such dangerous conditions like the Rocky Mountains about 100+ years ago.

[betsyross]

Good job, my Uncle and I took this adventure together last September for his 75th Birthday. He lived in KY and I live in So Cal. We met in Chicago seeing each other for the first time in 33 years. Then we flew together back to S Cal, and unfortunately he died before making back home to KY, completely unexpected. So glad we took this wonderful adventure together!

[dannogrovesii]

We appreciate your videos of our trains!! I have worked at the maintenance facility in Beech Grove Indiana for 25 years!! Our facility is huge, with some of the most talented train mechanics in the world!! Really enjoyed you guys showcasing what we work on every day!! Thanks for the video!!

[technicholls]

Several years my wheelchair-bound wife and I took the Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville. We had a handicap sleeper room and it was GREAT! The attendants were all very accommodating and the food was good. When we got into the Rockys and moved through Donner Pass, an historian got on board and narrated the journey, it was wonderful.

[jzulli]

I took this train when I was a kid leaving from Chicago with a final destination of Albuquerque. One of the best trips of my life. My mom and I didn't have a sleeper car so we had to sleep in the chairs both nights. Totally worth it. Some day I want to relive the experience with my wife and kids.

[hadiuzzaman]

Hi, I am from Bangladesh. Inspired by your video, I took this train and travelled for 52 hours from Chicago to San Francisco (and created memories of a lifetime). Thank You!

[DFV]

My son and I were on this trip with you! You can clearly see us in the observation car several times during the trip through the Rockies (we are in the window reflection at 16:40). It was such a fantastic adventure and we enjoyed meeting you. Going to take the same route with my daughter soon and I'm super stoked to show her the gorgeous views as well.

[ce]

man, this guy is so wholesome. positive vibes all the way

[aftynwatkins]

In 1965, My Nana took a train fron NYC to Los Angeles, CA as a single mother with 4 kids. Her strength and will-power was passed down to all of us <3 May She Rest in Peace

[ellecaledonia]

As airplane travel becomes even more unbearable (unruly passengers, squeezing ourselves into smaller and smaller seats), and remote work becoming more common, train travel in The United States could see a resurgence. I hope so!!! I love traveling by train. So relaxing and comfortable. There’s room to spread out and the view is more interesting than the view from an airplane. I am crossing my fingers that Americans will support a more robust train system in this country.

[theodorewinfrey]

I'm 79yrs old and I thank you for this info. A trip like this is number one on my Bucket List

[applejack]

Ex-Amtrak Engineer here, I have run the Empire builder and the Coast Starlight thru the Cascades, was unique experience for me. Both trains had two P-42's on the head end also. Lots of good power.

[hollister]

I swear we take this country for granted sometimes, I’ve been to many places around the world, but nothing will ever come close to home. We may have our differences but when watching videos like this, it makes me realize just how close we are as well. I wish we could stop all this ridiculous in-fighting and come together as a country again🇺🇸💐

[matthewbrazille]

Tipping the Attendant is definitely a must for all of their hard work.

[armychic]

This brings back great memories!! I traveled to California on the CZ years ago to visit my brother. On my return trip, there was a snow storm and we ended up stopping for 12+ hours while waiting for snow to be cleared from the tracks -apparently the first attempt failed due to faulty equipment, so a replacement had to be retrieved. Some of the passengers were so irate and rude, but the conductor and crew remained professional and calm the entire time - reassuring we would be updated as new information came in. Everyone, no matter their riding status, was checked on and taken care of. Unfortunately, not the greatest time for some, but I had a blast - met some interesting people! Thank you for posting♥️

[OmarGoshTV]

This deserves to be on Netflix. Very well done!!

[james]

Speaking as an Australian who lived in California for over four years, I was in awe of the geography/topography and variation of landscapes across the United States. My conclusion, and I think what you’ve demonstrated in this vlog Jeb, is that the very nature of American culture/character is so influenced by the majesty and wonder of the land itself. Great to see your passion shine through in this enjoyable vlog. I hope one day I can travel the section as suggested to Denver. Cheers👍

[badgermoon]

As a young child I rode this route when it was operated by the private companies before Amtrak was a thing. One thing I remember was the difference in the dining. It looks like the food now is pre-packaged and heated before serving. Back in the past, the food was prepared fresh, and everything looked much better than what I saw in the video. It was really amazing back then. I wish everyone could experience train travel as it was back in its heyday. You would love it!

[johnvienta]

I took this train with my wife, from Denver to Las Vegas, when we travelled across the USA after she became pregnant and we knew that the opportunity to travel would soon be limited. Professional staff, beautiful scenery and also had really decent fellow passengers. Still a better experience than most long distance trains here in Australia.