Ride The Amtrak On Arizona’s Route 66 For Just $45
There’s a new way to get your kicks on Route 66, and it involves a short ride on the Amtrak that’s jam-packed with fascinating history and incredibly scenic views. The Southwest Chief is Amtrak’s route through the American West, running between Los Angeles and Chicago. Instead of embarking on the whole trip, which takes around two days, you can cruise down Route 66 and hop off without ever leaving the state. Traveling from Kingman to Winslow (or vice versa), this 200-mile train ride passes through some of the most iconic destinations in Arizona – and it costs as little as $45!
Author’s note: Not all of the photos used in this article depict the Southwest Chief. Some may showcase other Amtrak routes and are for illustrative purposes only.
Running between Chicago and Los Angeles, Amtrak's Southwest Chief leads passengers on an enthralling journey through the American West.
If you start off in Kingman, you'll definitely want to check out the Historic Route 66 Museum before leaving town. It's full of memorabilia from the Mother Road's heyday, and history buffs will thoroughly enjoy their visit.
The charming mountain town of Flagstaff, with its towering peaks and lush ponderosa pines, is the midway point along the route.
Feel free to disembark and do some sightseeing, whether that means stargazing at the Lowell Observatory, hiking one of the many trails, popping into a historic Route 66 café, or hitting the slopes at the Arizona Snowbowl.
Winslow, home to the famous Standin' on the Corner Park, is equally steeped in Route 66 culture.
Paying homage both to the historic highway and the classic rock song by The Eagles that put the town on the map, this unassuming street corner attracts tourists from all over the world. Winslow is also home to the best-preserved meteorite impact site on Earth!
No matter what class you choose, rest assured all Amtrak train cars boast comfortable seats and plenty of legroom.
Even though you'll be able to take in the views at each stop, nothing beats watching the desert landscape whiz by as the train rolls along.
Thruway bus connections to the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams are available, so you can extend your journey to the most iconic natural wonder in Arizona.
This century-old railway deposits passengers just steps away from the south rim, boasting Western-style entertainment throughout the ride.
Exact ride times and prices may vary from day to day. Visit the Amtrak website or Facebook page to learn more about the route.
Have you ever ridden on the Southwest Chief? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments section below! Tell us the highlights, then check out our previous article to learn more about the Grand Canyon Railway.
Address: Flagstaff, AZ, USA
Address: Kingman, AZ, USA
Address: Winslow, AZ 86047, USA
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Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
