Posted in Montana
January 18, 2022
The Scenic Train Ride In Montana That Runs Year-Round
The Amtrak Empire Builder is a well-known long-distance passenger train. Considering you can go all the way from Seattle to Chicago and back, there’s no doubt that this train ride offers some amazing scenery. In fact, you’ll see more of the U.S. from your window than you would if you made the trip by car.
The Empire Builder passes through Montana, taking you from Browning to Wolf Point before barreling on to North Dakota. This means you’ll pass Whitefish, Glacier National Park, and many other areas that aren’t easy to drive to in the dead of winter. But you won’t have to worry about that, because the Empire Builder operates all year.
It was the flagship passenger train of the Great Northern Railway and its successor, the Burlington Northern Railroad. Amtrak took it over in 1971.
The end-to-end travel time of the route is 45–46 hours. But of course, you can ride through Montana alone in substantially less time.
And while it gets dark so early that this isn't always possible, it's amazing to see all the snow-capped mountains and the trees dusted with white powder.
Whether you have an actual destination in mind or you're just riding along for the scenery, this is a unique way to enjoy the beauty of the Treasure State.
Fortunately, it does not always hit record-breaking low winter temps.
If you have a case of cabin fever, find the nearest Amtrak station on the route and book yourself a ride.
Ready to see a true winter wonderland? See the full Empire Builder schedule here.
Address: Whitefish Depot, 500 Depot St, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA
Address: West Glacier, Montana, 12544 US-2, West Glacier, MT 59936, USA
Address: Havre, 235 Main St, Havre, MT 59501, USA
Address: Cut Bank, MT 59427, USA
