On February 28, 1827, the first commercial passenger train in the United States chugged into history. Two hundred years later, the country is gearing up for a massive rail celebration, and there has never been a better time to explore America from the window of a moving carriage.
Most travelers see the US from a car or a plane, but the train offers something else entirely. As the nation's passenger railway marks its bicentennial, Brand USA is inviting everyone to slow down and watch the landscape unfold mile by mile. Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA, puts it simply: "Rail is where America's travel story began, and 200 years later, the romance of the rails endures." The 2027 bicentennial is a timely invitation to let the tracks lead the way.
Long-Distance Routes That Rival the Road
America is vast, and its long-distance train routes are a welcome alternative to endless highways. Instead of gripping the wheel, you can sink into a seat and watch the scenery roll by. Amtrak's California Zephyr is a standout, running between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area while crossing the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. The Coast Starlight hugs the Pacific from Seattle to Los Angeles, and the Empire Builder heads northwest from Chicago, passing Glacier National Park and cutting through plains and mountains that show just how big this country really is.
Even the legendary Route 66 has a rail counterpart. It's not an exact replica, but the Amtrak Southwest Chief parallels parts of the historic corridor, offering a fresh take on the classic American road trip. Starting in Chicago, the route rolls through Mother Road communities, then into the deserts of the Southwest. In Albuquerque, you can hop off for Southwestern architecture and green chile cuisine. In Flagstaff, Arizona, the Grand Canyon is just a short detour away, and the line eventually ends in Los Angeles.
Historic Trains and Living Museums
For history buffs, 2027 is the perfect year to ride the rails. The country still runs a variety of historic routes and locomotives. In Colorado and the Mountain West, vintage trains wind through rugged terrain that once served mining towns. Pennsylvania's Strasburg Rail Road operates in one of the oldest railroad regions in the nation, while West Virginia's Cass Scenic Railroad carries passengers into the Appalachians on tracks built for the logging industry.
If you want to dig deeper, head to Baltimore, Maryland. The city played a foundational role in American rail history with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and its National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation (formerly the B&O Railroad Museum) holds one of the most significant collections of artifacts and historic equipment in the country. Bicentennial exhibitions and programming in 2027 will offer even more ways to explore the story where it all began.
New Trains, New Comfort
But it's not all about the past. A new generation of trains is arriving, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Amtrak's upcoming Airo trains will bring modern equipment to the Amtrak Cascades corridor, which links Seattle and Portland. For international visitors, this route is a dream, combining city stays with easy access to forests, mountains, wine country, and the coast. The new Airo trains are expected to debut in 2027, just in time for the anniversary.
If you're planning a rail adventure, consider pairing a long-distance journey with a historic excursion. You could ride the California Zephyr, then hop on a steam train in Colorado. Or start in Baltimore for the museum, then take the Capitol Limited to Chicago and connect to the Empire Builder. The possibilities are endless.
For those who love a good train story, the romance of the rails is alive and well. And if you're looking for other rail-inspired trips, check out the Orient Express's return to Monte Carlo or Italy's new high-speed link to Germany. But for the ultimate American journey, 2027 is the year to let the tracks guide you.
