Traveling by train is one essential way to easily and quickly explore Europe and Asiabut in the United States, the rail culture is not as strong or convenient as it is in countries like Japan and Spain. The issue of domestic passenger trains is not new: aging infrastructure and the high cost of supplies have discouraged innovation and drawn a lot of political backlash for decades.
WHEREAS The US was at the forefront of train travel in the 19th centuryit declined greatly in the following century. The vast topography and sprawling cities across the US are generally seen as better suited to personal vehicles, and in the 20th century, automobiles and aviation took precedence as the promise of a nationwide high-speed rail system faded. Recently, however, there has been a slight change, with Amtrak hosting a record number of passengers in recent years.
With national average fuel prices at a four-year high, traveling by train has never looked more attractive — at this point, filling up the tank or buying a plane ticket feels like highway robbery, forcing travelers to think outside the box. In Los Angeles, we are lucky enough to have Amtrak operating direct routes to various worthwhile vacation destinations in the Golden State, and we’ll—allegedly—have even more options in 2030.
In 2008, voters approved a high-speed rail system designed to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles in less than three hours. The project was originally supposed to be completed in 2020 and cost 33 billion dollarsbut as of the first half of 2026, no electrified track has been laid and is now about 400 percent over budget. Additionally, the original goal of creating a direct line from San Francisco to LA has been put on the back burner unless additional funding is obtained, so instead of being able to easily travel between the cities, LA residents will have to travel by bus to and from Bakersfield, largely defeating the original purpose of the train. At this point, it might be better for the United States to stick with airplanes and automobiles until we learn to stop abandoning efficiency in the name of bureaucracy.
While that day may never come, Angelenos can (and should) take advantage of it Amtrak routes currently available to us. Although the train ride tends to take a bit longer than a regular road trip (at least in SoCal), there’s a special charm to being able to return to your seat as you zoom along the coast. Most stops take you directly into city centers, ensuring you can enjoy a hassle-free car-free adventure. Regardless of whether you are longing for a weekend on the American Riviera or a quiet San Diego getaway, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite summer destinations to visit by train from LA
