Complete California Zephyr Route Itinerary with Station List and Map

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If you’ve ever thought, “What if I crossed the U.S. by train for two straight days and loved every minute of it?” Welcome, kindred spirit! You’re clearly the adventurous (and slightly unhinged) type, and the California Zephyr route might just be your new obsession.

This Amtrak journey spans from Emeryville, California to Chicago, Illinois, clocking in at around 52 hours. That’s 2+ days of mountains, deserts, canyons, and tiny train stations you’ve never heard of but will suddenly feel weirdly sentimental about. I’ve done the whole thing, and between the breathtaking views and the charming chaos of it all, I’m here to help you plan your own ride like a pro (or at least avoid learning everything the hard way).

In this post, you’ll get a full stop-by-stop list, a live map, and links to my personal trip review and top picks for what to see and where to stay along the way. All aboard!

California Zephyr Stop Map

Here is a map and a list of the California Zephyr's station stops. This list shows the Eastbound route from Emeryville, CA to Chicago, IL. The Westbound route is the same, in reverse order.