I spent 53 hours on Amtrak's longest train. These were the 6 best and 4 worst parts of the journey.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author stands smiling in front of a train
The author took Amtrak's California Zephyr train from Chicago to Emeryville, California.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I took a 32-hour Amtrak trip up the West Coast. It was great, but I wouldn't recommend it for routine travel.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A woman sitting in a private roomette on an Amtrak train.
I took a 32-hour Amtrak ride up the West Coast.

Ripley Mayfield

I slept in private rooms on overnight trains in the US and Europe. The experiences were completely different, but I'd book both again.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A composite image of trains stopped at outdoor platforms: a Nightjet at night on the left and an Amtrak during the day on the right
Business Insider's reporter booked overnight train rides on Nightjet and Amtrak trains.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent 2 nights in an Amtrak bedroom and tried both bunks. The smaller bed won me over.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author lays in the top bunk of an Amtrak bedroom
The author booked a bedroom on Amtrak's California Zephyr and slept in both bunks.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I've spent 128 hours on overnight Amtrak trips. I wish I had known 10 things before stepping aboard.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of a train stopped at a snowy outdoor platform, and the author sitting with her knees up in an Amtrak roomette
A Business Insider reporter spent 128 hours in Amtrak sleeper cars and learned things about overnight train travel she regrets not knowing beforehand.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent 53 hours on an Amtrak sleeper train. I want to take it again, but I'll do 6 things differently next time.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The exterior of a double-decker Amtrak Superliner train with red and blue stripes
Business Insider will do a few things differently the next time she rides the California Zephyr.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I backpacked through Europe for the first time and learned the hard way that resting is more important than sightseeing

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author stands in front of a garden in Vienna
An overnight train ride on a two-week backpacking trip through Europe taught Business Insider's reporter that rest is crucial while traveling.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent $2,200 for a private bedroom on a 53-hour Amtrak ride. Here are 7 reasons I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of a train parked outside with snow on the ground and the author sitting in an Amtrak bedroom with a window behind her
A Business Insider reporter took Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville, California.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I took the longest train ride in the US. 6 things surprised me about the 53-hour adventure across the country.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author sits in an Amtrak bedroom with a mirror on the left back wall and a window on the right
A Business Insider reporter spent 53 hours on Amtrak's California Zephyr train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I booked a bedroom and a roomette on the same overnight Amtrak train. The bedroom is worth the splurge for longer rides.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of a train seat with pillows on them inside an Amtrak roomette accommodation and the author standing smiling in the Amtrak bedroom with a bunk bed in the background
The author stayed in a roomette and a bedroom on the California Zephyr, an overnight Amtrak train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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