Empire Builder
Chicago, IL → Seattle, WA / Portland, OR · 2206 miles · 46h
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2206 miles
46h
Daily
79 mph
8
About the Empire Builder
The northern transcontinental. Follows the Mississippi, crosses the Great Plains, skirts the southern edge of Glacier National Park, then splits at Spokane for Seattle and Portland.
What makes this route worth taking
- Glacier National Park access at East Glacier and West Glacier
- Marias Pass over the Continental Divide
- Columbia River Gorge on the Portland section
- Sightseer Lounge and traditional dining
- Splits into two trains at Spokane
Travel tip
Summer Glacier departures sell out by March. Book the Seattle section for mountains, Portland for the Gorge.
Classes of service on this route
The Empire Builder operates with Superliner II. Available accommodation:
Sleeping-car fares on long-distance routes typically include meals for everyone in the room, along with priority boarding, station lounge access where available and a dedicated car attendant. Inclusions vary by route and change without notice, so confirm what your fare covers with the carrier.
States and provinces served
Stations along the route
| # | Station |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago |
| 2 | Milwaukee |
| 3 | Columbus |
| 4 | Portage |
| 5 | Wisconsin Dells |
| 6 | Tomah |
| 7 | La Crosse |
| 8 | Winona |
| 9 | Red Wing |
| 10 | St. Paul-Minneapolis |
| 11 | St. Cloud |
| 12 | Fargo |
| 13 | Grand Forks |
| 14 | Devils Lake |
| 15 | Rugby |
| 16 | Minot |
| 17 | Stanley |
| 18 | Williston |
| 19 | Wolf Point |
| 20 | Glasgow |
| 21 | Malta |
| 22 | Havre |
| 23 | Shelby |
| 24 | Cut Bank |
| 25 | Browning |
| 26 | East Glacier Park |
| 27 | Essex |
| 28 | West Glacier |
| 29 | Whitefish |
| 30 | Libby |
| 31 | Sandpoint |
| 32 | Spokane |
| 33 | Ephrata |
| 34 | Wenatchee |
| 35 | Everett |
| 36 | Edmonds |
| 37 | Seattle |
Station lists reflect the principal calling pattern. Individual departures may omit stops or add seasonal calls. Schedules, equipment and station stops are set by the carrier and change without notice — confirm current details directly with the carrier before you travel.
Planning a journey on the Empire Builder
Fares on Amtrak routes move in tiers that generally only step upward, so booking once your dates are firm is usually cheaper than waiting. Sleeping-car accommodation is capped per car and tends to sell out well ahead of coach on this kind of route.
Want to talk it through before you book? Call +1 (888) 821-4679 and we will walk you through the route, the accommodation and the accessibility arrangements. Free, and no obligation.
