Travellers planning a trip to the United States in 2027 will have a new reason to explore the country by train, as Brand USA highlights two centuries of American railroad history with scenic rail journeys, heritage train experiences, railway museums and unusual overnight stays.
The year 2027 marks 200 years since the beginning of the American railroad era. To celebrate the milestone, Brand USA is encouraging international visitors to discover the country’s landscapes, history and communities from the comfort of a train, offering an alternative to exploring the United States primarily by car or plane.
“Rail is where America’s travel story began, and 200 years later, the romance of the rails endures,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA. He added that the bicentennial offers travellers an opportunity to slow down and appreciate the country’s scenery along the way.
From crossing the Rocky Mountains to travelling through desert landscapes and staying in restored railway carriages, the experiences highlighted by Brand USA showcase how train travel continues to shape the American travel experience.
For visitors seeking dramatic scenery, Canyon Spirit offers multi day journeys through the American West, with daylight only travel designed to let passengers enjoy the surrounding canyons, mountains and red rock formations. The journeys can also form part of a wider itinerary connecting cities such as Denver and Salt Lake City with national parks and outdoor destinations.
Amtrak’s long distance routes provide another way to experience the country’s vast landscapes. The California Zephyr travels between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, crossing the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. The Coast Starlight connects Seattle and Los Angeles through the Pacific Northwest and California, while the Empire Builder links Chicago with the Pacific Northwest and passes near Glacier National Park.
New passenger services are also expanding the possibilities for rail travel. In the Pacific Northwest, Amtrak’s upcoming Airo trains are expected to introduce a new generation of trains to the Amtrak Cascades corridor, which connects cities including Seattle and Portland. Travellers can use the route to combine urban visits with access to forests, mountains, wine regions and coastal destinations.
Along the Gulf Coast, Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service connects New Orleans with Mobile, Alabama. The route offers visitors an opportunity to extend their stay beyond New Orleans, known for its jazz music, Creole and Cajun cuisine, and historic neighbourhoods, to explore more coastal communities.
Rail travel can also provide a different way to experience Route 66, the legendary highway that celebrated its centennial in 2026. Travellers can follow portions of the historic corridor by taking Amtrak’s Southwest Chief from Chicago towards Los Angeles, with stops in destinations such as Albuquerque in New Mexico and Flagstaff in Arizona. The journey combines railway travel with opportunities to explore Southwestern culture, desert scenery and access to the Grand Canyon.
For those interested in America’s railway heritage, historic train excursions offer a closer look at the locomotives and routes that once supported mining, logging and regional communities.
In Colorado, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad carries passengers through the San Juan Mountains between two historic communities. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad crosses the Colorado and New Mexico border through remote mountain scenery, with themed excursions focusing on subjects such as geology, live music, dinner and beer tastings.
Other heritage rail experiences include Pennsylvania’s Strasburg Rail Road, West Virginia’s Cass Scenic Railroad and New York State’s Finger Lakes Rail Experience, which offers sightseeing, sunset, autumn foliage and holiday rides throughout the year.
Railway museums and historic stations also provide opportunities to explore the industry’s influence on American development. Baltimore, Maryland, is a particularly significant destination because of its connection to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The city’s National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation, formerly known as the B&O Railroad Museum, preserves an extensive collection of historic railway equipment and artefacts. Bicentennial programming planned for 2027 includes a new Innovation Hall scheduled to open in January.
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg is also scheduled to open a new accessible Roundhouse in early 2027, offering visitors closer access to six historic steam locomotives.
Elsewhere, Denver Union Station combines a functioning transport hub with dining, shopping and accommodation at The Crawford Hotel, whose Pullman style rooms draw inspiration from vintage sleeper cars. Omaha’s Durham Museum is housed in the city’s former 1931 Art Deco Union Station, where visitors can explore restored 1940s passenger train carriages and a working soda fountain dating to 1931.
Kansas City’s Union Station, Cincinnati’s Union Terminal and Los Angeles Union Station also continue to serve as architectural and cultural attractions, hosting activities ranging from exhibitions and film screenings to historical lectures and guided tours.
Travellers can even spend the night in former railway carriages and historic depots converted into accommodation. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo allows guests to stay in restored Pullman train carriages within the city’s former Terminal Station complex. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is also located in the city and offers themed rides aboard historic and restored trains.
Other railway inspired accommodation includes the Asher Adams hotel in Salt Lake City, which incorporates the city’s historic Union Pacific Depot, and the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, which retains elements of its railway heritage.
In rural Idaho, Idaho Train Stays in Deary offers overnight stays in restored railway carriages, including a 1909 train carriage, a caboose and a passenger room. In Madrid, New Mexico, the Antigua Inn features restored cabooses converted into guest accommodation, while The Hamilton in nearby Lamy offers stays in a restored 1920s Pullman railcar beside the historic Lamy Train Station.
Visitors staying in the area can also board Sky Railway, a line dating to 1880 that was revived and restored in part by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. Its themed journeys include stargazing, murder mysteries, live jazz and margarita tastings.
For a different type of overnight experience, the Two Rivers State Recreation Area near Omaha, Nebraska, offers ten restored Union Pacific cabooses equipped with full kitchens and access to a fire pit. The accommodation is available during the warmer months and provides a camping style stay with household amenities.
Throughout 2027, museums, historic stations, heritage railways and railway communities across the United States are expected to mark the bicentennial with exhibitions, special excursions and anniversary programming. Maryland is among the destinations promoting rail themed museums and scenic train rides as part of the celebrations.
Some communities will also continue long running railway traditions. Branchville, South Carolina, located about 90 minutes west of Charleston, hosts the Raylrode Daze Festivul, an event that began in 1969. The town is home to the Branchville Railroad Museum and is recognised for its historic railway junction.
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