Southwest Chief
Chicago, IL → Los Angeles, CA · 2265 miles · 43h
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2265 miles
43h
Daily
90 mph
8
About the Southwest Chief
The old Santa Fe route. Raton Pass, the high desert of New Mexico, the pueblos near Lamy and Albuquerque, then the Mojave into Los Angeles Union Station.
What makes this route worth taking
- Raton Pass at 7,588 feet
- Closest rail access to Santa Fe (via Lamy) and the Grand Canyon (via Flagstaff)
- Native American Cultural Interpreter program in season
- Sightseer Lounge across the Southwest
- Traditional dining for sleeping-car guests
Travel tip
Flagstaff is the Grand Canyon gateway — we can package the rail leg with the canyon shuttle in one call.
Classes of service on this route
The Southwest Chief 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 | Naperville |
| 3 | Mendota |
| 4 | Princeton |
| 5 | Galesburg |
| 6 | Fort Madison |
| 7 | La Plata |
| 8 | Kansas City |
| 9 | Lawrence |
| 10 | Topeka |
| 11 | Newton |
| 12 | Hutchinson |
| 13 | Dodge City |
| 14 | Garden City |
| 15 | Lamar |
| 16 | La Junta |
| 17 | Trinidad |
| 18 | Raton |
| 19 | Las Vegas NM |
| 20 | Lamy |
| 21 | Albuquerque |
| 22 | Gallup |
| 23 | Winslow |
| 24 | Flagstaff |
| 25 | Kingman |
| 26 | Needles |
| 27 | Barstow |
| 28 | Victorville |
| 29 | San Bernardino |
| 30 | Riverside |
| 31 | Fullerton |
| 32 | Los Angeles |
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 Southwest Chief
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.
