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Amtrak’s popular USA Rail Pass offers travelers an opportunity to explore the United States at a discount, but readers often ask if it is actually useful for wheelchair users and disabled travelers. The short answer is "yes," but only if you plan the journey to account for your accessibility needs.
Pass holders can redeem 10 coach class train segments over a period of 30 days, which is a huge benefit over a single one-way ticket. Thoughtfully structuring your itinerary is key: If you try to travel coast-to-coast in two or three massive overnight rides, you’ll arrive exhausted (or worse) and you will miss out on some of the best scenery in the country. With this guide, disabled travelers and wheelchair users can redeem the USA Rail Pass for a comfortable and accessible cross-country journey.
My Strategy: Maximizing Rail Pass Value While Keeping Accessibility First
Before getting into how I would use the 10 segments included with the USA Rail Pass, here are some key priorities that underpin my strategy:
- No brutal 20+ hour segments. I am a wheelchair user, so opportunities for pressure relief are critical. Segments of around 10 hours or less are much more manageable. To make this possible, my Rail Pass journey will be one-way (I would choose to fly back home).
- Stops should be in city-center stations, where hotels are within walking (or rolling) distance of the station. Given that wheelchair taxis are difficult (if not impossible) to find in most American cities, I want to be able to access hotels, restaurants and attractions without being forced to rely on other modes of transit.
- "Stop to smell the roses." This is not a race across the country! I would want to take full advantage of the month-long duration of the USA Rail Pass, using the stopover points for exploration and recovery.
- Coast-to-coast journey. Some travelers may prefer to explore a particular region using the USA Rail Pass, but I would be intent on getting the most bang for my buck on a true cross-country journey. It is possible to travel from "sea to shining sea" while maximizing time on Amtrak's most scenic routes, the California Zephyr and Coast Starlight, which are routinely rated as the most picturesque rail journeys in the lower-48.
Itinerary
Accessibility is my top priority, but I also want to maximize my use of the pass. I considered a variety of routings and starting/ending points in brainstorming a trip for this article. To squeeze the most value out of the pass, I would elect to travel from New York City to Los Angeles, California. Here's how I would use the 10 segments of Amtrak's USA Rail Pass.
Segment 1: New York City → Pittsburgh
Train: Pennsylvanian
Segment Duration: 9 hours
This breaks the journey from the East Coast to the Midwest into civilized pieces. Instead of suffering through a 20-hour ride to Chicago, I would start with a comfortable daytime run across Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvanian follows rivers, forests, and rolling hills, and while it’s not the Rockies, it’s a genuinely pleasant way to start the trip.
John Morris
Pittsburgh is a perfect first stop:
- Union Station is downtown, with multiple hotels nearby — Consider staying at AC Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown or Hampton Inn & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown.
- The city is compact, scenic, and easily accessible.
- You can time your journey to see a Pittsburgh Pirates game, or visit attractions like the Andy Warhol Museum, the world-class Carnegie Museums, and the National Aviary.
How long I’d stay: 2 nights. Enough time to rest, enjoy the riverfront, catch a baseball game and not feel rushed.
Segment 2: Pittsburgh → Chicago
Train: Capitol Limited
Segment Duration: 8 hours, 45 minutes
This finishes the journey to Chicago overnight, but without the marathon 20-hour ordeal from New York. You arrive in Chicago in the morning, which will allow you to jump right in to exploring the Windy City.
John Morris
Chicago Union Station is one of the best hubs in the Amtrak system:
- There are tons of hotels within walking distance (I highly recommend the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop).
- Easy access to wheelchair accessible public transit in Chicago, which can connect you to all parts of the city.
- Walking distance to my favorite pizza joint, Gino's East, and also to top-rated attractions including the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Willis Tower and the Magnificent Mile shopping district.
How long I’d stay: 2 to 3 nights. Do laundry. Recover. Eat well. Prepare for the mountains.
All Aboard the California Zephyr!
After exploring Chicago, I would board the California Zephyr, which is widely considered to be Amtrak’s most scenic route.
The train crosses the Rockies, follows the Colorado River, cuts through Utah desert and climbs the Sierra Nevada. Instead of riding it for 52 straight hours, I’d break it into six beautiful, manageable segments.
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Segment 3: Chicago → Omaha
Train: California Zephyr
Segment Duration: 9 hours, 30 minutes
This is the least scenic part of the Zephyr, but it’s a logical bite-sized first step. You arrive late in the evening, sleep in a hotel, and move on the next day.
A couple of hotels are within one mile of the Omaha Amtrak Station:
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Omaha Downtown Old Market — 0.6 miles
- Moxy Omaha Downtown — 0.8 miles
Nearby attractions include the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center (you'll have to ride the city bus), the Joslyn Art Museum and the Heartland of America Park at the RiverFront. Look across the Missouri River, which serves as the boundary between Nebraska and Iowa.
How long I’d stay: 1 night. I would treat this as a logistics stop, not a sightseeing highlight.
Segment 4: Omaha → Denver
Train: California Zephyr
Segment Duration: 9 hours, 30 minutes
On this overnight journey, you will end the day in the Great Plains and wake up in the Rockies. The Mile High City is a fantastic stopover point; it is an easy (and accessible) city to enjoy at a relaxed pace. Be sure to time this stop to catch a show at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre (trust me, you won't regret it).
John Morris
Denver Union Station is outstanding:
- Hotels are literally attached to Union Station, with others located just across the street — I prefer the Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown - Union Station, which has fantastic accessible guest rooms.
- Restaurants, cafes, and transit are all right there. Confluence Park (at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River), Coors Field and the National Ballpark Museum are within walking distance.
How long I’d stay: 2 nights.
Segment 5: Denver → Glenwood Springs
Train: California Zephyr
Segment Duration: 6 hours
It is on this leg that the Zephyr becomes truly spectacular. The train follows the Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon, said to be one of the most beautiful rail corridors in North America.
Surrounded by the White River National Forest, the city is a known for its natural hot springs, which heat the pools at the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort in the city center. Visit the resort to enjoy the heated pools, then stay in an affordable room at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Glenwood Springs hotel.
How long I’d stay: 1 night, or more if you are renting a car.
Segment 6: Glenwood Springs → Salt Lake City
Train: California Zephyr
Segment Duration: 9 hours
On this leg of the journey, you will enjoy canyon scenery followed by high desert. Salt Lake City is an underrated destination, and one that I would encourage you to experience.
John Morris
Salt Lake City is a practical stop, but it is a destination worth exploring. There are lots of wheelchair accessible hotels in Salt Lake City, but the closest to Union Station is Homewood Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City Downtown.
While you are in town, be sure to visit the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Red Butte Garden. Get an eagle-eye view of the city from the Utah State Capitol building, before enjoying a meal at one of my favorite local restaurants: Ivy & Varley, Copper Canyon or Carson Kitchen.
How long I’d stay: 2 nights. Give SLC a try.
Segment 7: Salt Lake City → Reno
Train: California Zephyr
Segment Duration: 9 hours, 45 minutes
This is a long overnight segment, which is not ideal, but you will have a hotel to sleep in on both ends of the journey.
Reno works well as a stopover:
- The numerous casino hotels are affordable and extremely close to the train station. If you'd prefer a hotel without a casino, consider the Courtyard by Marriott Reno Downtown/Riverfront or the Whitney Peak Hotel Reno, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
- Downtown Reno is compact and easily wheel-able, with lots of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Reno is a convenient gateway to Lake Tahoe, if you want to rent a car and extend your trip
- It's not all casinos — Nearby attractions include the Nevada Museum of Art, National Automobile Museum, The Discovery Museum, the River Walk and multiple public parks.
Recommended stay: 2 nights. The opportunity for recovery will be good after an overnight train journey.
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Segment 8: Reno → Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area)
Train: California Zephyr
Segment Duration: 7 hours, 30 minutes
This segment includes the climb over the Sierra Nevada mountains, another highlight of the entire Amtrak system. While the Emeryville station is not San Francisco, it is well placed and offers connections to San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley.
If you do choose to stay in the Bay Area, there are many wheelchair accessible things to do, but don't leave without visiting the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio.
John Morris
If you decide to travel from Emeryville Station to the City of San Francisco, consider staying at one of my preferred properties: the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel (Read my detailed review here), the Holiday Inn San Francisco-Golden Gateway, or the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.
Alternatively, if you decide to book a room by the Emeryville Amtrak station, here are a few hotels located within walking distance:
- Hyatt House Emeryville/San Francisco Bay Area, 0.2 miles
- Four Points by Sheraton San Francisco Bay Bridge, 0.3 miles
- Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge, 0.6 miles
Recommended stay: 3–4 nights. San Francisco deserves real time, not a rushed visit.
Down the Coast: The Coast Starlight
We've crossed the continent and made it to the west coast, but there are still two segments remaining on our USA Rail Pass! Let's turn south and follow the Pacific Ocean on the Coast Starlight.
Segment 9: Emeryville → San Luis Obispo
Train: Coast Starlight
Segment Duration: 7 hours
This is one of the prettiest daylight coastal train rides in the country.
You will arrive in San Luis Obispo, a relaxed Central Coast town that makes an ideal stop on a California rail journey. Its compact, walkable downtown is anchored by the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and is filled with cafés, shops and accessible attractions. With its coastal scenery and a friendly, small-city feel, SLO is a perfect place to slow down and enjoy California’s Central Coast.
There are a few local hotels within a half mile of the SLO Amtrak Station, but the closest major chain hotel is Hotel Cerro, Autograph Collection by Marriott, located 0.7 miles away.
How long I’d stay: 1 to 2 nights.
Segment 10: San Luis Obispo → Los Angeles
Train: Coast Starlight
Segment Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
The final run down the coast brings you into LA's Union Station in the evening. From here, you’re done using USA Rail Pass segments (congrats!) and you can stay in the City of Angels as long as you want.
John Morris
A few notes about Union Station — There are not too many hotels nearby, but one good option is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown. At Union Station, you can connect to wheelchair accessible transportation including Metro lines A, B and D, the LAX FlyAway Bus service to Los Angeles International Airport, Greyhound, Flixbus and other intercity rail services.
From here, your exploration of Southern California can begin — public transport can get you to nearby destinations including Beverly Hills, Burbank, Hollywood, Long Beach, Santa Monica and Pasadena. You could also continue your rail journey (with a separate ticket) down to San Diego on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner. There are so many options — have a grand time!
Final Thoughts
In my view, maximizing the use of the USA Rail Pass is not about “how far can I go in 30 days?” That's the wrong question to ask. Instead, ask this one:
How comfortably and enjoyably can I experience the country from a wheelchair-accessible train, sleeping in real beds, and actually seeing the places I pass through?
For about $500 (less when Amtrak is running a sale), you can secure wheelchair accessible transportation from New York to Los Angeles — stopping on your schedule to see the sights, smell the roses, rest, relax, whatever you can imagine. The USA Rail Pass is your ticket to a cross-country slow travel experience done right. So, get out there and do it!
