I spent 53 hours in a bedroom on an Amtrak train for $2,200 and made 5 mistakes

6 hours ago 6

The author sits looking out a window to the right in the Amtrak bedroom

I recently traveled on the California Zephyr, an overnight Amtrak train, from Chicago to California.
I booked a $2,200 bedroom accommodation for the 53-hour ride.
I regretted packing toiletries that Amtrak already provided and choosing to sleep in the lower bunk.

If you travel a lot like me, I highly recommend logging your mistakes so you're less likely to repeat them.

For example, I'd spent 75 hours on overnight Amtrak trains before my most recent adventure aboard the California Zephyr, a double-decker train that runs from Chicago to Emeryville, California, in about 53 hours, making it the longest train ride in the US.

I booked a 50-square-foot Amtrak bedroom with a full private bathroom for $2,200 for the two-night journey.

I managed to avoid the mistakes I'd made on sleeper trains in the past, but I also made a few new ones that I don't want to repeat. And maybe you can avoid them altogether.

I packed the wrong activity to pass the time.

The author holds a ukulele in an Amtrak bedroom with bunks in the background and a window on the left

I chuckle when I think about how smart I thought I was for bringing my ukulele. Even when I realized it was too tall to pack in my suitcase, I was certain I'd be glad I had it once confined to my train bedroom. Being a musician in a band, I pictured myself plowing through a running list of songs I've been wanting to learn. And I thought, "Who knows, maybe I'll feel inspired to write a new tune."

These daydreams were shattered the moment the couple in the accommodation next to mine arrived. The walls were so thin that even with the door closed, I could hear their entire conversation. There was simply no way I could jam out without disturbing other passengers. So I didn't play a single note.

However, I did find other ways to pass the time, like reading, writing poetry, and playing video games on my Nintendo Switch.

I also wish I'd left my towel and some of my toiletries at home.

Three towels on a shelf in an Amtrak shower with the shower head on the left and toiletries on the wall on the right

I knew I'd have my own shower in my accommodation, so I packed a towel, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

I regretted doing so when I swung open the shower door and found that Amtrak provided all of these items. Full-sized Beekman 1802 soap bottles hung from the wall, and three towels were tucked into a high shelf.

Next time, I'll lighten my load and leave these items at home.

I should have removed the toilet paper from the bathroom before showering.

A composite image of a toilet behind a shower and a close-up of the shower controls in an Amtrak bedroom

The toilet sat just behind the showerhead in the extremely tiny bathroom, and the toilet paper roll was underneath the temperature handles. So, I should have guessed that it would get sopping wet when I turned on the shower, but I didn't. Luckily, I found another roll of toilet paper in a cabinet next to the vanity.

If you ever find yourself in an Amtrak bedroom, remove the toilet paper roll before you shower.

A lack of planning kept me from making the most of my time in the observation car.

Passengers sit on both sides of the observation car

The California Zephyr has a lounge car on the top floor. It's also called the observation car because it has two rows of expansive windows on either side of the train.

When I noticed epic landscapes out my bedroom window as we passed through snowy mountain ranges, I took my camera to the observation car for a better view. Unfortunately, in most of these cases, the car was completely full by the time I arrived.

In hindsight, I could have looked up what times we'd be passing through these areas so I could grab a seat before the rush.

I should have stuck to sleeping in the top bunk.

The author lays on the top bunk in an Amtrak bedroom. There's a couch below and a ladder on the left

Since I had two nights on board the California Zephyr, I wanted to see what it was like to sleep in each bunk. I started with the top bunk and stored my belongings on the couch below. I liked this setup a lot. Having both a couch and a bed made the space feel bigger.

When I folded out the lower bunk on the second night, I noticed it was wider than the top bunk, which made it more comfortable.

Still, the room instantly felt tighter and messier. Virtually all of the floor space was gone, so I shoved all my belongings into the corner. There was no space to stand in front of the vanity, so I brushed my teeth on the bed.

Some travelers may prefer the wider, lower bunk, but I preferred having a smaller bed and a bigger room.

Next time I'm in an Amtrak bedroom, I know where I'll sleep and what items I'll leave behind.