I spent $1,000 to have a room to myself on a 30-hour Amtrak ride. It was the best experience I've had on an overnight train in the US.
I've traveled on overnight trains in the US and Europe. My experience in an Amtrak bedroom was the most comfortable in the US.
Feb 10, 2025 - 22:48
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The author lounges in an Amtrak bedroom traveling from Miami to NYC.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
In October 2021, I took an overnight Amtrak train from Miami to New York, which was 30 hours long.
I booked a bedroom about the size of a king-sized bed with a full bathroom for $1,000.
The private room was more comfortable than any other overnight train I've booked in the US.
I prefer to travel by train when I can — even if it means taking an overnight ride.
In addition to being more sustainable than driving or flying, traveling by train has given me unparalleled views of the world, with landscapes changing every second. And being stuck on a train for long periods forces me to sit back and do nothing, which I don't often prioritize in my daily life.
It all started in October 2021 when I took two 30-hour Amtrak rides between Miami and NYC. I spent my ride to Miami in a roomette accommodation and booked a bedroom for the way home.
My luxury overnight ride was obviously the most comfortable, as it cost $8,000 more than any other sleeper train I've taken. But of all the other rides, the best accommodation by far was Amtrak's bedroom back in 2021.
I booked a $1,000 Amtrak bedroom accommodation for my 30-hour trip from Miami to NYC in 2021.
The author sits in a bedroom on a train from Miami to NYC.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I booked a tiny, private roomette for $500 on my trip from New York City to Miami and reserved a $1,000 bedroom accommodation, the next step up after a roomette, on my way back.
The bedrooms are at least 45.5 square feet, which, for reference, is a little bigger than a standard king-size bed. They can sleep up to two adults.
While the ride home was bumpy and long, the spacious bedroom made me feel at ease.
The author sits on a train from Miami to NYC.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
As someone who deals with travel anxiety, I found 30 hours on a train to be overwhelming, especially since, at the time, I had only taken one other overnight train. The constant motion of the train didn't help, either. In fact, I ended up feeling a little queasy.
But staying in a bedroom made me feel more comfortable than staying in a roomette, a cheaper accommodation that's about half the size. I thought the bedroom offered ample space to stretch out and move about, which made all the difference to me.
I think I could comfortably do a 30-hour train journey again, as long as I book a bedroom. And to make it more affordable, I'd book with a friend to split the cost and have some company next time.
My journey began at the Amtrak station in Miami.
A view of a line to board an 11:50 a.m. train from Miami to New York.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I arrived at Miami Amtrak Station at 11 a.m., 50 minutes before my train was scheduled to depart. The building's interior reminded me of a Greyhound bus station.
I sat in the only waiting area I could find until it was time to board.
Once on the train, I found my bedroom, which had a sofa that folded out into a bed, a bed that pulled down from the ceiling, and a chair that folded up out of the way.
A view of the author's Amtrak bedroom accommodation.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
For double the price of a roomette, the accommodation I booked for my previous train trip, the bedroom accommodation also offered double the space.
Right away, I knew this trip would be more pleasant than my ride to Miami since I had more room to stretch out.
The bedroom had a table that pulled out from the wall between two of the three seats.
A table holds the author's laptop.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The table reminded me of storage hacks I'd expect to find in a tiny home. I used it to hold my laptop while working and appreciated that I could simply fold it out of the way when it was time to relax.
On the left side of the room, there was a sink underneath a mirror with a handful of small towels next to it.
A view of the bathroom vanity in the bedroom.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Beneath the sink, there was a trash can and a place to hold tissues.
To the right of the mirror was a cabinet where I could store my toiletries and other personal items. This feature allowed me to unpack a little, the way I would in a hotel room. Placing my toiletries on the cabinet shelves made me feel more at home.
Next to the seating area, a small closet held three hangers for clothing you'd want to keep looking sharp.
Views of a closet opened and closed.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I didn't use the closet, but I think it would have come in handy for storing jackets if I were traveling at a cooler time of the year.
There was also a private bathroom inside the bedroom that had a door, shower, and toilet.
The bathroom door, left, led to a room with a toilet and shower, right.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
On the bathroom door were hooks to hold towels and clothing items. On a shelf above the toilet were two towels for drying yourself off after a shower.
I appreciated that the toilet was separated from the rest of the room by a door, and I think this is a great amenity if you're traveling with others.
Other bedroom features included temperature controls and a button to call an attendant.
A view of some controls in the bedroom.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I could also adjust the volume of the overhead speaker, through which train stops were announced, which I found particularly helpful.
This came in handy when I wanted to get off the train for a minute and stretch my legs. Thanks to the overhead speaker volume control, I always knew when the next stop would be and how long we had at each station.
The bedroom also had handy controls for night, reading, and ceiling lights.
The best thing the bedroom offered was space. I had room to stand up, stretch, and dance. This made my ride much more enjoyable.
The author uses the free space in the bedroom to dance.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I tried to make the train feel like home, and at home, I take dance breaks throughout the day.
Shutting the curtains gave me a moment of privacy to just be my goofy self. This helped me keep moving, too, which I found to be essential for surviving a 30-hour train ride.
It was also nice to have a big sofa where I could stretch out and put my feet up.
The author's belongings are spread around the room.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Having room to stretch out made me feel more relaxed throughout my journey. I appreciated that the couch was long enough to lie down on.
During the day, I spent a lot of time working on my laptop, which made the time pass by quickly.
The author works on the train.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Thanks to all the work I had to do, the first chunk of my trip home went by pretty quickly.
But when the workday was done, I had to find other ways to pass the time.
The author smiles as her workday ends.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I decided to lie down on my belly and look outside the window for a bit.
Exhausted from my travels, I spent much of the evening reclining on the seats and gazing out the window.
A view out of the window somewhere between Florida and Delaware.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
During my trip home, I saw forests, towns, and factories outside my window. This made me think about how traveling by train gives you a railroad view of the country that can't be replicated in a car or on a flight.
When it was time for dinner, I headed to the dining car and got some braised beef short ribs and mashed potatoes.
The author smiles with her dinner.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
My meals came with the ticket, and I could pick from five items. Since I enjoyed the braised beef short rib dish on my trip to Miami, I decided to get it again on my way home.
Before bed, I brushed my teeth and washed my face in front of the sink.
The author takes a selfie showing off her clean teeth and the vanity.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Since I have an electric toothbrush, it was nice to be able to charge it using the outlets in the bathroom.
At about 8 p.m., an attendant came to my room to transform the sofa into a bed.
An aerial view of the sofa bed.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
My first thought when I entered the room again after receiving bedside service was that the bed looked bigger than the one I slept in on my way to Miami in a roomette.
Since I had trouble sleeping on the top bunk on the way to Miami, I opted for the bottom bunk on this journey.
The author lies in bed with the curtains drawn in the evening.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The bed and sheets were comfortable, and I was happy to have more room to sleep.
Had I slept in the bed that comes down from the ceiling, I would have had control of the air conditioning and lights, as well as a place to put my phone nearby.
A view of the controls and storage space in the top bunk.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I was able to use the foldout table for my bedside belongings, though.
Since there were outlets next to the sink, I propped my phone up there so I could watch TV from bed.
The author's bedtime setup.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
There might have been outlets on the other side of the bed, too, but I wasn't able to find them.
By the time I sat in my bed at about 8:30 p.m., I realized my body was already aching for sleep.
The author yawns on the bed.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I thought I'd stay up and watch TV for a while, but my body was telling me to just pass out.
So I decided to lie down and watch "The Office" until I drifted off to sleep.
The ride was bumpy through the night, but being on the lower bed felt grounding, and I didn't feel as if I was going to fall off the bed at any point. Although it wasn't a perfect night's sleep, I definitely slept better than I did in the roomette.
I woke up the next morning around 8 a.m. in North Carolina to the sun beaming.
The author squints at the sun when she gets up in the morning.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I woke up to the sun peering through my window feeling somewhat rested.
I had planned on taking a shower, but after looking down at the floor, I wished I had brought sandals and decided to skip my shower.
The shower floor.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I was excited to take a shower after having been on the train for nearly 24 hours, but the shower appeared too grimy to feel comfortable, and I wished I packed flip-flops.
Amtrak did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, but according to its website, it sanitizes rooms between visitors.
Since I forgot them, I decided that not showering would be better.
Instead, I washed my face in front of the sink and put on a lot of deodorant.
The author washes her face in front of the vanity.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
While I was washing my face, I noticed how nice it was to have three mirrors next to one another. It was easy to see the spots I missed after washing the soap off my face.
Breakfast and lunch were also included in my ticket on my final day of travel, and I thought they were pretty tasty.
The author's breakfast, left, and lunch during her final day of travel.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
For breakfast, I went to the dining car and got the continental option. For lunch, I decided to try a different entrée from the braised beef short ribs I had the night before.
I chose a chicken fettuccine dish with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes, and I thought it was decent.
Of all the meals I had, I found the continental breakfast to be the most filling and satisfying.
The author's breakfast of oatmeal and a sandwich.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The breakfast included a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, and a blueberry muffin. I had the choice of maple and brown sugar or apple cinnamon for the oatmeal.
This meal was the most filling I had on the whole trip, and if they served it all day, I'd probably have it for every meal.
I loved having my bed down throughout the day because it allowed me to relax and rest a bit more.
The author passes the time in bed.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
To pass the time, I looked at my phone and played Nintendo while relaxing on the bed.
It was a Saturday, so staying in bed felt right.
When we were about three hours from New York, my attendant transformed the bed back into seats, and these final hours on the train felt like the longest of the whole trip.
The author passes the time on the sofa during the final hours of her trip.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I think because my bed was gone and I thought the journey's end should be near, the final hours of my train ride felt as though they dragged on.
Spending 30 hours on a train certainly isn't paradise, but booking a bedroom made it feel a little shorter to me. So I'll be stretching my funds to book it again the next time I want to bop around the country.
The author takes a selfie during a stop at Union Station in Washington, DC.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
When we arrived in New York around 7 p.m., slightly later than scheduled, I realized I had never been more grateful to be home.
But I was also appreciative of the room and privacy I had getting there.