Vancouver To Seattle: Why Amtrak’s Scenic, Stress-free Ride Is The Smart Travel Choice For You

Monday, July 21, 2025

Taking a train from Vancouver to Seattle: not only is it a beautiful measurement to go, it’s acold nicer than flying. Sold for $50, Amtrak’s Cascades work was an affordable (and stress-free), comfortable measurement to recreation betwixt 2 cities, without nan horrors of aerial recreation and pinch beautiful views of nan Pacific Northwest to boot.

Whether you’re walking from Seattle aliases Portland, Amtrak Cascades is simply a typical measurement to get location that combines ease, comfortableness and a hint of yesteryear. As travelers statement nan virtues of nan aerial versus nan train, nan eight-hour thrust betwixt Vancouver and Seattle earns points for its debased value and deficiency of hassle. Though it is acold from a no-frills woody astatine $50 each measurement by coach, it tends to beryllium little than half what you mightiness salary for a modular system formation betwixt nan cities.

While nan formation from Vancouver to Seattle takes astir 1 hour, nan train travel is astir 4 hours long. Though this other recreation clip mightiness look for illustration a downside, nan train thrust offers respective important advantages. First, nan onboard seating is acold much comfortable than emblematic system people seats connected flights. Passengers bask spacious, cushioned seats pinch ample legroom—something that is often lacking connected flights, moreover successful higher fare classes. There’s besides nan absence of mediate seats, which are a notorious discomfort for aerial travelers.

Moreover, Amtrak’s passengers tin cheque up to 2 bags for free, a use seldom disposable pinch airlines, which often complaint precocious fees for checked luggage. The train thrust besides offers nan luxury of not having to woody pinch TSA checkpoints aliases agelong information lines. Instead, nan process is simple, pinch a speedy customs extremity astatine nan US-Canada border, and nary request to region shoes, belts, aliases electronics. Passengers are capable to bask nan travel without nan accustomed accent of aerial travel.

Beyond nan convenience, nan train offers a consciousness of relationship pinch nan region’s earthy beauty. As nan train makes its measurement southward done British Columbia, travelers are treated to uninterrupted views of forests, towns, and scenic coastlines. These ever-changing vistas are a world isolated from nan sterile position from an airplane window, wherever nan scenery is constricted to clouds and distant horizons.

The amenities connected committee make nan thrust moreover much enjoyable. The coach cars connection generous overhead bin abstraction and dedicated luggage racks, allowing passengers to bring individual items and other bags without nan restrictions that travel pinch flying. In addition, nan larger bathrooms connected nan train connection much abstraction and comfortableness compared to cramped airplane restrooms, making nan recreation acquisition overmuch much pleasant.

One of nan fewer downsides to nan Amtrak thrust is nan deficiency of free snacks, a characteristic passengers connected immoderate flights enjoy. The café car onboard provides a assortment of snacks and meals, from chips and muffins to microwaved meal sandwiches. For $8, I indulged successful a sausage, egg, and food sandwich, which was amazingly satisfying, moreover if it wasn’t gourmet. While it wasn’t arsenic delicious arsenic meals served connected longer Amtrak routes, it filled maine up and was a overmuch amended action than nan constricted nutrient offerings disposable connected a plane.

Another perk of walking by Amtrak is nan Wi-Fi, disposable for free passim nan journey. This characteristic is particularly beneficial for travelers looking to make productive usage of nan other clip during nan trip. With entree to nan internet, passengers tin drawback up connected emails, browse societal media, aliases activity connected projects while enjoying nan picturesque scenery that unfolds extracurricular nan window.

As nan train crossed nan US-Canada border, we made a little 30-minute extremity for customs checks. This was a serene acquisition compared to nan chaos of clearing customs astatine an airport. Passengers weren’t rushed done a statement but were alternatively capable to relax and return successful nan surroundings. During this time, separator agents conducted regular checks, but location were nary agelong waits aliases stress-inducing delays.

When nan train yet arrived astatine Seattle’s King Street Station astatine 11:40 a.m., I was struck by really painless nan full acquisition had been. No waiting successful baggage declare for what seemed for illustration everlastingly arsenic connected a flight. My luggage was correct location waiting for maine and I was connected nan adjacent disconnected shuttle retired of nan station. It was a longer acquisition than flying, but not by much, and it was acold little stressful — pinch nan added prize of making maine consciousness a stronger relationship to nan Pacific Northwest.

Amtrak’s Cascades, a three-hour train travel from Vancouver to Seattle, is simply a leisurely, picturesque and affordable replacement to flying. For those hoping to debar nan rigors and craziness of aerial travel, it is an action worthy considering. More room, little people, and capable to return successful nan awesome scenery of nan region, its a marque caller measurement to research nan Pacific Northwest, each while saving, time, and money.