5 U.S. Scenic Coastal Train Rides to Enjoy

On these routes, you’re reminded that the journey is the destination

Coastal train rides minimize the stress of traffic and airports and let you take in the scenery. Here, the Amtrak Cascades train offers stunning views along the Puget Sound in Washington.

Cheryl Maguire,

AARP

Published June 04, 2026

Key takeaways

Train travel lets you avoid airport security lines, boarding delays and long transfers.
Coastal rail routes offer scenic views that can help reduce anxiety.
Trains can be cheaper than flying or driving, especially if you book early.

After years of making the trip from Boston to New York City by car, I finally tried the train, and it changed how I think about travel. No traffic or uncomfortable seats, just a stress-free way to enjoy the coastal scenery.

My twins, who go to college in New York City, sometimes fly home to Boston. The flight is only about 45 minutes, but when you factor in the time spent getting to and from the airport, security lines, boarding and deplaning, that 45 minutes easily turns into four or five hours.

The AARP 2026 Travel Trends survey found that travelers 50-plus are increasingly worried about airline complications. And time isn’t the only issue: Plane tickets are usually more expensive than train tickets too. Amtrak has seen a record increase in passenger numbers, indicating that the train is a preferred method of travel for many people. For travelers 50-plus who are tired of the headaches of flying, the train is more than a way to get somewhere. It’s a reminder that getting there can be enjoyable.

During my train trip, I realized that the journey was as much a part of the experience as the destination. For the first time traveling, I didn’t watch a show I had downloaded to my iPad for a four-hour trip. Instead, I looked out the window, taking in the coastal scenery. It turns out, research supports the idea of paying attention to the view. A 2025 study in Empirical Studies of the Arts, a social science journal, found that nature scenes may help diminish anxiety, which means that a coastal train ride is a great way to destress before and after your trip.

Pricing is dynamic, meaning it fluctuates based on demand. Your best bet is to book your ticket as early as possible or travel during off-peak times, such as midweek. Amtrak offers discounts for military personnel and veterans, adults 65 and older and students, along with rotating promotions listed under the Deals section on its website.

This story features Amtrak trains because Amtrak is the only intercity passenger service along these corridors. Here are five scenic coastal train routes to try:

The Northeast Regional travels from Boston to Virginia, but the route from Boston to New York City shows off coastal scenery, mostly in Connecticut.

Courtesy Amtrak

Northeast Regional (Boston to New York City)

From Boston, you can board at either Back Bay or South Station. The next stop is Route 128 in Westwood, Massachusetts, which is a less busy spot to board if you don’t live in Boston and want to skip the city traffic. The route actually ends in Virginia, but for this trip, since your destination is New York City, you’ll want to get off at Moynihan Train Hall (Penn Station), about a 15-minute walk to Times Square. The best part is the beautiful coastal scenery, mostly in Connecticut. One stretch called the Shore Line runs between the Old Saybrook and New London stations and feels like you’re gliding along the ocean. As you ride along Niantic Bay, the track is so close to the water that it feels like you’re on the Long Island Sound.

Total travel time: About 4 hours

Travel advantage: On my train trip, some sections ran alongside Interstate 95. I watched the gridlock as I zipped by. Besides adding time, traffic is stressful. Cost can vary with demand, but if you time it right, you can pay only $25 for a one-way ticket, which is less than a tank of gas.

The Amtrak Mardi Gras Service connects New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, along Coastal Mississippi. Here, the train is at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Courtesy Amtrak

Amtrak Mardi Gras Service (New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama)

Revived in August 2025 and newly named the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, this route connects New Orleans and Mobile along Coastal Mississippi. Unlike most rail routes, this one passes through coastal marshes between New Orleans and Bay St. Louis, offering scenery you can’t see from the highway. “You can see the Mississippi Sound, the marina, and everything is right there. It’s really pretty,” says Karon Warren, author of 100 Things to Do in the North Georgia Mountains Before You Die.

Total travel time: About 4 hours

Travel advantage: If you are driving this route on U.S. Highway 90, traffic lights can cause congestion. Warren, 55, also says the time of year you are traveling matters. Events like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest are “going to be a very busy time,” she says, leading to more traffic and delays while driving, which means the train would be a quicker way to travel.

Pacific Surfliner (Los Angeles to San Diego)

a train traveling on tracks near a shoreline

The Pacific Surfliner runs along the bluff top above Del Mar, California, offering a panoramic view of the coastline below.

Courtesy Amtrak

This segment is part of a larger, nine-hour scenic route that extends much further north to San Luis Obispo, California. Departing from Los Angeles, the route runs along the California coastline, with the most scenic stretch running between San Clemente and Oceanside. “You look outside your window and you’re looking into the ocean, [it’s] spectacular,” says Christy Fischer, a retired teacher from Ohio and creator of the Facebook group Amtrak Solo Travelers. There, the tracks run within feet of the Pacific Ocean, which is close enough for you to watch surfers riding waves. As you cross into San Diego County, the route runs along the bluff top above Del Mar, offering a panoramic view of the coastline below.

Total travel time: About 3 hours

Travel advantage: Traffic on Interstate 5 through Orange County makes the train a more reliable, stress-free option compared to driving. “It’s horrific. It’s awful,” Fischer, 59, says about the traffic. Flying is under an hour, but when you factor in the airport time tax, air travel takes just as long or longer than taking the train.

a train on tracks with trees and a mountain in the background

Riders on the Seattle-to-Portland, Oregon, portion of the Amtrak Cascades can avoid the heavy traffic between the two cities. Here, Mount Rainier is in the background as the train travels through Seattle.

Courtesy Amtrak

Amtrak Cascades (Seattle to Portland, Oregon)

This segment is part of a route that spans more than 10 hours, extending north to Vancouver, British Columbia, and south to Eugene, Oregon. Travel journalist MaryRose Denton, 58, described her experience on the train. “It is very stunning all the way through,” she says. “You go right along the water’s edge.” If you have more time, consider booking the northern leg of the route past Seattle. Travel journalist Kathy Condon, founder of the website Palm Springs Insider Guide, took the train north in Edmonds, Washington, and found the coastal views worth the extra miles. “I literally saw a whale,” she says of looking out over the Puget Sound from her train window.

Total travel time: About 3½ hours

Travel advantage: Condon says the traffic between Seattle and Portland is horrendous. Denton agrees, saying Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, are “notoriously bad for traffic.” She also notes that “from an environmental standpoint, that short haul of a flight is not so great.”

The Downeaster, connecting Boston and Portland, Maine, travels inland through Massachusetts and New Hampshire before approaching the ocean in southern Maine.

Courtesy Amtrak

Downeaster (Boston to Portland, Maine)

Connecting Boston and Portland, the largest city in Maine, this route passes through classic New England landscapes. The train travels inland through Massachusetts and New Hampshire before approaching the ocean in southern Maine. The coastal views begin around Wells, Maine, and Old Orchard Beach, where the tracks run directly along the shoreline and stop near the historic wooden pier. Along the way, passengers also see rivers and coastal marshes. Fischer suggests stopping in Old Orchard Beach to see the pier.

Total travel time: About 2½ hours

Travel advantage: Flights between the two cities are available, but they are often expensive and indirect. Traffic volume remains high at New Hampshire border toll plazas and bridge crossings into Maine, meaning the train is usually quicker and less stressful than driving. “It’s much faster than driving from Boston,” Fischer says.

%{postComment}%

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Cheryl Maguire is a freelance writer whose work has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Parents Magazine, Healthline and many other publications. She is a professional member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login

Most Popular

Benefits Recommended For You

See All