As far as I know, you would pick either cabin or coach. If you are in a cabin you can certainly wander the entire train though, same goes for coach. But your ticket would be one or the other. If you want a sleeper, you would just buy that type of ticket and then wander the train during the day as you wish. Coach is nothing special, so if you don’t want to be in your cabin you just go to the cafe or the lounge car.

Each train is different as far as what it has on it. My trip involved three different trains, one from San Diego to LA, one from LA to Chicago, and one from Chicago to New York. The first one didn’t have a lounge as it was a short distance train. The next one had I think two lounge cars and also a cafe. The third to New York had both, but was not as nice. The amenities will vary based on the the train and the route, but you can pretty much guarantee a cafe car. The lounges are nice too, they are just open seating and big windows.

As far as being exhausting, it wasn’t too bad. I napped on and off during the day and then slept pretty well through the nights. It will depend on how easily you sleep. The trains ride pretty smooth though so you shouldn’t have a problem, especially if you get a cabin with a bed.

Best of luck in your trip!

I’m thinking of going to Oklahoma to meet my sister and then to San Diego – this is all from Boston – is it okay just to get a cabin at night and be in coach during the day? Was the whole trip really exhausting – the reason I do not want to fly is because I am on the pill and I don’t want to get blood clots (which sometimes happens to people) I know I’m paranoid – but shit does happen

Best

Lara

My boyfriend actually made his way out to San Diego from Boston in a Greyhound bus. He has lots of stories, but I think I would much prefer a train-cross country trip myself.