Train travel might be my new favorite way to travel. But there are things I wish I knew before sleeping in coach on an Amtrak train overnight.
When I traveled the whole US from east to west by train, I was worried about sleeping conditions. I had the Rail Pass at a discounted price so I wasn’t able to upgrade to a sleeper car.
Turns out it was doable sleeping in coach on Amtrak trains, although I learned some tips that would have made the experience more enjoyable.
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Table of Contents
Is it comfortable to sleep in coach on Amtrak trains?
Much more than I thought! The seats made me feel like I was sitting in first class on a plane rather than in coach on an Amtrak train. The seats were huge with enough leg room to stretch my legs out without touching the seat in front of me (I’m 5’8’’). And trust me, leg room makes sleeping in coach so much better, and it’s why I prefer sleeping on Amtrak trains over airplanes.
What should I wear on the Amtrak trains when sleeping overnight?
I’d recommend layers. Start off with not many (especially if it’s hot outside and you’re rushing to catch your train like I always am) and build your way up with more layers. As I’ll mention later, it can get really cold on the trains.
Definitely wear long pants, and maybe a t-shirt with a sweater (and even coat). If you’re wearing sandals or flip flops, bring socks to keep your feet warm while you sleep.
See some of my top recommendations for women’s clothes that’s both comfy and fashionable, so perfect for travel!
What should I bring with me when sleeping overnight in coach on an Amtrak train?
1. Pillow
I don’t know about you, but sleeping without a pillow isn’t possible for me. Unlike airplanes, you won’t be provided one on a train, so take your own.
I’d recommend a neck pillow, which is especially useful if you don’t have the window seat. This one also comes with eye mask and ear plugs, things you will also want to bring when sleeping overnight on an Amtrak train!
2. Blanket
It can get cold on the train. I was on 10 Amtrak trains during my monthlong cross country train trip, and I’d say half of those trains were freezing (summertime, so AC was blasting).
The very first train segment was terrible because I wasn’t aware of this. When I saw how big the seats were I got excited, thinking I’d be able to sleep the whole night. But I kept waking up because I was freezing.
A blanket is a must, in my opinion! And a warm down one is preferable, especially since it can pack down into a tiny bag. At the very least, bring along a shawl like I did, which you can also wear out and about.
3. Eye mask
They dim the lights during quiet hours and there are curtains on your window. But I found that not all people closed their curtains and the lights of the world outside passing by were annoying. And if we stopped at night and people got on, they would bring light in too.
If you’re sensitive to lights being on while you sleep definitely get an eye mask.
4. Comfy clothes
You can either wear them, or you can change into them at night. There are changing rooms downstairs where the restrooms are, and it felt so refreshing to change into comfy (and warm!) clothes at night, and then be able to change back into my “day clothes” in the morning.
See the best women’s travel clothes here.
5. Warm socks
It was also nice to take off my shoes and put warm socks on at night while sleeping. It not only gave my feet a rest but also kept them warm.
Do keep in mind however that you can’t walk about the train without your shoes on. Not only is it a safety hazard, but it’s gross!
6. Lock
Not necessary, but it gave me peace of mind, especially since I was traveling alone. You can go to the observation car when traveling in coach on Amtrak, and that’s a much appreciated luxury. The reason why is that you can stretch your legs by going there and you can also talk on the phone, play on your laptop or have a conversation here without waking anyone up during quiet hours.
I was a bit nervous leaving my bag behind in my coach car though, so I felt a lot better having my bag locked. Sure, it’s not fail-proof and someone can simply take your bag off the train. But it still gave me a sense of confidence in leaving my bag with a lock while I enjoyed the freedom of the observation car.
And speaking of bags, check out this awesome guide Wanderu made on how much luggage you can bring with you on a train.
7. Toiletries
I was pleased to see that there were several restrooms per each car, and some trains even had changing rooms or women’s lounges. Since there were so many restrooms available, I never had to wait in line and never had to feel guilty taking up a restroom to brush my teeth and freshen up.
It makes sleeping overnight in coach on an Amtrak train much more bearable when you can brush your teeth and hair before and after you sleep.
8. Money
There is a café in Amtrak trains that passengers from coach can buy food and drinks from. It’s nice to get hot food to fill your belly, especially if you plan to be on the train for a long time (i.e. sleeping overnight). A hot tea in the morning was my favorite!
You’re also allowed to purchase alcohol, but keep in mind you can only drink alcohol in coach if you purchased it on the train, so no bringing your own. It might make it easier for you to fall asleep in coach!
**Keep in mind that when I went (July 2021) they did not accept cash due to Covid.
9. Charger
You don’t need a portable charger because every seat has an outlet. And there are outlets in the observation car too if you plan to hang out there!
10. Food
Or, if you don’t want to pay for overpriced (and mediocre) food and drink, bring your own. I also brought snacks and food along.
What food should I bring on the train?
Well, unless you plan to eat right when you get on the train, you’ll want to bring food that doesn’t need to be heated. Depending on how long your segment will be, make sure you have enough food for all the meals you’ll be on the train, including the next day if you’re sleeping overnight.
Here are some examples of food I’d try to find for each meal.
Breakfast
-Muffin
-Sandwich
-Fruit
-Granola bars
Lunch/Dinner
-Sandwich
-Salad
-Wrap
Snacks
-Fruit
-Trail mix
-Chips/ pretzels/ crackers
-Sweets (candy, cookies, etc.)
And don’t forget water and other drinks! They’re pricy on the train.
I hope this helps you prepare for your train trips if you’re sleeping overnights in coach on Amtrak trains.
This is everything I wish I had known before sleeping in coach on Amtrak trains, and once I got the hang of it, it was an enjoyable experience!
I wouldn’t want to do it more one night at a time though, which is why I recommend you hop out of the train every day to sleep in a hotel or hostel like I did with the Amtrak USA Rail Pass (currently $499). See my itinerary here.
Very helpful tips! I was wondering what to do about your belongings when you sleep or get up to roam around, so it’s nice to know you can lock them up. I love it cold when I sleep, so I think I’d sleep like a baby with the lull of the train plus the icy cold air. lol
Ooh, lucky! Haha it’s definitely better than it being too hot, but one passenger said it was like being in a refrigerated car and I’d have to agree with that!
Wish I have had the chance yet to travel by Amtrak. Due to the pandemic, some train plans had to be canceled. Looking forward to being able to explore the US by train sometime soon. Love your tips on how to sleep there! 😉
Oh no! Well, the trains are up and running now so hopefully you’ll be able to check Amtrak out soon! 🙂
I probably could have used these tips for my travel journey to Russia a couple of years ago. There’s definitely a lot to take into account that you don’t even think of.
That sounds amazing! I’d love to check out the Russian trains one day 🙂
I love train travel so much, but I’ve always been hesitant to do an overnight train that’s not a sleeper car. Thanks for the tips!
First time rider thank you for all your tips. I leave this thursday heading to Jersey from Indiana .ill be alone and other trips you can think of does the seat have it where you can put your bag above your head and then lock the badge to maybe a rail
Wow, that’s a long trip! You can put your bag above your seat but I don’t remember any rails you can lock your bag to. I felt really safe leaving my bag up there with just the zippers locked when I left my seat though since no one can run away with my bag while the train is moving haha.
Coach sleeping was a nightmare I was so uncomfortable my worst night I have ever spent. I had a pillow and blanket that helped but my back was hurting and put me pillow folded in half behind my back. I’m taking ibuprofen on my trip home on Friday. I was not alone other travelers made the same comment. I’m 5 3 and the space was good when I was awake but I needed my legs elevated which might have helped for sleeping.
I hate sleeping sitting up as well but as a budget traveler, I do it way too much! As for having feet elevated, I usually put my bag under my feet while sleeping. There are also foot hammocks you can attach to the seat in front of you (although I’ve never tried one before).
Does your pillow and blanket have to be in your bag?
In my experience, they aren’t too strict on baggage allowance, so I’ve seen people come on the train with pillows under their arms.