What I wish I'd known before buying Amtrak's USA Rail Pass

The author bought Amtrak's USA Rail Pass for $499, which allows 10 segments to use within 30 days, and used it to travel through 11 states. She found the pass offered strong value on longer routes but has limits to consider. Long trips give the best value because each time you board and disembark counts as a segment, and transfers count as separate segments.

Sleeper‑car upgrades are not available with the pass; coach seats typically recline and are about 23 inches wide but do not lie flat. Dining-car meals are not included for coach passengers, so packing snacks can save money; the café car offers limited options and staff may provide hot water but cannot reheat or refrigerate passenger food.

Amtrak allows two carry-ons and a personal item, so packing light and keeping essentials accessible is recommended. WiFi on long-distance routes can be unreliable and cell service may drop, so download entertainment and plan offline activities.

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