The best luxury trains in the U.S. for a truly lavish experience

This is swoon-worthy stuff. The Rocky Mountaineer goes through some of the most spectacular landscape there is, and you can see it all through the glass dome coaches with oversized windows. You’ll be fed locally-inspired cuisine at your seat or go to a gourmet meal in the dining car, depending on whether you choose silver or gold leaf service. Storytelling hosts narrate the history of the scenery and wildlife you’ll be seeing. All four routes—connecting Vancouver, British Columbia to the mountain towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, and between Moab and Denver—are only daylight trains to maximize the views, but you can arrange a hotel stay to keep the fun going.

Price: Starting at $1,699

This is a car, not a full train: the rearmost car on the Hudson River Rail Excursions's 20th Century Limited train. It has a “lookout lounge” with big picture windows to look out onto the Hudson River, four bedrooms and four bathrooms, lounge seating for 16 and dinner seating for eight. There’s an onboard kitchen where a chef prepares a four-course meal for you. Staff in period attire hovers throughout the trip to serve your every need (or most of them, anyway). This 20th Century Limited is a sleek, silver, mid-modern from 1948 and traverses the rails originally traveled by the line from 1902 to 1967. You can go a five-day roundtrip between NYC and Chicago or a one-way overnight in each direction.

Price: $379–$399

Take a 2.5-hour excursion on My Old Kentucky Dinner Train while you go through 35 miles of beautiful Kentucky countryside on a buzzed round trip, fueled by tasting local bourbons—Bardstown itself is home to more than 11 bourbon distilleries. The ride also includes a three- or four-course gourmet meal and some fun souvenirs. Your ride embarks on a restored 1940s dining car pulled by a 1950s diesel locomotive. You must be 21+ to ride (duh), but if you want to try an excursion open to the general public, the train also has lunch and dinner rides, a murder mystery ride, and the seasonal North Pole Express.

Price: Starting at $139

You’ll want to dress up a little for this excursion into Napa's wine country with gourmet meals and tastings on the train. The experiences change, but right now, the Legacy Experience includes a day on the rails winding past the vineyards and enjoying a four-course wine country-inspired meal, three tastings, and spectacular photo ops at each stop. The experience is six hours, three of which are on the train. You’re welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine and a one-hour vineyard tasting of three wines right at the Napa Valley Welcome sign, and train your way towards two hours of tasting at Charles Krug and V. Sattui.

Price: Starting at $550

Go luxe for 45 minutes in the exquisite President’s Car with wood paneled interior and built-in furnishings (it’s currently off the rails for renovation, but check the website for its glorious return)—or there are four other first-class options to pick from. One is the parlor car, where you lounge on cabernet-colored sofas and order confections and beverages for purchase in the last car in line with a view of the vanishing rails behind you. Or choose two separate lounge cars with plush captain’s chairs that swivel to catch the views, or the club car, which is a private charter experience if you have a group to travel with. Here in Dutch country, the railroad is the oldest continuously operating railroad in North America, dating to 1832.

Price: $35–$1,050

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad offers a classic steam train excursion through the Sierra National Forest—and if you want to go luxe, you can upgrade your ticket to the First Class Caboose, available on any train. This ride includes a renovated wood-paneled interior with wrought iron seats holding padded upholstery, and if you can climb the narrow interior stairs to the cupola, the cute aerie has two seats facing each other (the main part of the caboose is ADA accessible). There’s even a personal conductor to describe the gorgeous things you’re seeing, plus a drink and snacks included. Best part? The traditional whistle blow emerging from this Shay steam engine.

Price: Starting at $31

The Alaska Railroad seats may not be that fancy, but the views are spectacular. The premium GoldStar Service class includes a chance to glide through Alaska’s incredible scenery viewed through the glass-dome ceilinged car. You can also walk around to visit an upper-level viewing platform or the full-service dining room, but if you choose to just stay seated, your glass will be filled by a dedicated bar attendant. Not all train rides include GoldStar service, so check the website before booking—but we’d argue that the railroad’s Adventure Class is just as fun.

Price: Varies by route

In these opulent parlor cars, you’ll see amazing views out of the Observation Dome, which has gigantic windows that capture the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Kids under 15 aren’t allowed, so the ride is engineered to be a little more sophisticated; your sparkling wine toast is included in the ticket price. The two-story train has a downstairs lounge with a full bar, entertainment center and plush furnishings. Besides the luxury dome class, there’s also a luxury parlor class at the same price point, including a private bar and access to the outdoor platform.

Price: Starting at $240

Although Amtrak is more known for serviceable rides (all the luxury is found in the view out the window!), there is a first-class cabin on the Acela train, where you receive complimentary meal service at your seat, priority boarding at certain stations and, perhaps best of all, access to station lounges.

Price: Varies by route

The Cape Cod Central Railroad runs through quaint New England villages, and its three-hour candlelight dinner train offers three levels of luxury, from first class to platinum class. In the platinum class, you’ll be dining in an exclusive 1917 lounge car at a linen-covered table as romantic music plays. The five-course gourmet meal changes seasonally, so hopefully, you’ll get to try some of that fantastic Cape Cod seafood. Bonus: when maritime traffic permits, the train crosses over the scenic Cape Cod Canal railroad bridge. There are other excursions available, plus the Polar Express train ride.

Price: Starting at $95