The journey to the summit of the Wyoming Rockies starts far from the mountains. Rather than opting for a quick three-hour flight, we set off on a 2,700-mile cross-country adventure by rail, plane, car, and mountain tram—beginning right in the nation’s capital.
This 18-hour overnight leg from Washington, D.C. to Chicago onboard Amtrak’s newest long-distance train, the Floridian, serves as part one of our multi-stage expedition west. We booked a tiny sleeper roomette to see if you can actually get a decent night’s sleep on the rails, how the onboard dining holds up, and whether taking the train is worth the extra time.
Our journey began with a ride on the D.C. Metro straight into Washington Union Station. Located just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Union Station is the second-busiest Amtrak terminal in the country and marks the southern terminus of the electrified Northeast Corridor. The station’s historic Beaux-Arts central hall is a soaring, magnificent architectural landmark that is worth exploring in its own right.
While Union Station is packed with shops and a lower-level food court, traveling in a sleeper car grants access to the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge located between Gates D and E.
- Lounge Access & Amenities: Complimentary access is included for First Class Acela passengers, sleeping car guests, and top-tier Amtrak Guest Rewards members. Day passes can also be purchased for $35 or 1,500 Amtrak points.
- The Space: The lounge is relatively small and can fill up quickly, but it provides a quiet, air-conditioned refuge from the main concourse crowds. Guests enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, light packaged snacks, stable Wi-Fi, and luggage storage areas.
Amtrak recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before departure (or 60 minutes if checking luggage). Our train was delayed on its inbound leg, but lounge attendants called sleeper passengers to line up right around 4:15 PM before escorting us directly to Platform 24.
Route Overview: Understanding The Floridian
We boarded Train #40, The Floridian. Launched in late 2024, the Floridian is Amtrak’s newest long-distance service. It temporarily combines two iconic routes—the Capitol Limited (Washington to Chicago) and the Silver Star (Miami to Washington)—into a single continuous 2,076-mile, 47-hour cross-country line while major tunnel rehabilitation work takes place in New York City.
Our segment covered the 764-mile northern leg between Washington Union Station (WAS) and Chicago Union Station (CHI), weaving through Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Scheduled for an 18-hour run, the train departs D.C. in the late afternoon and is scheduled to roll into Chicago the following morning.
Adventure West Part 1 Route:
- Departure: Washington, D.C. (WAS) – 3:57 PM Scheduled | 4:24pm Actual
- Arrival: Chicago, IL (CHI) – 8:45 AM Scheduled (+1 Day) | 9:22am Actual
- Distance: 764 Miles
- Transit Time: ~18 Hours
The Viewliner Roomette Review
Because this route operates south through Florida, it utilizes Viewliner single-level passenger cars rather than the taller Superliner double-decker cars used on western routes.
We booked Roomette #2. One major design advantage of the Viewliner roomette is its bi-level windows. Having both an upper and lower window floods the compact room with natural light and makes the space feel noticeably airier and larger.
Layout & Seat Features
The roomette features two wide upholstered seats facing each other. A small table folds out from the wall between the seats. The room includes individual temperature controls, an attendant call button, announcement volume knobs, and multiple lighting options—including overhead lights, reading lamps, illuminated light bars, and a soft blue nightlight. Two standard 120V electrical outlets sit next to the mirror.
In-Room Toilet vs. Communal Restrooms
Our car was an original Viewliner I layout, which features an in-room toilet and sink combo directly adjacent to the seats. While convenient for late-night use, having a toilet in such a tight shared living space can be divisive. Amtrak is actively removing in-room toilets as they renovate these cars, shifting toward communal restrooms at the end of the hall. If you prefer a separate restroom, you can walk to the adjacent upgraded Viewliner II sleeper car.
Storage & Luggage Rules
Space inside a roomette is extremely limited, so packing light is essential.
- In-Room Storage: There is an open storage cubby positioned above the hallway ceiling, which fits standard airline carry-on bags. Beyond that, there is only space for small backpacks near your feet.
- Checked Baggage: Viewliner cars lack large luggage racks, so heavy suitcases should be checked. Sleeper tickets include two free checked bags up to 50 pounds (23 kg) each, with additional or oversized bags costing $20.
- Privacy: The roomette sliding door locks securely from the inside, but it cannot be locked from the outside when you step away to the dining car.
Traditional Dining Experience
All sleeper car tickets include full onboard meals and non-alcoholic beverages, along with one complimentary alcoholic drink for adult passengers at dinner. Shortly after departing D.C., our car attendant took our dinner reservations, and we selected a 6:00 PM seating.
The Floridian features a full Viewliner Dining Car with soaring curved ceilings and classic table-service seating. Because seating in the dining car is communal, solo travelers and couples are paired together at four-person tables—making it a wonderful place to meet fellow travelers.
Dinner Service
Dinner begins with a fresh side salad, warm rolls, and a choice of drinks (we opted for gin and tonics).
Unfortunately during our flight, the dining car grill was out of order, meaning Amtrak’s famous flat-iron steak was unavailable. The kitchen was forced to pivot to microwave-prepared entrees, so we selected the salmon and chicken. While microwaving made the proteins drier than usual, the accompanying sauces helped elevate the flavor. Dessert delivered a major high note: both the chocolate spoon cake and blueberry cheesecake were rich and delicious.
Breakfast Service
Prior to our morning arrival into Chicago, we returned to the dining car for breakfast. With the grill still offline, standard hot egg options were unavailable, so we selected continental breakfasts consisting of oatmeal, fresh fruit, coffee, and a side of chicken sausage.
Sleeping Onboard: Bunk Setup & Sleep Quality
When night falls, sleeper car attendants typically convert the roomettes into double bunks. You can also handle the turndown yourself: the two lower seats slide together and flatten to create the lower bed, while the top bunk pulls down from the ceiling on heavy struts.
- Bed Dimensions: The upper bunk measures 6 feet 2 inches (190 cm) long, while the lower bunk measures 6 feet 6 inches (200 cm) long. Both beds are 2 feet 4 inches (72 cm) wide.
- Sleep Comfort: The lower bed easily accommodated a 6-foot-4 passenger, but the mattresses are exceptionally firm. The room includes a fleece blanket and single pillow per bed; we strongly recommend asking the attendant for extra pillows or bringing your own to add cushioning.
- Noise & Motion: The Viewliner car was surprisingly quiet, and the heavy privacy curtains did a fantastic job blocking ambient track and station lights. However, track sway, joint vibrations, and middle-of-the-night horn blasts mean light sleepers may struggle to get continuous rest.
Shared Onboard Amenities: Showers & Café Car
Each Viewliner sleeper car includes one shared, private shower room. The room is surprisingly clean and features solid water pressure, hot water, and fresh bath towels provided by your attendant.
For coach passengers—or sleeper guests looking for midday snacks outside set meal times—the train carries a Café Car located near the middle of the consist. Open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, it sells snacks, sandwiches, microwave meals, soft drinks, and beer. Onboard Wi-Fi is complimentary across the train, but bandwidth is slow and satellite dead zones are frequent along rural mountain tracks.
We pulled into Chicago Union Station 37 minutes behind schedule—a minor delay for an 18-hour Amtrak run. Because transpacific and cross-country train connections can be tight, we intentionally built a buffer day into our itinerary before boarding the California Zephyr.
We checked into The Peninsula Chicago, located right off the Magnificent Mile. During our 24-hour layover, we explored two iconic city institutions:
- The Art Institute of Chicago: One of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States, housing nearly 300,000 works. Adult admission costs $32. Local Tip: Skip the heavy queues at the main historic entrance on Michigan Avenue by entering through the quiet Modern Wing entrance located on Monroe Street.
- Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse: A legendary Chicago culinary landmark operating since 1989. Gibsons holds the distinction of being the first restaurant group in the country to earn its own dedicated USDA Prime certification program.
The Verdict: Total Cost & Final Thoughts
For our one-way journey from Washington, D.C. to Chicago, we paid $959 USD total for two passengers in a Viewliner Roomette (inclusive of all meals, coffee, and lounge access).
What Worked:
- The Journey & Scenery: Watching the rolling hills of Maryland and West Virginia glide past from a private room is deeply relaxing.
- Viewliner Layout: The double-stacked windows make the room feel open and bright.
- Service: Amtrak’s onboard attendants and dining staff are incredibly warm, friendly, and hardworking.
- Lounge Access: The Metropolitan Lounge in D.C. provides a seamless, comfortable boarding process.
What Didn’t:
- Sleep Quality: The mattresses are hard, track motion can be jarring, and continuous sleep is difficult to achieve.
- Catering Glitches: Kitchen equipment issues (like an out-of-order grill) can impact the advertised traditional dining menu.
Taking the train takes significantly longer than flying, but it completely transforms travel into an experience rather than a chore. Despite firm mattresses and kitchen hiccups, riding the Floridian in a roomette is a classic American travel experience.
Next up on our Adventure West series, we board the legendary California Zephyr for a 36-hour trek across the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains toward Salt Lake City.
Have you ever taken an overnight Amtrak train or slept in a roomette? Head over to our YouTube Video page and share your experience in the comments!