Amtrak California Zephyr: Roomette vs Bedroom Accommodations Compared

Overnight train journey from Chicago to San Francisco offers two sleeping options with very different price tags.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:42am

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The author has taken the California Zephyr, Amtrak's scenic overnight train from Chicago to San Francisco, twice - once booking a roomette for $400 and another time booking a bedroom for $2,200. They found the bedroom to be worth the upgrade, especially for the longer 53-hour journey, as it was twice as spacious as the roomette.

Why it matters

The California Zephyr is a popular long-distance Amtrak route that offers travelers the opportunity to experience the American West by train. Understanding the differences between the roomette and bedroom accommodations can help passengers decide which option best fits their needs and budget for an overnight train journey.

The details

In January 2025, the author took a 15-hour leg of the route from Denver to Salt Lake City and booked a roomette for $400. Then, in February 2026, they took the entire 53-hour journey from Chicago to Emeryville, California and booked a bedroom for $2,200. The author found the bedroom to be worth the upgrade, as it was twice as big as the roomette.

  • In January 2025, the author took a 15-hour leg of the route from Denver to Salt Lake City and booked a roomette for $400.
  • In February 2026, the author took the entire 53-hour journey from Chicago to Emeryville, California and booked a bedroom for $2,200.

The players

Joey Hadden

The author of the article who has taken the California Zephyr train twice, booking both a roomette and a bedroom.

Amtrak

The national passenger railroad service that operates the California Zephyr train route.

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The takeaway

For longer overnight train journeys on the California Zephyr, the more spacious and comfortable bedroom accommodation may be worth the higher price tag compared to the roomette option.