In my experience, Amtrak’s greatest value is the roomette, which sleeps two and includes a private room with two beds and complimentary meals.
My first roomette experience was a 30-hour ride on an Amtrak Viewliner train from NYC to Miami in 2021. I paid $500 to stay in a roughly 20-square-foot private cabin with two beds, a table, two chairs, a sink, and a toilet.
Then in 2025, I booked another roomette on an Amtrak Superliner. The 15-hour train ride from Denver to Salt Lake City cost $400.
This roomette was similar to the first, except it didn’t include a toilet and sink and was freshly updated with new seat cushions and lining.
Amtrak is also working on interior updates for sleeper cars on the Viewliner fleet, which will be available in 2026, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told BI.
On both trains, two chairs facing each other folded out into a bed, and another bed pulled down from the ceiling. Both rooms also had a small closet and a mirror. All roomette passengers have access to a bathroom and shower in the sleeper car.
The roomettes made great use of a small space, with clever storage features that reminded me of a tiny home.
I was pleasantly surprised that I could control the temperature inside each roomette with a dial and air conditioning vents. On both rides, the bed and sheets were comfortable enough for one night, though the updated cushions on the Superliner ride were cozier.
For a long-haul train ride, I think the roomette’s price tag is worth it to have a private space with temperature control and a lie-flat bed.
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