Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Vancouver, British Columbia and we are headed to Seattle on the Amtrak train. There are many ways to travel from Vancouver to Seattle, but the train is an easy and inexpensive option. So today, we’re sharing everything you need to know about taking the train from Vancouver to Seattle.
Amtrak Cascades Schedule
You can travel from Vancouver to Seattle twice a day on the Amtrak Cascades route. The early morning train leaves Pacific Central Station in Vancouver at 6:35 and the afternoon train leaves at 5:45. The entire trip takes about four and a half hours to travel from Vancouver to Seattle by train.
Amtrak Cascades Reservations
You should reserve your tickets online at amtrak.com when you are making your travel plans. With only two daily departures, you want to be sure you can get the departure time and seats you want. When you are booking your tickets, make sure you have the passport numbers for everyone in your reservation, as you will need that information to complete your booking.
Amtrak Cascades Departure
You will be instructed to arrive one hour before departure, but that’s a bit much, especially if you are traveling in business class. 45 minutes should allow plenty of time to clear customs and board the train to Seattle. As you wait, you will receive a U.S. customs form to fill out. Hang on to this as you’ll need it later when crossing into the United States. Passengers are then split into two lines at the station: one for business class, and one for economy class. Next, you will go through Canadian customs, show them your paperwork, answer a few questions and then be on your way to boarding the train to Seattle.
Amtrak Cascades Seating
As you wait in line at the station, an Amtrak employee will come through the line, check your tickets and hand out seat assignments. You don’t always get to choose your seats, but if you can, ask to sit on the right side of the train for the best views between Vancouver and Seattle. (If you are traveling from Seattle to Vancouver, try to sit on the left side of the train.) The trains are numbered, so it’s easy to find your car and your seat. When you make your reservation, you can choose from Coach Class, Business Class and First Class.
Amtrak Cascades Amenities
Each train has a cafe car, where you can purchase food and snack items for the journey. It’s not anything exceptional, but our train did have some craft beers available, as well as Ivar’s clam chowder from Seattle. Other items you can buy are standard train fare: hot dogs, sandwiches, chips, candy and soda. They will take American or Canadian currency, but only Canadian bills, not coins. You will get your change in U.S. Dollars. If you’ve got a few Canadian bills leftover from your Vancouver visit, you may as well spend them in the cafe car.
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With a four and a half hour trip, you want to be sure to bring something to do on the train. Books, music or podcasts are great, and if you have kids, make sure you have enough to keep them entertained during the trip. Luckily, you can get up and move around and check out the cafe car, so the trip will go pretty quickly. There are electrical outlets at each seat, so you don’t have to worry about draining your electronics along the way. (Canadian and US plugs are the same, so no worries about having an adapter for your plugs!)
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Amtrak Luggage Rules
When you make your reservation online, you’ll see several symbols on the schedule indicating what you can bring on board. This is important if you are traveling with a bicycle or oversize luggage. More generous than the airlines, each Amtrak passenger is allowed two personal items and two carry-on items. If you have larger luggage, you may be asked to check your bag. Two checked bags are free of charge, while Amtrak will charge $20 for each additional bag. Baggage works just like the airlines; you’ll be given a baggage tag and your bag will be loaded in another car.
U.S. Customs
When the Amtrak Cascades train reaches the U.S. border, border patrol agents will board the train, checking passports and documents, and they will take the customs form that you filled out at the train station. The whole process is pretty fast, and only takes about 20 minutes.
Alternatives to Travel From Vancouver to Seattle
You can take a bus from Vancouver to Seattle, and it’s a bit faster than the train, but it’s not nearly as comfortable. Of course, you can fly from Seattle to Vancouver in less than an hour, but it’s more expensive and restrictive. The train is a great option for families and much less stress than dealing with airports. Driving from Vancouver to Seattle is the fastest option, but it can be a hassle to pick up a rental car in Vancouver and leave it in Seattle.
Amtrak Cascades Arrival
After the four and a half hour journey, you’ll arrive at King Street Station in Seattle. This puts you right in downtown Seattle, between historic Pioneer Square and the International District.
The Vancouver to Seattle train is very comfortable and an affordable way to travel between the two cities. We highly recommend this travel option and hope these tips help you start to plan your train trip from Vancouver to Seattle! For more travel tips and tricks, check out these blog posts and videos: