Far by Rail
Amtrak Sunset Limited crossing Cienega Creek near Vail, Arizona, shortly before sunset.

United States · Scenic

Sunset Limited

Sunset Limited runs three times a week between New Orleans and Los Angeles via Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Tucson, spending two nights crossing the Gulf South, Texas and the desert Southwest.

Los Angeles Union Station → New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

Photo: Jerry Huddleston / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Time needed
48h
Best for
Slow travellers · Photographers
Route
Los Angeles Union Station → New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

Why this route

A landscape that arrives in route order.

Take it for the unusual sequence of landscapes: humid Louisiana gives way to vast Texas horizons, border country and desert before the final run into Southern California.

How it scores

Our current editorial assessment, for comparing journeys, a considered judgement, not a measurement.

SceneryExceptional
ComfortStrong
Value for moneyStrong
Food & drinkStrong
Character of the trainExceptional
Show the full editorial profile

More subjective

UniquenessStrong
Iconic statusExceptional
PhotographyExceptional
RomanceStrong
Travelling with childrenModerate

Not rated yet: seat quality, onboard service, slow travel quality, remoteness.

Step-free access and assistance are set out with the practical detail further down rather than reduced to a score.

The route

Los Angeles Union Station to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

The map and published stops show the verified geography this journey travels through.

The published route runs from Los Angeles Union Station to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal via Tucson Amtrak Station, El Paso Union Depot, San Antonio Amtrak Station, Houston Amtrak Station.

Key stops

Los Angeles Union StationTucson Amtrak StationEl Paso Union DepotSan Antonio Amtrak StationHouston Amtrak StationNew Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

Los Angeles Union StationNew Orleans Union Passenger TerminalTucson Amtrak StationEl Paso Union DepotSan Antonio Amtrak StationHouston Amtrak Station
United States · geographic corridor through verified stops · indicative alignment, not exact track geometry

  1. Los Angeles Union Station

    United States

  2. Tucson Amtrak Station

    United States

  3. El Paso Union Depot

    United States

  4. San Antonio Amtrak Station

    United States

  5. Houston Amtrak Station

    United States

  6. New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

    United States

The eastbound Amtrak Sunset Limited passing Rosenberg, Texas.
The eastbound Amtrak Sunset Limited passing Rosenberg, Texas. · Photo: roy.luck · CC BY 2.0

Along the line

Geographic milestones

Published highlights in the order the route reaches them.

  1. West Texas and border country

    The train crosses immense Trans-Pecos landscapes between San Antonio and El Paso.

  2. Arizona and Southern California desert

    The route continues through Tucson, Maricopa and desert basins toward Los Angeles.

Sunset Limited: Amtrak Arriving to Palm Springs Station panoramio
Sunset Limited: Amtrak Arriving to Palm Springs Station panoramio · Photo: Johnwayne Stroud · CC BY-SA 3.0

Los Angeles Union Station → New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

Sunset Limited: Amtrak Locomotive stopped at Alpine Texas
Sunset Limited: Amtrak Locomotive stopped at Alpine Texas · Photo: Insightwm · CC BY-SA 4.0

Evidence on demand

Practical reality

Route, onboard, season, fit and booking detail remain available without interrupting the journey above. Unknowns stay visible.

Time & itinerary

48h

View route map and verified stops

Los Angeles → New Orleans

The published route runs from Los Angeles Union Station to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal via Tucson Amtrak Station, El Paso Union Depot, San Antonio Amtrak Station, Houston Amtrak Station.

Key stops

Los Angeles Union StationTucson Amtrak StationEl Paso Union DepotSan Antonio Amtrak StationHouston Amtrak StationNew Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

Los Angeles Union StationNew Orleans Union Passenger TerminalTucson Amtrak StationEl Paso Union DepotSan Antonio Amtrak StationHouston Amtrak Station
United States · geographic corridor through verified stops · indicative alignment, not exact track geometry

  1. Los Angeles Union Station

    United States

  2. Tucson Amtrak Station

    United States

  3. El Paso Union Depot

    United States

  4. San Antonio Amtrak Station

    United States

  5. Houston Amtrak Station

    United States

  6. New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

    United States

On board

The route does most of the work here, it is a journey taken for what passes the window rather than for the destination. Spread over more than a day between Los Angeles Union Station and New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, the landscape has time to change completely, so the run reads as a cross-section of the region rather than a single sightseeing moment. Calls at Tucson Amtrak Station and San Antonio Amtrak Station break the run into recognisable stages rather than one undifferentiated stretch.

Views & seating

Observation car

Sightseer Lounge is offered.

✓ Yes

Food & drink

Dining car

Traditional Dining is offered.

✓ Yes

Café / food service

Cafe Service is offered.

✓ Yes

3 onboard details are confirmed against a source. Anything not listed here has not been researched yet; treat it as unknown, not absent.

When to go
  1. JanRuns
  2. FebRuns
  3. MarRuns
  4. AprRuns
  5. MayRuns
  6. JunRuns
  7. JulRuns
  8. AugRuns
  9. SepRuns
  10. OctRuns
  11. NovRuns
  12. DecRuns
  • Runs
Year-round
Runs

Jan: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.

These months show when the train runs, which is a service fact. How good each month is for the experience has not been rated yet, so no month is presented as better than another.

Month-by-month notes
  • Jan: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Feb: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Mar: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Apr: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • May: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Jun: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Jul: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Aug: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Sep: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Oct: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Nov: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
  • Dec: Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.
Good for

Good fit for

  • Slow travellers

    Especially good

    Forty-eight-hour three-times-weekly crossing is a pure slow-travel experience.

  • Photographers

    Especially good

    Bayou, West Texas and desert landscapes change dramatically across the route.

  • Rail enthusiasts

    Good fit

    Southern transcontinental route and long-distance consist offer strong operational character.

Think twice if

  • It is a multi-day commitment

    48h on board.

  • You cannot just turn up

    A reservation is required for this journey.

Reservation & booking
Reservation
Required
Price
Dynamic pricing

Prices quoted Amtrak uses dynamic pricing by date and accommodation; verify live booking.

Booking difficulty
Easy

Not yet verified: rail pass validity. We leave these blank rather than guess.

  • Reserve coach or Superliner accommodation through Amtrak and plan around three-times-weekly departures.
Official journey information, Amtrak (opens the operator site in a new tab)Compare similar journeys

We link to the operator's own journey page. No direct booking channel has been verified for this service, so availability and fares must be checked there. Journey length: 48h. Source: Amtrak; no check date recorded.

Sources & freshness

The detailed source record remains at the end of this guide. Review the evidence.

Your next step

Plan the route, then confirm it with the operator.

Reserve coach or Superliner accommodation through Amtrak and plan around three-times-weekly departures.

Official journey information, Amtrak (opens in a new tab)

We link to the operator's own journey page. No direct booking channel has been verified for this service, so availability and fares must be checked there.

Far by Rail is a discovery guide, not a live timetable or booking service. Confirm times, fares and availability with the operator.

Continue exploring

Journeys in the same spirit

Sources & freshness

Journey information is reviewed against published material and maintained as sources change.

Last reviewed date not recorded.

Official sources

  • Amtrakamtrak.com

    Date not recorded