When traveling across California, forget fighting traffic or rushing to your busy airport terminal.
Instead, say travel pros, take the train. Amtrak’s surprisingly affordable Pacific Surfliner, to be exact.
The ocean-hugging train route — which runs 351 miles along the Pacific — has travel experts unanimously naming it the most scenic Amtrak journey in the nation, according to a new report in Travel + Leisure.
“The Pacific Surfliner is such a relaxing, scenic alternative to fighting your way through California’s famous gridlock,” travel writer Cu Fleshman told the outlet.
The Surfliner passes through Orange County, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara while offering panoramic views of beaches, coastal cliffs and even the occasional whale.
Along the way, the route serves 29 stations across six counties and ranks as the busiest state-supported intercity passenger rail service in the United States.
As California’s gas prices climb, the Amtrak has emerged as an affordable (tickets start at $36) and reliable alternative for travelers looking to move across the state without getting behind the wheel.
Some passengers have embraced the train so fully that is has become part of their routines, with one college student writing on X that they “take [the] pacific Surfliner over flights because its cheaper and provides much more comfort.”
That preference is becoming increasingly common. In the last few years, the Pacific Surfliner has experienced a strong increase in passengers, carrying over 2 million riders annually.
The route’s scenic reputation has also caught travelers’ attention online.
“I’m really glad I intentionally chose Amtrak instead of driving,” another traveler wrote, describing the views as “so incredibly breathtaking.”
Another rider was equally impressed, writing that the Pacific Surfliner had “won [their] heart” and praised the train’s “pretty views.”
Travelers now have even more opportunities to experience the route. On May 4, the Pacific Surfliner added another roundtrip service between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, expanding options for passengers traveling along the California coast.
With more service, lower-stress travel and ocean views along the way, the Pacific Surfliner is giving Californians — and tourists — plenty of reasons to skip the highway and enjoy the ride.
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