I spent 53 hours on Amtrak's longest train. These were the 6 best and 4 worst parts of the journey.

The author took Amtrak's California Zephyr train from Chicago to Emeryville, California. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I took Amtrak's longest train, the California Zephyr, from Illinois to California in early 2026. I booked a $2,200 bedroom for the 53-hour journey across the American West. I enjoyed meeting travelers and sleeping in the top bunk, but some views were better than others. I had the time of my life on the longest train ride in America, but there were still moments when I wished...