Amtrak Cascades With Kids: Every Stop, Free Youth Fare and Airo Trains
Yes, and Amtrak Cascades might be the easiest train in the country on a family budget: kids 18 and under ride free in coach on trips that start and end in Washington. Coach has family-style tables for four, and new Airo trains joined the line on September 30, 2026. The route runs from Vancouver, British Columbia, through Seattle and Portland to Eugene, Oregon, with six round trips a day between Seattle and Portland. Below is every stop, how to actually book those free kids tickets and where to sit.
The short version
- Washington Youth Fare: kids 18 and under ride free in coach on trips that begin and end in Washington.
- Don't plan on getting free youth tickets at a kiosk or from the conductor; book online, by phone or at a staffed station.
- Coach has family-style tables for four, and nobody ever gets stuck in a middle seat.
- New Airo trains run as trains 503, 508, 516 and 519 starting September 30, 2026.
- Kids cannot travel alone to or from Kelso, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Oregon City, Stanwood or Tukwila.
- Coming home from Vancouver, BC? U.S. customs now happens inside Pacific Central Station before you board.
Amtrak Cascades at a glance
- Runs between
- Vancouver, BC, Seattle, Portland and Eugene
- States
- British Columbia, Washington and Oregon
- Distance
- about 460 miles for the whole corridor
- End to end
- about 3.5 hours Seattle to Portland; about 4 hours Vancouver, BC to Seattle
- Trains
- 6 round trips a day Seattle to Portland, 2 Seattle to Vancouver, BC, 2 Portland to Eugene
- Train cars
- Single-level: new Airo trains, plus Talgo and Amfleet sets
- Four-seat tables
- Yes, family-style seating for four in coach
- Upstairs seating
- No, all cars are single-level
- Quiet Car
- No
- Food
- Cafe car (the Bistro)
- Business Class
- Yes, with a $3 cafe coupon
- Checked bags
- Yes at 12 staffed stations; not at Mount Vernon, Stanwood, Tukwila, Olympia-Lacey, Kelso-Longview or Oregon City
Look inside the book
Kids ride free here. Let Rally ride along.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute corgi story that ends with grandparents waving at the station, just right for a grandparent visit on Amtrak Cascades.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Do kids need a ticket on Amtrak Cascades?
Here’s the headline for families: Washington Youth Fare. Kids 18 and under ride free in coach on Amtrak Cascades when the trip starts and ends in Washington. Kids 15 and under need to ride with an adult to get it, and teens 16 to 18 can use it alone or with an adult.
Free doesn’t mean no ticket, though. Every child still needs one, and you have to book on Amtrak.com, at 1-800-USA-RAIL or at a staffed station counter, not at a kiosk or from the conductor. Youth Fare doesn’t work in Business Class, on the Coast Starlight or Empire Builder, or for kids 13 to 15 riding alone, and bookings are capped at eight people.
Headed on to Portland, Eugene or Vancouver, BC? Book the Washington part as one ticket and the rest as a second ticket, or the regular fare applies to the whole trip. Adults with kids under 16 should split their tickets the same way.
Outside Washington, the usual Amtrak child fare applies: kids 2 to 12 pay half with an adult 18 or older, and one baby under 2 rides free on each paying adult’s lap. Our Amtrak with kids guide covers the rest.
Thinking about letting a younger teen ride solo? Kids 13 to 15 can ride alone only under Amtrak’s unaccompanied minor rules, booked by phone, and never to or from Kelso, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Oregon City, Stanwood or Tukwila.
Free for train families
Print the free Amtrak Cascades activity book
A stop tracker for all 18 stops, a word search full of Amtrak Cascades stops, window bingo, a maze, a ticket to fill in and a page to draw the view. It fits in a folder with a few crayons and weighs nothing in the diaper bag.
Get the free Amtrak Cascades activity bookEvery Amtrak Cascades stop, from Vancouver, BC to Eugene
Amtrak Cascades makes 18 stops across British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Plan around the ends of the line: only two round trips a day go north of Seattle to Vancouver, BC, and only two go south of Portland to Eugene.
British Columbia- Vancouver (Pacific Central Station)Look for: Look up for the rooftop neon sign that reads “Pacific Central” on this 1919 Beaux-Arts station, right next to the Main Street-Science World SkyTrain stop.
- Bellingham (Fairhaven Station)
- Mount Vernon (Skagit Station)
- StanwoodLook for: Beachcombers, take note: this is the gateway to Camano Island, where Camano Island State Park has beaches to explore.
- Everett StationLook for: Have them look down: the lobby floor is a giant terrazzo map of local waterways with 29 historic ships, and a model railroad club rents space downstairs.
- EdmondsLook for: A waterfront town on Puget Sound, with sandy beaches, a marina and an underwater dive park near the station.
- Seattle (King Street Station)Look for: Step inside and tip your head back: the hand-carved ceiling was hidden behind a drop ceiling from 1967 until a restoration finished in 2013.
- Tukwila
- Tacoma Dome Station
- Lacey (Olympia-Lacey)
- CentraliaLook for: Built in 1912, this station opened back when steam trains rolled into town more than 40 times a day.
- Kelso-Longview
- Vancouver
- Portland (Union Station)Look for: Count the four faces on the Seth Thomas clock atop the 150-foot tower. The station has been open since 1896.
- Oregon City
- Salem
- Albany
- Eugene-Springfield
What kids can see from Amtrak Cascades
Puget Sound and the islands
North of Seattle, the tracks run along the edge of Puget Sound, and Amtrak Cascades shows the San Juan Islands across the water in its own photos of the route. Heading north toward Edmonds, Everett and Bellingham, sit on the left for the water. Heading south, take the right.
Mount St. Helens and the Columbia River
Amtrak lists Mount St. Helens among the sights on this route, so on a clear day, start a volcano watch. Between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, the train crosses the Columbia River from Washington into Oregon, and kids get to say they changed states on a bridge.
Since November 2021, trains between Tacoma and DuPont use the Point Defiance Bypass, which cut time off the Seattle to Portland trip. Less time on board is never bad news with a toddler.
Crossing into Canada
Worried about the border with kids in tow? It got easier. A full U.S. customs preclearance center opened at Pacific Central Station in June 2026, so U.S.-bound riders clear customs before boarding and the train no longer stops at the border for agents, which saves about 10 minutes.
Get to the station in Vancouver, BC an hour early, and bring travel documents for every member of the family.
Where to sit with kids on Amtrak Cascades
Coach has two kinds of seats: theater-style rows, or family-style seating for four around a table. There’s never a middle seat. A family of four can claim one table and spread out the snacks and games.
The new Airo trains started on trains 503, 508, 516 and 519 on September 30, 2026, with more trainsets on the way. They have panoramic windows with pull-down shades, handy when the sun hits right at nap time. In an Airo train, Business Class is the first car and the cafe is in the second.
Two of the current trainsets also carry a lounge car with seats for 30 and 10 tables, first come, first served. Business Class has wider seats, priority boarding and a $3 cafe coupon, but Youth Fare doesn’t cover it. Every train has room for at least four riders using wheelchairs, and every car is on one level, so you’ll never carry a stroller up stairs inside the train.
If Cascades coach can’t seat you side by side
Book the whole family on one reservation. Youth Fare bookings top out at eight people, so a bigger group may need two. When you check in for boarding, ask for a family table for four. It keeps a toddler within arm’s reach, and there’s no middle seat to argue over.
No table, not even a pair? Walk to the next coach car. Every car is on one level, so you won’t be climbing with a diaper bag. Grab two seats near each other while you look, and keep each preschooler beside a grown-up, even on the short ride to Tacoma.
If you ask a neighbor to switch, do it before they spread out. Say why in one line (“We’re traveling with a preschooler”) and make the trade fair: a theater-style window for theirs, facing the same way. Leave the folks at family tables out of it, since a row is a step down. A polite no is fine.
The conductor is worth a word too, ideally while boarding. Mention the youngest kid’s age and that you’re split. They can direct you to free seats, and a coat or suitcase doesn’t get its own seat, so they can ask for it to be moved. Seated riders aren’t asked to leave.
The best first Amtrak Cascades ride with kids
Since kids ride free inside Washington, a short test ride costs a lot less than you’d think. Here are three we like.
- Seattle to Tacoma, under an hour. Start under the King Street clock tower and ride south to Tacoma Dome Station. With Youth Fare, kids ride free in coach.
- Seattle to Edmonds, a short waterfront hop. Sit on the left heading north, hop off in the Edmonds beach town, and ride back. Kids ride free here too, since both stops are in Washington.
- Portland to Vancouver, Washington, about 20 minutes. This quick ride crosses the Columbia River into a new state. Kids pay the half-price child fare on this one, since the trip starts in Oregon.
Ready for more? Seattle to Portland takes about three and a half hours, so print the free Rally coloring pages before that one.
Food, bathrooms and naps on Amtrak Cascades
The cafe car serves soups, sandwiches, sweets, snacks, coffee and drinks, and you can take food back to your seat. Bringing your own works too, and a picnic on a family table beats a cafe line with a tired kid.
We couldn’t confirm changing tables on Cascades trains, so tuck a portable changing pad in the diaper bag. Seats have standard power outlets, and Wi-Fi is free. Pack headphones for shows, and step into the space between cars for phone calls.
Planning to bring a car seat? It can’t be strapped to a train seat, but it can sit in an empty seat if no paying rider needs it. Strollers are accepted, and if you check one there may be a $10 to $20 handling charge.
A train book for the ride
The last page of Rally Takes the Train shows Rally’s grand-paw-rents waving as the train pulls in. With Youth Fare, a ride from Seattle to see grandparents in Tacoma, Olympia or Bellingham costs nothing for the kids, so that wave on the platform can happen a lot more often.
A family table is a great spot for the book. It takes about five minutes to read, and then the crayons come out. Print the free Rally activity pack and coloring pages before you leave.
For the trip to see the grandparentsRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi riding the train to see his grand-paw-rents, hand-painted in watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon
More for train families
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find another train by city or station
- The complete guide to Amtrak with kids: tickets, car seats, changing tables, family tables and what to pack by age
- Free Rally activity pack and coloring pages to print before your trip
- Coast Starlight with kids
- Empire Builder with kids
- Capitol Corridor with kids
Sources
- Amtrak Cascades: Traveling with kids
- Amtrak Cascades: Seating
- Amtrak Cascades: Onboard experience
- Amtrak Cascades: Baggage
- Amtrak Cascades: Schedules
- Amtrak Cascades: Home (new trainsets)
- Amtrak Cascades: About
- Amtrak: Amtrak Cascades
- Amtrak: Discounts for children
- Wikipedia: Amtrak Cascades
- Wikipedia: Pacific Central Station
- Coast Starlight timetable (shared Portland to Vancouver, WA times)
Checked against Amtrak and partner railroad pages in October 2026. Schedules and policies change, so confirm on amtrak.com before you ride.
Amtrak Cascades with kids: questions parents ask
Do kids ride free on Amtrak Cascades?
Inside Washington, yes. Washington Youth Fare lets riders 18 and under travel free in coach when the whole Cascades trip stays inside Washington. Kids 15 and under must ride with an adult. Each child still needs a ticket, booked online, by phone or at a staffed station, not at a kiosk or on board. Outside Washington, kids 2 to 12 pay half fare.
Do babies ride free on Amtrak Cascades?
Yes. On Cascades, a baby under 2 sits free on the lap of any adult holding an adult fare, one baby per adult. Outside Washington, a second baby on one adult, or a baby given a separate seat, is charged the half-price child fare. Inside Washington, ask about Youth Fare when you book, since it covers riders 18 and under in coach. Every child still needs a ticket, so add the baby to your booking.
Do I need a car seat on Amtrak Cascades?
No. A car seat can't be strapped to any Amtrak Cascades seat. If a seat beside you sits open and nobody with a ticket wants it, the car seat can go there. If not, expect to hold your under-2 and stow the seat. Bring one only if you'll be driving at the other end, and know you can check it at the 12 stations with checked baggage.
Are there changing tables on Amtrak Cascades?
We couldn't confirm changing tables on Cascades trains. Amtrak has no formal diaper policy and availability varies, though it has said new cars will get changing tables in accessible restrooms. Whether that covers the new Airo sets here, we can't say for sure. Bring a fold-up changing mat, and use the roomiest accessible restroom you can find.
Where are the bathrooms on Amtrak Cascades?
Each Cascades car has a restroom of its own, and since every car is single-level, there are no stairs between your seat and the potty. Watch for the light that shows it's occupied. Potty trainers do better with a grown-up inside, plus a heads-up that the flush roars. On an Airo train, Business Class is the first car and the cafe is the second, which helps you get your bearings.
Can I check a stroller on Amtrak Cascades?
Yes, at the 12 stations with checked baggage, including Seattle, Portland, Tacoma and Vancouver, BC. Strollers count as special items, and there may be a $10 to $20 handling charge. Mount Vernon, Stanwood, Tukwila, Olympia-Lacey, Kelso-Longview and Oregon City don't check bags, so carry it on if you start there. A stroller for a child under 2 is an extra item beyond the carry-on limit.
Can I breastfeed or bottle-feed on Amtrak Cascades?
Yes. Breastfeeding in public is legal nationwide, with laws on the books in every state. Amtrak Cascades has a cafe car, the Bistro, but no dining car, so bring bottles and formula ready to go. On the Airo trains, pull-down shades on the big panoramic windows can cut the glare during a feed, and a family table gives you space to set out the gear.
Is there food on Amtrak Cascades?
Yes. The Bistro cafe car sells soups, sandwiches, sweets, snacks, coffee and drinks, and you can carry food back to your seat. Bringing your own is fine too. Business Class riders get a $3 cafe coupon, but Youth Fare doesn't cover Business Class, so most families save more in coach with a packed picnic spread across a family table.
How do I keep kids entertained on Amtrak Cascades?
Give them a job at the window. Heading north from Seattle, sit on the left for Puget Sound and the islands, and between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, cheer as you cross the Columbia River into Oregon. On a clear day, watch for Mount St. Helens. Walk to the Bistro, then pull out our free Rally coloring and puzzle pages and Rally Takes the Train at your table.
Does Amtrak Cascades have tables for families?
Yes. Coach has family-style seating for four around a table, plus theater-style rows, and there is never a middle seat. Two current trainsets also have a lounge car with 10 tables, first come, first served. When you check in for boarding, ask the station agent or conductor about a table so your family can sit together.
Cascades coach is crowded and our family got separated. Now what?
Head for the next coach car first; with every car on one level, that's an easy walk even with a folded stroller. While you look, grab seats near each other and keep young kids next to a grown-up. Then have a word with the conductor about your group. Conductors can tell you where the free seats are and get luggage shifted off them, because one ticket means one seat; nobody sitting there gets bumped for you.
Is it rude to ask a Cascades passenger to trade seats with us?
Not if you do it kindly and soon after boarding, before the other rider settles in. Explain in a sentence that you're traveling with a toddler and got split up, and offer them a match or an upgrade, like your window for theirs, facing the same direction. Never ask someone to give up a spot at a family table for a theater-style row. If the answer is no, say thanks and look elsewhere.
Is there a Quiet Car on Amtrak Cascades?
No, Amtrak Cascades doesn't run a Quiet Car. Normal voices are fine, but bring headphones for anything with sound, and step into the space between cars if you need to make a phone call. A family table in coach keeps your crew facing each other instead of talking over the row behind you.
What should I pack for kids on Amtrak Cascades?
Pack headphones, snacks and a charger, since seats have standard outlets and Wi-Fi is free. Add a diaper kit with a changing pad, a spare set of clothes and some printable train puzzles for the table. Going to Vancouver, BC? Pack travel documents for every person in the family. Starting at a station without checked baggage, like Tukwila or Olympia-Lacey, means carrying everything on board.
Can my toddler nap on Amtrak Cascades?
There are no sleeping cars, but Seattle to Portland takes about three and a half hours, plenty of time for a nap. The new Airo trains, which started on trains 503, 508, 516 and 519 on September 30, 2026, have panoramic windows with pull-down shades for when the sun hits at nap time. With six Seattle to Portland round trips a day, pick one that fits. Once they wake up, a free fill-in train ticket eases them back in.
What is a good first ride on Amtrak Cascades with kids?
Seattle to Tacoma takes under an hour, and with Youth Fare, kids ride free in coach. Seattle to Edmonds is a short waterfront hop, also free for kids. Want a new state? Portland to Vancouver, Washington takes about 20 minutes across the Columbia River, though kids pay the child fare on that one since it starts in Oregon.
Can a teenager ride Amtrak Cascades alone?
Teens 16 to 18 can ride alone, and they still get free Youth Fare inside Washington. A 13 to 15 year old can go solo only through Amtrak's unaccompanied minor program, which is booked by phone and charged at full fare. Unaccompanied minors can't travel to or from Kelso, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Oregon City, Stanwood or Tukwila, and nobody 12 or younger rides without an adult.
How early should we get to the station for Amtrak Cascades?
Most stations: about 30 minutes early. Vancouver, BC: a full hour, because U.S.-bound riders now clear customs inside Pacific Central Station before boarding, and every family member needs travel documents. When you check in for boarding, ask about a family table. Business Class gets priority boarding, and families with young kids are often boarded early at busy stations.
What if my child gets scared on Amtrak Cascades?
Give them a heads-up about the horn so they can cover their ears. Crossing the Columbia River on a bridge can feel big, so frame it as a fun moment: you're changing states. If a crowded station is too much, step aside and hold hands. Before the trip, share the tunnel spread from our Rally book and talk about how every dark stretch ends in light.
Is Amtrak Cascades safe for kids?
Yes, with the basics. Wait behind the platform line, holding hands, until the train comes to a full stop. Cascades cars are all on one level, so there are no inside stairs, but the train still moves, so kids should sit or hold on, and hold hands walking between cars or to the Bistro. Keep shoes on for the whole ride.
What if Amtrak Cascades is delayed?
Look at the Amtrak app and the Cascades travel advisories on the day you ride, and tuck a few extra snacks and diapers in the bag. Since November 2021, trains between Tacoma and DuPont use the Point Defiance Bypass, which shortened the Seattle to Portland trip. If you miss a connection, there are six round trips a day between Seattle and Portland, but only two north to Vancouver, BC and two south to Eugene.
Does Washington Youth Fare work from Seattle to Portland?
Only for the Washington part. Portland is in Oregon, so one Seattle to Portland ticket is full price for the whole trip. To save, book Seattle to Vancouver, Washington as one ticket with the free youth fares, then Vancouver, Washington to Portland as a second ticket. Adults with kids under 16 should split their tickets the same way.