Amtrak's Mardi Gras Service runs twice a day between New Orleans and Mobile. Here are the six stops, the bridges over open water, kids fares and easy day trips.

The Cardinal runs just three days a week from New York to Chicago, right through the New River Gorge. Here are all 32 stops, the daylight timing, rooms and kids fares.

Taking the Crescent with kids? It runs daily from New York to New Orleans in about 32 hours. Here are all 35 stops, the daylight stretches, sleeper rooms and kids fares.

Two nights from Chicago to Florida with kids? All 46 Floridian stops, the sleeper that fits four, the Lakeland double-back and easy daytime rides in Florida.

All 23 Palmetto stops from New York to Savannah, how to land a four-seat Business Class table, half-price kids fares and why we would ride north for daylight.

Overnight to Florida with kids? All 33 Silver Meteor stops, the sleeper that fits a family of four, dining car tips and the stretches you will see in daylight.

Upstairs seats, half-price kids fares and a Red River crossing into Texas. Every Heartland Flyer stop, what's running in fall 2026 and the best short rides for kids.

Riding the Sunset Limited with kids: pick the right day, plan sleep, meals and showers for two nights, spot deer and dust devils in West Texas, and see all 22 stops.

Taking the Texas Eagle with kids: why one night makes it a good first sleeper trip, what to eat, the two-states-at-once stop, the Los Angeles through cars and every stop.

Fall asleep in Illinois, wake up in Mississippi. Every stop on the City of New Orleans, how Family Bedrooms and kids fares work, and short daytime rides to try first.

Which side faces the river, how kids fares work, and a science museum inside Kansas City Union Station. Every stop on the Missouri River Runner, plus short first rides.

Upstairs seats, half-price kids fares, a museum in the Kankakee depot and the October 2026 Saluki changes. What parents need before riding Chicago to Carbondale.

Two trains a day, half-price kids fares, a steam engine in Galesburg and no stairs to haul the stroller up. The Chicago to Quincy line, stop by stop, for parents.

A four-hour train built for a Chicago day from Grand Rapids. All five stops, the beach and windmill stations, day trip timing, kids fares and the no-solo-teens rule.

One train a day between Chicago and Port Huron, with an early start and a late finish. Every stop, the railroad museum depot in Durand, seats, food and kids fares.

Three trains a day from Chicago to Detroit and Pontiac. Every stop, how to reach the Detroit Zoo and The Henry Ford, where to sit, what to eat and kids fares.

A daytime train from Chicago to St. Paul with upstairs seats and the Mississippi saved for the end. Every stop, which side to sit on, the cafe and kids fares.

Taking the overnight Lake Shore Limited with kids? It splits at Albany for New York and Boston. Here are both sets of stops, the Hudson side, rooms and kids fares.

Amtrak Hartford Line and Valley Flyer trains link New Haven, Hartford, Springfield and the river towns up to Greenfield. Short rides, $1 kids fares and a carousel near the station.

The Pennsylvanian climbs the Alleghenies and swings around the famous Horseshoe Curve between New York and Pittsburgh. Where to sit, when to ride, and how kids fares work.