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Sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination. Such is the case for passengers who step aboard these 10 American trains – voted as the best in the U.S. by 10Best readers from a pool of 20 nominees hand-picked by a panel of rail travel experts.
Our readers voted daily for their favorite train rides for four weeks. The results are in!
Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY
The top 10 winners in the category Best Train Ride are as follows:
- Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad - Between Chama, N.M. and Antonito, Colo.
- Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Between Durango and Silverton, Colo.
- Cass Scenic Railroad - Between Cass and Bald Knob, W.V.
- Napa Valley Wine Train - Between Napa and St. Helena, Calif.
- White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad - Between Skagway, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon
- Great Smoky Mountain Railroad - Round trips from Bryson City, N.C.
- Mount Washington Cog Railway - To the top of Mount Washington, N.H.
- Western Maryland Scenic Railroad - Between Cumberland and Frostburg, Md.
- Grand Canyon Railway - Between Williams and Grand Canyon, Ariz.
- Empire Builder - Between Chicago and Portland/Seattle
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Jim Loomis (Trains & Travel), Todd Powell (Vacations By Rail), H. Lawrence Swartz, Ph.D. (America by Rail) and Jim Wrinn (Trains magazine) were chosen based on their knowledge of train travel in the United States.
Additional nominees for Best Train Ride included the Adirondack, California Zephyr, Cardinal, Cascades, Coastal Classic, Coast Starlight, Denali Star, Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Southwest Chief and the Sunset Limited.
Congratulations to all these amazing winning train rides!
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The Experts
Jim Loomis
Jim Loomis is the author of All Aboard–The... Read More
Jim Loomis is the author of All Aboard–The Complete North American Train Travel Guide (4th Edition); writes a daily blog, Trains & Travel, and is a vice chair of the board of directors for the National Association of Railroad Passengers, a nearly 50-year-old non-profit organization advocating more and better and faster passenger trains for the U.S.
Jim Loomis

Jim Loomis is the author of All Aboard–The Complete North American Train Travel Guide (4th Edition); writes a daily blog, Trains & Travel, and is a vice chair of the board of directors for the National Association of Railroad Passengers, a nearly 50-year-old non-profit organization advocating more and better and faster passenger trains for the U.S.
Todd Powell
Todd Powell co-founded Vacations By Rail in 2004,... Read More
Todd Powell co-founded Vacations By Rail in 2004, bootstrapping the start-up to becoming one of the United States’ largest producers of rail vacations and train tours throughout the world. In 2011, he and his business partner expanded overseas with the launch of Holidays By Rail, the company’s UK-based subsidiary. Powell fell in love with rail travel while studying abroad in Rome. He has traveled by train extensively throughout Europe, USA and Canada experiencing everything from long distance overnight trains, modern high-speed trains, scenic and luxury trains. Powell, with the support of the Vacations By Rail staff, evaluates rail journeys based on personal experience, Vacations By Rail staff experience and extensive customer feedback. Powell has been featured in radio, television and print to give his perspective on leisure rail journeys and experiential travel.
Todd Powell

Todd Powell co-founded Vacations By Rail in 2004, bootstrapping the start-up to becoming one of the United States’ largest producers of rail vacations and train tours throughout the world. In 2011, he and his business partner expanded overseas with the launch of Holidays By Rail, the company’s UK-based subsidiary. Powell fell in love with rail travel while studying abroad in Rome. He has traveled by train extensively throughout Europe, USA and Canada experiencing everything from long distance overnight trains, modern high-speed trains, scenic and luxury trains. Powell, with the support of the Vacations By Rail staff, evaluates rail journeys based on personal experience, Vacations By Rail staff experience and extensive customer feedback. Powell has been featured in radio, television and print to give his perspective on leisure rail journeys and experiential travel.
H. Lawrence Swartz, Ph.D.
H. Lawrence Swartz, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Read More
H. Lawrence Swartz, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of America by Rail, got bitten by the train bug at an early age as he and his mother followed his naval father around the country during WWII. By the time he was eleven he had experienced several trans-continental train trips, and for him it was and remains the best way to travel! He never tires of watching the magnificent scenery that rolls past. America by Rail is the natural extension of Swartz's enthusiasm and provides escorted tours by train to popular and exciting destinations including Alaska, California, the Canadian Rockies, Nova Scotia, New England, the Pacific Northwest and 18 National Parks.
H. Lawrence Swartz, Ph.D.

H. Lawrence Swartz, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of America by Rail, got bitten by the train bug at an early age as he and his mother followed his naval father around the country during WWII. By the time he was eleven he had experienced several trans-continental train trips, and for him it was and remains the best way to travel! He never tires of watching the magnificent scenery that rolls past. America by Rail is the natural extension of Swartz's enthusiasm and provides escorted tours by train to popular and exciting destinations including Alaska, California, the Canadian Rockies, Nova Scotia, New England, the Pacific Northwest and 18 National Parks.
Jim Wrinn
Jim Wrinn edits Trains magazine, the largest... Read More
Jim Wrinn edits Trains magazine, the largest consumer publication about railroading in the world. He has traveled extensively in the U.S., Germany, Switzerland and the U.K. He serves on the awards committee for the Association of Tourist Railroads and Railway Museums. He has been a volunteer for 30 years for the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer.
Jim Wrinn

Jim Wrinn edits Trains magazine, the largest consumer publication about railroading in the world. He has traveled extensively in the U.S., Germany, Switzerland and the U.K. He serves on the awards committee for the Association of Tourist Railroads and Railway Museums. He has been a volunteer for 30 years for the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer.