AMTRAK to Yosemite is 10x SLOWER. We Did it Anyway. (Ep2)
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Date: 2025-09-28
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Comments and reviews: 20
HabaneroTi
I've taken lots of trains in the US and Europe, and seen even more videos of both, and while there are pros and cons to each, given its size and geography, there really isn't a train route in Europe that can rival the best ones that the US has to offer, nor its sightseer lounge.
Even its dining service is superior to most dining options on European trains. Sure, there are trains like the Orient Express, but they're so expensive that most people can't afford them, and they're pretty rare.
I have a new train-related bucket list item. I'd like to take an overnight Amtrak train in a sleeper, that has at least one scheduled stop of at least 30 minutes, and preferably one a day, so that I can go for a short run and do a quickie tour of the area around the station, and get back in time before the train departs, and be able to freshen up with a shower. I've actually looked at several routes to see where this was possible.
Hey, you get a little cabin fever on a long distance train, so this would help.
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I've taken lots of trains in the US and Europe, and seen even more videos of both, and while there are pros and cons to each, given its size and geography, there really isn't a train route in Europe that can rival the best ones that the US has to offer, nor its sightseer lounge.
Even its dining service is superior to most dining options on European trains. Sure, there are trains like the Orient Express, but they're so expensive that most people can't afford them, and they're pretty rare.
I have a new train-related bucket list item. I'd like to take an overnight Amtrak train in a sleeper, that has at least one scheduled stop of at least 30 minutes, and preferably one a day, so that I can go for a short run and do a quickie tour of the area around the station, and get back in time before the train departs, and be able to freshen up with a shower. I've actually looked at several routes to see where this was possible.
Hey, you get a little cabin fever on a long distance train, so this would help.
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jeb_brooks
Mr. Brooks,
I am a huge fan of your videos, and I've been watching them for years. On this video, I was thrilled when I saw you went through Merced. It isn't a large city, so it received some exposure through your video. The San Joaquin train would travel right by my parents' former home they owned in nearby Atwater (six miles south. The former Castle Air Force Base (the video bit with the museum planes you showed) was part of my youth (we were a military family via my late father. My family also used to go to Yosemite Park when I was young. It is absolutely stunning, and brings back really nice memories.
I really appreciate the videos you and Mrs. Brooks do, and I find them highly enjoyable. Thank you for the many journeys and adventures that you share with all of us. Warmly, Shawn
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Mr. Brooks,
I am a huge fan of your videos, and I've been watching them for years. On this video, I was thrilled when I saw you went through Merced. It isn't a large city, so it received some exposure through your video. The San Joaquin train would travel right by my parents' former home they owned in nearby Atwater (six miles south. The former Castle Air Force Base (the video bit with the museum planes you showed) was part of my youth (we were a military family via my late father. My family also used to go to Yosemite Park when I was young. It is absolutely stunning, and brings back really nice memories.
I really appreciate the videos you and Mrs. Brooks do, and I find them highly enjoyable. Thank you for the many journeys and adventures that you share with all of us. Warmly, Shawn
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echaffey
Beautifully done! Quite the trip down memory lane for me. I live I Salt Lake City now, but spent 10 years on Sacramento. I’ve been on the California Zepher a few times and seen those views lots of time either by train or in the car. I’ve only been to Yosemite once but loved it. I’m wondering if you and Suzanne have considered Armenia for a trip I don’t know if it’s possible these days; in 2002 I went on a life changing trip there. We traveled through Moscow to get there. Not sure what the alternatives would be, but we landed in Yerevan (capitol of Armenia) and from there traveled by buses. Geghart Monastery, Garni, Mosari, and Gyumri were the places we visited. It’s truly beautiful there. If you have the opportunity that would be a beautiful trip.
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Beautifully done! Quite the trip down memory lane for me. I live I Salt Lake City now, but spent 10 years on Sacramento. I’ve been on the California Zepher a few times and seen those views lots of time either by train or in the car. I’ve only been to Yosemite once but loved it. I’m wondering if you and Suzanne have considered Armenia for a trip I don’t know if it’s possible these days; in 2002 I went on a life changing trip there. We traveled through Moscow to get there. Not sure what the alternatives would be, but we landed in Yerevan (capitol of Armenia) and from there traveled by buses. Geghart Monastery, Garni, Mosari, and Gyumri were the places we visited. It’s truly beautiful there. If you have the opportunity that would be a beautiful trip.
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randallstewart1224
If you wanted to seriously visit Yellowstone, the Yosemite, this is the most ridiculous travel process I can imagine, and I have been up and down this are and these parks many times. There is no rational train route. You could probably take the buss from Yellowstone to Salt Lake City, rent a nice, new car, hit the best restaurants and stop in Reno to lose a couple of hundred bucks, and still spend half as much and take a third the time. You'd also see things close up, stop at points of interest, and not be whipped between the frustration of meeting endless transit connections and trying to sleep in a hard bunk bed each night. This is content in search of a viewer.
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If you wanted to seriously visit Yellowstone, the Yosemite, this is the most ridiculous travel process I can imagine, and I have been up and down this are and these parks many times. There is no rational train route. You could probably take the buss from Yellowstone to Salt Lake City, rent a nice, new car, hit the best restaurants and stop in Reno to lose a couple of hundred bucks, and still spend half as much and take a third the time. You'd also see things close up, stop at points of interest, and not be whipped between the frustration of meeting endless transit connections and trying to sleep in a hard bunk bed each night. This is content in search of a viewer.
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neutrino78x
Looks great Jeb, this is how I get to Yosemite as well! From Silicon Valley, I take Capitol Corridor plus San Joaquins, and then YARTS into the park. Highly recommended, unless you have a big group or want to take a bunch of gear into the park. in such a case, your best bet is to drive.
btw Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins have huge ridership! Slightly over one million people per year for Capitol Corridor, and slightly under that for San Joaquins! Capitol Corridor gets you to Sacramento in about the same time as driving, about three hours.
Suzanne was beautiful as always! She is ray of sunshine
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Looks great Jeb, this is how I get to Yosemite as well! From Silicon Valley, I take Capitol Corridor plus San Joaquins, and then YARTS into the park. Highly recommended, unless you have a big group or want to take a bunch of gear into the park. in such a case, your best bet is to drive.
btw Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins have huge ridership! Slightly over one million people per year for Capitol Corridor, and slightly under that for San Joaquins! Capitol Corridor gets you to Sacramento in about the same time as driving, about three hours.
Suzanne was beautiful as always! She is ray of sunshine
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jeb_brooks
Hi Jeb. I did that trip last year, but instead of going from Salt Lake City to Emeryville, California, I booked the trip by Bakersfield from SLC, then stayed in Merced, California, took the Yarts, which is part of the Amtrak services to Yosemite National Park, spend like 6 hours inside, did one of the trails to the Nevada falls and visit the Yosemite Valley and saw the main tourist attractions and took the last Yarts back to Merced. I'm just curious, Why did you guys go to Emeryville and chose that route By the way, I like your videos very much, very well explained and funny.
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Hi Jeb. I did that trip last year, but instead of going from Salt Lake City to Emeryville, California, I booked the trip by Bakersfield from SLC, then stayed in Merced, California, took the Yarts, which is part of the Amtrak services to Yosemite National Park, spend like 6 hours inside, did one of the trails to the Nevada falls and visit the Yosemite Valley and saw the main tourist attractions and took the last Yarts back to Merced. I'm just curious, Why did you guys go to Emeryville and chose that route By the way, I like your videos very much, very well explained and funny.
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terry94131
While your devotion to America's third world rail system is impressive, this trip baffles me. Considering the time going from rail to bus to rail to bus etc, you could have flown from Bozeman to Salt Lake, then on to Fresno. From Fresno the YARTS system would have taken you into Yosemite Valley itself. It seems like a waste of valuable time that could have been spent exploring Yosemite, including parts like Tuolomne Meadows that are much less crowded and well worth visiting.
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While your devotion to America's third world rail system is impressive, this trip baffles me. Considering the time going from rail to bus to rail to bus etc, you could have flown from Bozeman to Salt Lake, then on to Fresno. From Fresno the YARTS system would have taken you into Yosemite Valley itself. It seems like a waste of valuable time that could have been spent exploring Yosemite, including parts like Tuolomne Meadows that are much less crowded and well worth visiting.
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seebunlim
Oh wow this brings back beautiful memories! I’m from Malaysia. I went to Yosemite and Yellowstone many years ago. Both were such amazing places. I would have loved to do this trip by train and bus - the scenery must be so beautiful. Did you have your own bathroom/toilet in the train My only concern is bathrooms and toilets. I have a tendency to not drink enough if facilities are not easily accessed. I missed Episode 1. Will go watch it.
Thanks for the video!
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Oh wow this brings back beautiful memories! I’m from Malaysia. I went to Yosemite and Yellowstone many years ago. Both were such amazing places. I would have loved to do this trip by train and bus - the scenery must be so beautiful. Did you have your own bathroom/toilet in the train My only concern is bathrooms and toilets. I have a tendency to not drink enough if facilities are not easily accessed. I missed Episode 1. Will go watch it.
Thanks for the video!
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user-Watsonr8
Hi, enjoyed your train ride from Salt Lake to Sacramento. A couple of years ago me and my cousin took it after we celebrated our aunts birthday in Salt Lake. You were very lucky not to have it full. Train was late and came in at 1: 00 a. m. and it was packed. The observation deck was packed. Plus I can not sleep on a train or plane, so I was up from 7: 00 a. m. all the way to Sacramento, I saw a lot of darkness. During the day it was gorgeous.
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Hi, enjoyed your train ride from Salt Lake to Sacramento. A couple of years ago me and my cousin took it after we celebrated our aunts birthday in Salt Lake. You were very lucky not to have it full. Train was late and came in at 1: 00 a. m. and it was packed. The observation deck was packed. Plus I can not sleep on a train or plane, so I was up from 7: 00 a. m. all the way to Sacramento, I saw a lot of darkness. During the day it was gorgeous.
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jeb_brooks
Based on the route you showed from Salt Lake to Emeryville, you practically drove by Yosemite. Then on to Nevada. It seems like you drove a lot more miles than needed, and a lot more time.
Wait, what You went. back to Emeryville and then to San Francisco!
I's not that hard to get lodging. We drove up once in the summer with my wife repeatedly calling for reservations, Wee had them by the time we arrived. People cancel, so it's just timing.
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Based on the route you showed from Salt Lake to Emeryville, you practically drove by Yosemite. Then on to Nevada. It seems like you drove a lot more miles than needed, and a lot more time.
Wait, what You went. back to Emeryville and then to San Francisco!
I's not that hard to get lodging. We drove up once in the summer with my wife repeatedly calling for reservations, Wee had them by the time we arrived. People cancel, so it's just timing.
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gumpotronic
16: 16 - Been trekking through the Sierra Nevadas for over 40 years, and I still take a full minute or two every time to simply appreciate those smells. I can close my eyes and evoke hundreds of memories all the way back to my first hikes in Yosemite, and the parks nearby. It's a smell I haven't experienced any other place on earth - the Sierra Nevada air just smells different. In the best ways, of course.
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16: 16 - Been trekking through the Sierra Nevadas for over 40 years, and I still take a full minute or two every time to simply appreciate those smells. I can close my eyes and evoke hundreds of memories all the way back to my first hikes in Yosemite, and the parks nearby. It's a smell I haven't experienced any other place on earth - the Sierra Nevada air just smells different. In the best ways, of course.
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chrismurphy5187
Geee thanks guys because of you i never thought i would be taking a amtrak from Boston to Chicago Chicago to Seattle Seattle to Emeryville Emeryville to Chicago Chicago to Boston. i decided to go in February does anyone know if thats a mistake since its cold possibly snowing and ice across the country Im nervous i wanna see alot but dont want the winter to ruin it.
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Geee thanks guys because of you i never thought i would be taking a amtrak from Boston to Chicago Chicago to Seattle Seattle to Emeryville Emeryville to Chicago Chicago to Boston. i decided to go in February does anyone know if thats a mistake since its cold possibly snowing and ice across the country Im nervous i wanna see alot but dont want the winter to ruin it.
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kwaggoner2494
Okay that balcony in Yosemite. Fantastic. We so get it. We have stayed in Grand Canyon, South and North Rim, and Zion a few times and that booking really does define the time framing of your whole trip. Not an easy ressie to get but in-park reservations are worth every single penny. Our National Parks in the US are a world treasure.
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Okay that balcony in Yosemite. Fantastic. We so get it. We have stayed in Grand Canyon, South and North Rim, and Zion a few times and that booking really does define the time framing of your whole trip. Not an easy ressie to get but in-park reservations are worth every single penny. Our National Parks in the US are a world treasure.
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garywilson9640
I've done this trip many times from Sonoma County. Usually leave Santa Rosa by 6 am. Having lunch at THE AWAHNEE by 2 pm. Best things are NO DRIVING. NO GATE FEE. NO PARKING HASSLE. FREE SHUTTLE BUSES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.
Once the Lodge Bartender and I hooked up for the entire week I was there. A Really nice guy
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I've done this trip many times from Sonoma County. Usually leave Santa Rosa by 6 am. Having lunch at THE AWAHNEE by 2 pm. Best things are NO DRIVING. NO GATE FEE. NO PARKING HASSLE. FREE SHUTTLE BUSES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.
Once the Lodge Bartender and I hooked up for the entire week I was there. A Really nice guy
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nickzluxury
I really love your guys videos. You were the reason I started falling in love just riding amtrak. I'm slowly wanting to explore more of amtrak outside of California but I use it a lot to go to work and school and I definitely take advantage of the student discount. lol. I might definitely consider going to yosemite via amtrak
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I really love your guys videos. You were the reason I started falling in love just riding amtrak. I'm slowly wanting to explore more of amtrak outside of California but I use it a lot to go to work and school and I definitely take advantage of the student discount. lol. I might definitely consider going to yosemite via amtrak
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chris. fitzgerald
I love to do night time Milky Way photography, and was lucky enough to visit Joshua Tree National park twice this summer for some nighttime shots. I was truly amazed, and would love to see more of the parks across the country. There are some spectacular State Parks as well. I went to a couple in Idaho, breath taking.
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I love to do night time Milky Way photography, and was lucky enough to visit Joshua Tree National park twice this summer for some nighttime shots. I was truly amazed, and would love to see more of the parks across the country. There are some spectacular State Parks as well. I went to a couple in Idaho, breath taking.
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HandsONreviews4u
Another GREAT COME ALONG VIDEO. GIVE YOU BOTH A TON OF CREDIT. MY WIFE AND I WOULD BE BORED AND TIRED OUT OF OUR MINDS DOING A BUS AND TRAIN. ASHAME YOU BOTH AREN'T INTO ROAD TRIPSLIKE US. NOW THAT IS TRAVELING. The best when your in your own car (rental) and can stop wherever and whenever you want, but that is US
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Another GREAT COME ALONG VIDEO. GIVE YOU BOTH A TON OF CREDIT. MY WIFE AND I WOULD BE BORED AND TIRED OUT OF OUR MINDS DOING A BUS AND TRAIN. ASHAME YOU BOTH AREN'T INTO ROAD TRIPSLIKE US. NOW THAT IS TRAVELING. The best when your in your own car (rental) and can stop wherever and whenever you want, but that is US
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kenpeaslee4561
The Ahwahnee is a spectacular adventure. The Queen of England stayed there in 1983 and my wife and I ate there about 6 weeks later. I can honestly say the service and food we received was impeccable and I can't imagine the Queen had better service. Top notch. The view from the back of the hotel is splendid.
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The Ahwahnee is a spectacular adventure. The Queen of England stayed there in 1983 and my wife and I ate there about 6 weeks later. I can honestly say the service and food we received was impeccable and I can't imagine the Queen had better service. Top notch. The view from the back of the hotel is splendid.
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ourv9603
Amtrak invites us to ride the train to Yosemite suggesting that there is an Amtrak station right in Yosemite Valley park headquarters. NOT. The nearest station is about 60mi away. You will spend a couple of hours bouncing down backroads in a worn out Greyhound bus packed tight with smelly people.
!
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Amtrak invites us to ride the train to Yosemite suggesting that there is an Amtrak station right in Yosemite Valley park headquarters. NOT. The nearest station is about 60mi away. You will spend a couple of hours bouncing down backroads in a worn out Greyhound bus packed tight with smelly people.
!
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neilgrears
As a brit, this reminds me of a recent organised bus tour that covered, LA, Palm Springs, San Diego, Scotsdale, Flagstaff, Yosemite and more and up and across to San Fransisco. Your country views I encountered never ceased to amaze me and my camera, your videos are excellent and very good for tourism
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As a brit, this reminds me of a recent organised bus tour that covered, LA, Palm Springs, San Diego, Scotsdale, Flagstaff, Yosemite and more and up and across to San Fransisco. Your country views I encountered never ceased to amaze me and my camera, your videos are excellent and very good for tourism
reply
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