Making travel plans that don’t include Fido or Whiskers is nothing short of heartbreaking. While it’s easy to take your dog or cat on the road with you to pet-friendly hotels and certain US national parks, if you’re not driving to your destination, things can get a little more difficult. If you’re planning to travel by train in the US and want to make sure that your beloved pet will be welcomed on board, have a good look at Amtrak’s pet policy first.
Photo: Reshetnikov_art/Shutterstock
How to Take Your Dog or Cat on an Amtrak Trip
- Are dogs allowed on Amtrak?
- Can my dog travel next to me on Amtrak?
- How do you travel with a 50-pound dog on Amtrak?
- Can dogs go on sleeper trains?
- How do I calm my dog down on a train?
- Can cats go on Amtrak?
- Can you take a cat in a carrier on the train?
- Are cats allowed on the Auto Train to Florida?
- How much does it cost to take your dog on Amtrak?
- Do I need to make a reservation for my pet to travel on Amtrak?
Are dogs allowed on Amtrak?
Amtrak’s pet policy states that dogs are allowed on Amtrak trains for a fee and under the following conditions:
- You can only take one dog on the train with you.
- The combined weight of your dog and their carrier must not exceed 20 pounds.
- Your dog must be eight weeks old or older and must be well behaved, silent, and clean.
- Your dog must be up to date on all its vaccinations.
- You must sign the Amtrak’s pet release document at check-in.
- You cannot take your dog on an Amtrak train journey that exceeds seven hours (including connection time between two trains).
- Dogs are prohibited on the following Amtrak route and trains: Capitol Corridor (between San Jose, CA, and Auburn, CA); Keystone Service (between New York City and Harrisburg, PA); Pennsylvanian (between New York City and Pittsburgh, PA); San Joaquins (between San Francisco Bay Area and Bakersfield, CA); and on the Auto Train (between Lorton, VA, and Sanford, FL). You cannot take your dog into Canada on the Adirondack, Maple Leaf, and Amtrak Cascades routes. Dogs are not allowed on Amtrak’s Thruway services.
Note that unlike pets, service animals are allowed on all Amtrak trains, routes, and services. There are specific guidelines for taking service animals on Amtrak.
Can my dog travel next to me on Amtrak?
Photo: Annette Shaff/Shutterstock
Your dog can only travel on Amtrak trains if they are kept in a closed carrier at all times. The carrier must be placed under your seat. You must always be near the carrier to care for your pet and never leave them alone.
Your pet carrier can be soft sided or hard sided but must be leak proof and allow for air flow. Your pet carrier must not exceed the following dimensions: 19 inches in length, 14 inches in width, and 10.5 inches in height.
Your pet carrier is considered as one piece of carry-on luggage.
How do you travel with a 50 pound dog on Amtrak?
According to Amtrak’s pet policy, you cannot travel with a dog whose weight and that of their carrier exceeds 20 pounds.
Can dogs go on sleeper trains?Your pet (cat or dog) is only allowed to travel in Coach Class on regular Amtrak trains, and only in Business Class on board Acela trains. Pets are not allowed in private rooms such as Roomettes or Bedrooms.
The following Amtrak routes have designated Coach cars for pets and their owners:
- Amtrak Cascades (in Washington and Oregon)
- Carl Sandburg (between Chicago and Quincy, IL)
- Illinois Zephyr (between Chicago and Quincy, IL)
- Illini (between Chicago and Carbondale, IL)
- Lincoln Service (between Chicago and St. Louis, MO)
- Saluki (between Chicago and Carbondale, IL)
- Pere Marquette (between Chicago and Grand Rapids, MI)
- Wolverine (between Chicago and Pontiac, MI)
- Blue Water (between Chicago and Port Huron, MI)
- Hiawatha (between Chicago and Milwaukee, WI)
- Missouri River Runner (between St. Louis and Kansas City)
How do I calm my dog down on a train?
If you cannot guarantee that your dog (or cat) will be well-behaved and silent during your Amtrak train trip, visit your vet well ahead of time and ask for medication or tips to calm down your pet. Test the medication and try out the tips out before your train trip to ensure your pet reacts the way you need them to.
Can cats go on Amtrak?
Yes, cats are allowed on board Amtrak trains under the same conditions as dogs:
- You can only take one cat on the train with you.
- The combined weight of your cat and their carrier must not be heavier than 20 pounds.
- Your cat must be eight week old or older and must be well behaved, silent, and clean.
- Your cat must have all its vaccinations up to date.
- You must sign the Amtrak’s pet release document at check-in.
- You cannot take your cat on an Amtrak train journey that is longer than seven hours (including transfer time between two trains).
- Cats are only allowed in Coach Class and Acela Business Class.
Can you take a cat in a carrier on the train?
Bad carrier for a trip on an Amtrak train (left). Appropriate carrier (right). Photos from left to right: skrotov/Shutterstock and alenka2194/Shutterstock
Just like for dogs, using a closed and leak-proof carrier is the only way to take your cat on Amtrak. Your cat must be kept in the carrier at all times and the carrier must be placed under your seat. You must never leave your cat alone during your Amtrak train trip.
Your cat carrier (which counts as one carry-on luggage under Amtrak’s pet policy) can be soft sided or hard sided and must not exceed the following dimensions: 19 inches in length, 14 inches in width, and 10.5 inches in height.
Are cats allowed on the Auto Train to Florida?
Neither cats nor dogs are allowed on the Auto Train. Cats and dogs are prohibited on the following Amtrak routes, trains, and services:
- Capitol Corridor (between San Jose, CA, and Auburn, CA)
- Keystone Service (between New York City and Harrisburg, PA)
- Pennsylvanian (between New York City and Pittsburgh, PA)
- San Joaquins (between San Francisco Bay Area and Bakersfield, CA)
- Auto Train (between Lorton, VA, and Sanford, FL)
- Amtrak’s Thruway services
- Across the border into Canada on the Adirondack, Maple Leaf, and Amtrak Cascades routes.
How much does it cost to take your dog on Amtrak?
It costs between $29 and $39 to bring your dog or cat on an Amtrak train, depending on the route.
| Amtrak route | Cost |
|---|---|
| Acela (Boston – Washington, DC) | $39 |
| Adirondack (New York City) | $39 |
| Amtrak Cascades (Seattle – Portland – Eugene) | $29 |
| Amtrak Hartford Line/Valley Flyer (New Haven – Springfield – Greenfield) | $39 |
| Berkshire Flyer (New York City – Albany – Pittsfield) | $39 |
| California Zephyr (Chicago – Denver – Emeryville) | $39; $29 between Chicago and Galesburg |
| Capitol Limited (Washington, DC – Cleveland – Chicago) | $39 |
| Cardinal (New York City – Cincinnati – Indianapolis – Chicago) | $39 |
| Carolinian (New York City – Raleigh – Charlotte) | $39; $29 between Rocky Mount and Charlotte |
| City of New Orleans (Chicago – Memphis – New Orleans) | $39; $29 between Chicago and Carbondale |
| Coast Starlight (Seattle – Portland – Los Angeles) | $39; $29 between Seattle and Eugene & San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles |
| Crescent (New York City – Altanta – New Orleans) | $39; $29 between Greensboro and Charlotte |
| Downeaster (Brunswick – Portland – Boston) | $29 |
| Empire Builder (Chicago – Minneapolis – Seattle/Portland) | $39; $29 between Chicago and Milwaukee |
| Empire Service (New York City – Albany – Niagara Falls) | $39 |
| Ethan Allen Express (Burlington – Albany – New York City) | $39 |
| Heartland Flyer (Oklahoma City – Fort Worth) | $29 |
| Hiawatha (Chicago – Milwaukee) | $29 |
| Illinois Service (Chicago – Quincy – Carbondale) | $29 |
| Lake Shore Limited (New York City/Boston – Albany – Chicago) | $39 |
| Maple Leaf (Toronto – Niagara Falls – New York City) | $39 |
| Michigan Services (Chicago – Grand Rapids – Detroit – Pontiac) | $29 |
| Missouri River Runner (St. Louis – Kansas City) | $29 |
| Northeast Regional (Boston – Springfield – Washington, DC – Norfolk/Newport News) | $39 |
| Pacific Surfliner (San Luis Obispo – Santa Barbara – Los Angeles – San Diego) | $29 |
| Palmetto (New York City – Washington, DC – Savannah) | $39 |
| Piedmont (Raleigh – Charlotte) | $29 |
| Silver Meteor (New York City – Washington, DC – Miami) | $39 |
| Silver Star (New York City – Washington, DC – Miami) | $39; $29 between Rocky Mount and Cary |
| Southwest Chief (Chicago – Kansas City – Albuquerque – Los Angeles) | $39; $29 between Chicago and Galesburg |
Do I need to make a reservation for my pet to travel on Amtrak?
It is very important that you make your reservation for your pet well ahead of your trip. Amtrak only allows five pets per train. 