Train travel is booming. In the last fiscal year, The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) served 32.8 million customers, and in 2024, San Antonio Station served 55,671.
The more sustainable, often scenic, and middle seat-less cousin to flying, train travel could play a part in your next vacation — here’s how to do it locally.
Meet the Texas Eagle
If you’re leaving from San Antonio Station, you may end up on a Texas Eagle:
- WiFi | While there’s no free WiFi, you are allowed to use your phone the entire ride. Pro tip: Outlets are more accessible in first class, business class + sleeper cars.
- Food + Drink | This train offers flexible dining (complimentary meals for private room travelers), cafe service (snacks and drinks for purchase), and traditional dining (chef-prepared meals for first class travelers).
- Accommodations | The Texas Eagle features upper and lower level coach seats + various private roomettes and bedrooms.
Where it takes you
Maybe you’ll take the midnight train, but you don’t wanna go just anywhere. Check out a few places you can get from San Antonio. Prices may vary.
- Austin | ~2.5-hour trip | Coach: $10+| Private rooms: $83+
- Dallas | ~8.5-hour trip | Coach: $24+ | Private rooms: $133+
- St. Louis | ~25-hour trip | Coach: $115+ | Private rooms: $393+
- Los Angeles | ~29-hour trip | Coach: $171+ | Private rooms: $715+
*Price and trip length change if you choose to get to these locations via a different train or by multiple trains.
First stop: The ticket counter
Purchase one-way tickets online, or buy a pass — the $499 USA Rail Pass, for instance, gets you 10 rides over 30 days.
Next, getting to the station. SAS does not offer on-site parking, so now may be the time to cash in that favor from a friend + ask them to drop you off.
Just down the track…
Amtrak recently announced its new Mardi Gras Service. Starting this summer, San Antonians can take advantage of the new service by connecting to it via Sunset Limited trains, which stop at SAS.
