Seattle to Leavenworth by Train: Amtrak Guide for Families

A few Christmases ago, we had the urge to go to a Christmas town and pretend that we were in a Hallmark movie. So naturally we ended up in Leavenworth, Washington. It also happened to be a year with a lot of big snowstorms, and we weren’t completely sold on renting a car and driving through a mountain pass in the snow to get there. While Googling all the different ways to get from Seattle to Leavenworth, we came across Amtrak.

Once I realized we could book a private Family Room, have dinner in the dining car, watch the scenery go by, and make getting to Leavenworth part of the actual trip, I was sold. Was it the cheapest way to get to Leavenworth? Absolutely not. Was it probably the easiest way? Also no.  But it ended up being one of those travel experiences the girls still remember, and that made it worth it for us.

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Why We Took the Train Instead of Driving

Honestly, the biggest reason was weather. We were visiting Leavenworth during Christmas and there had been some pretty big snowstorms. I didn’t feel particularly excited about flying into Seattle and then immediately renting a car to drive through a snowy mountain pass. Taking the train eliminated that part of the trip completely, which made me feel a lot better.

It also made the journey itself feel like an experience instead of just transportation. If your only goal is to get from Seattle to Leavenworth as quickly and inexpensively as possible, renting a car will probably make more sense. But if you want to turn getting there into part of the vacation, the train is pretty fun.

Which Amtrak Train Goes From Seattle to Leavenworth?

The route between Seattle and Leavenworth is part of Amtrak’s Empire Builder route. The full Empire Builder travels much farther than Leavenworth — all the way across the northern United States toward Chicago — but you can book just the Seattle-to-Leavenworth portion.

We actually learned this while talking with one of the train employees during our trip. I remember thinking that taking the train from Seattle all the way to Chicago sounded completely insane and also kind of amazing. For our trip, we were only onboard for a few hours, which was plenty with the girls. The train also makes stops along the way, so it isn’t a nonstop ride between Seattle and Leavenworth.

Our Amtrak Family Bedroom

There were several ticket options available, but we booked one Family Bedroom for the four of us — two adults and two kids. For our family, I think having the private room is a big part of what made the train worth doing. Sitting in regular seats for the entire ride wouldn’t have been as memorable. We had our own space where the girls could spread out, watch movies, look out the windows, and eventually climb into their beds.

During the day, the Family Room has seating for four, and at night the seats convert into four sleeping spaces with two upper and two lower beds. There are also windows on both sides of the room, which was really nice for watching the scenery as we traveled. The room has electrical outlets, a small fold-down table, bedding, towels, and linens, so it felt much more comfortable than just sitting in coach for a few hours.

One important thing to know before booking is that the Family Room does not have its own private bathroom or shower. Bathrooms and showers are shared and located elsewhere in the train car. That wasn’t a big issue for us, especially since our ride wasn’t overnight. It’s definitely something I would want to know before spending the money on a private room.

What’s Included With an Amtrak Family Room?

One thing that makes the price a little easier to swallow is that booking a private sleeping accommodation includes more than just the room. Our dinner in the dining car was included with our tickets, and private-room passengers also receive priority boarding and have a dedicated sleeping-car attendant who can help with bedding, luggage, and meals.

So while our tickets were around $1,000 round trip, we weren’t just paying for four seats on a train. We were paying for the private room, beds, meals, and the experience itself. Still expensive? Yep.  But it makes a little more sense when you look at everything that’s included.

Leaving From King Street Station in Seattle

The train leaves from King Street Station in Seattle. Because we were flying into Seattle the same day, I purposely gave us a large buffer between when our flight landed and when our train departed. I absolutely did not want a delayed flight to cause us to miss the train.

I figured we could use the extra time to walk around Seattle before heading to the station, which sounded great in theory. In reality, doing Seattle with luggage and a 2-year-old was a PAIN IN THE ASS.  Between carrying her and keeping track of the suitcases, walking around the city was tough. It was much harder than it would have been if it were just me and Corey.

We made the best of it. By the time we finally boarded the train, I was very happy to have somewhere to put our stuff and sit down. If I were doing it again with little kids, I would absolutely still leave a big flight-to-train buffer. I just probably wouldn’t plan quite as ambitious of a sightseeing day in between.

How Early Should You Arrive at King Street Station?

I would give yourself some extra time rather than walking in right before departure. Amtrak currently recommends arriving at King Street Station at least 30 minutes before departure if you don’t need baggage or ticketing assistance, and earlier if you’re checking luggage or need additional help.

Private-room passengers and families with young children may also be eligible for priority boarding. This is another nice perk when you have kids and luggage. For me, this is especially important if you’re flying into Seattle that same day. I would rather have a few boring hours in Seattle than stare at a delayed flight and worry about missing the train.

What the Train Ride to Leavenworth Was Like

Once we boarded, we were finally able to relax. We got comfortable in our room, the girls watched movies. We spent a lot of time looking out the windows as we traveled through the Seattle area and eventually headed east toward Leavenworth.

One thing I would recommend with kids is downloading movies, shows, games, or books onto their devices before getting on the train. I would not rely on perfect cell service the entire way, especially once you start getting farther out of the city. And honestly, part of the fun is looking out the window anyway.

Dinner in the Amtrak Dining Car

After we had been traveling for a while, they announced it was time to head to the dining car for dinner. We headed over, sat down, and had dinner while watching the scenery go by outside.

Was it the best dinner of my life? No.  But that’s not really the point. There is something fun and slightly old-fashioned about sitting in a dining car eating dinner while you’re traveling through the country. Maybe I watched Anastasia too many times growing up, but I loved it.

The meal was included because we had booked a private sleeping accommodation. It was one more thing that made the experience feel special rather than just like we were getting from point A to point B.

Sleeping in the Family Room With Kids

After dinner, we headed back to our room and got comfortable. The beds pull down and convert the room so there is space for four people to sleep. Of course the girls immediately wanted the upper beds.

Which is adorable when your child is not 2. When your child is 2, it is slightly more nerve-racking.  Naturally, she wanted to be up there with her sister, so we let her. Thankfully no toddlers fell out of train beds during the making of this vacation.

Since our ride to Leavenworth wasn’t overnight, we weren’t sleeping through an entire night on the train. Having the beds gave the girls somewhere to lie down and made the ride much more comfortable.

Bathrooms and Showers on the Train

Our Family Room did not have its own bathroom. There were shared restrooms and showers in our train car, so whenever we needed to use them, we left our room and walked down the car.

For the few-hour trip to Leavenworth, this really wasn’t a big deal for us. If I were booking a much longer overnight Empire Builder trip, though, I would probably compare the different room types more carefully because some of Amtrak’s larger sleeping accommodations do include private bathroom facilities.

Arriving at Icicle Station in Leavenworth

On our trip, we arrived at Icicle Station at 8:17 p.m. By the time we got there, it was completely dark. Icicle Station isn’t a big downtown train station where you arrive and wander into a row of taxis, so you definitely need to plan how you’ll get from the station to your hotel.

When we arrived, there were shuttles working the train station that could take passengers into town and to their hotels. This was extremely helpful because we didn’t have a rental car waiting for us. If you’re taking Amtrak now, I would arrange or confirm your transportation before the trip instead of assuming something will be available when you arrive.

Especially in December. Especially with kids. Especially at night. 

Where We Stayed Without a Car

We stayed at Obertal Inn, right in the center of Leavenworth. It wasn’t a luxury resort — mostly because there really aren’t luxury family resorts in Leavenworth — but the location ended up being exactly what we needed.

We could walk to Front Street Park, the Christmas lights, restaurants, shops, and basically everything we wanted to do during the trip. Our stay also included breakfast, which was pretty good. Since we didn’t have a rental car, staying somewhere walkable made a huge difference.

Read my full guide to where to stay in Leavenworth at Christmas here.

The Return Train From Leavenworth to Seattle

The biggest downside of taking the train back was the departure time. Our return train left Icicle Station at 7:23 a.m. and arrived back in Seattle at 11:29 a.m. It was an early morning, but it included breakfast on the train.

Schedules change, so definitely check the current Empire Builder timetable before planning your trip. I would mentally prepare for an early departure. That means getting everybody packed the night before and having your transportation back to Icicle Station figured out ahead of time. This is not the morning to be casually looking for everyone’s missing glove at 7 a.m.

Tips for Taking Amtrak to Leavenworth With Kids

After doing the trip ourselves, these are the things I would keep in mind:

• Book the train early for Christmas travel. Private Family Rooms are limited.
• Check current train times before booking flights. Don’t build your trip around old schedules you found in a blog post — including mine.
• Give yourself a large buffer if you’re flying into Seattle the same day.
• Download entertainment ahead of time for the kids.
• Pack snacks even if meals are included. Kids remain kids.
• Know that the Family Room uses shared bathrooms and showers.
• Stay somewhere walkable in Leavenworth if you’re not renting a car.
• Arrange transportation between Icicle Station and your hotel ahead of time.
• Pack the night before your return trip because the morning train is early.
• Think about the train as part of the experience, not necessarily the cheapest transportation option.

Is the Train From Seattle to Leavenworth Worth It?

For us, yes, but I think it depends entirely on what you’re looking for. If your priority is getting to Leavenworth as quickly and easily as possible, I’d probably rent a car and drive. If your priority is making the journey part of the Christmas trip, I’d take the train.

The private room, dinner in the dining car, beds for the girls, scenery, and arriving in a tiny Christmas town by train made the whole thing feel a little more special. It’s one of those experiences that wasn’t necessarily the most practical choice, but it became part of the memory, and sometimes that’s worth paying for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Amtrak train goes from Seattle to Leavenworth?

The Seattle-to-Leavenworth route is part of Amtrak’s Empire Builder service. The train departs from King Street Station in Seattle and stops at Icicle Station in Leavenworth.

How long is the train ride from Seattle to Leavenworth?

On our trip, we departed Seattle at 4:55 p.m. and arrived in Leavenworth at 8:17 p.m., making the trip a little over three hours. Current schedules can change, so check Amtrak before planning around those exact times.

How much does Amtrak from Seattle to Leavenworth cost?

Our round-trip tickets were around $1,000 total for our family of four because we booked a private Family Room. Pricing varies by travel date, availability, and accommodation type, so this isn’t what every family should expect to pay. Regular coach seats will generally be a very different price than a private sleeping accommodation.

Can four people sleep in an Amtrak Family Room?

The Family Room is specifically designed for two adults and two children. It has seating for four during the day that converts into four beds.

Does the Amtrak Family Room have a private bathroom?

No. The Family Room uses shared restroom and shower facilities in the train car. If having a private bathroom is important to you, compare Amtrak’s other sleeping accommodations before booking.

Are meals included with an Amtrak Family Room?

Yes. Private sleeping-room passengers receive complimentary meals onboard, and our dinner in the dining car was included with our Family Room reservation.

Do you need a car once you get to Leavenworth?

We didn’t. We chose a hotel in the center of town and were able to walk to almost everything we wanted to do around Front Street Park. If you plan on visiting attractions farther outside downtown, you’ll need to figure out transportation separately.

The Train Was Worth It

Overall, it would have been easier and probably cheaper to rent a car and drive ourselves from Seattle to Leavenworth, but I don’t think we would remember the drive the same way. We remember the train. We remember eating dinner in the dining car, the girls climbing into their little train beds, watching the scenery outside, and arriving in Leavenworth after dark.

It felt a little like going back in time, and when the destination is already a tiny Bavarian Christmas town, it just adds to the whole experience. So if you just want to get to Leavenworth, skip the train. If you want the adventure to start before you even arrive, take the train.

More Leavenworth Travel Guides

If you’re planning more than just the train ride, start here:

• Leavenworth at Christmas With Kids: Complete Guide
• Where to Stay in Leavenworth at Christmas
• Leavenworth Christmastown With Kids: What It’s Really Like

More family travel ideas:

• Top 10 Family Travel Tips for a Seamless Vacation
• Christmas at Hotel del Coronado