Is it possible to take a train from LA to Boulder?

Question

Going to LA this Sat. But I also wanna visit Boulder, how can I get there from LA? Can I go there by train? Need to transfer somewhere? And how long will it take? Thanks!

Answer 1

There are no direct connections, but here are some possibilities:

Coast Starlight from LA to Sacramento, then change trains to the California Zephyr  to Denver. Then take an Amtrak Thruway bus or rent a car from Denver to Boulder.

Starlight:  Train #14:  LAUPT to Sacto, 10:15 am ~ 11:59 pm

Zephyr: Train #6   Sacto to Denver,  11:14am ~ 6:58 pm +1 day

Thruway bus #8205,  Denver to Boulder, 8:15am to 8:45 am.

LAUPT = LA Union Passenger Terminal

You will need to spend a night in the Bay Area or Sacramento since these trains are not scheduled to meet on the same day.

The other way is to take the San Joaquin from LA to Bakersfield (an Amtrak Thruway bus trip), then take the San J train to Stockton, change to another Thruway to Sacramento and catch the Zephyr.  This requires a tight window in B'field, but you need to start at midnight or so.

Thruway bus:  LAUPT  1:15 am - Bakersfield 4:40am

San Joaquin  #711:  B'field 4:55 am to Sacto 9:50 am

If I were doing this, I would take the Coast Starlight north - the trip along the coast from Ventura to Vandenberg is perhaps the most scenic train ride in all of Amtrak.

Note that Amtrak trains are subject to considerable delays along the way, due to congestion with freight trains and track maintenance windows.  Contact an Amtrak angent for more accurate schedule info.

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