January is a time when many travel brands and companies quietly host some of their best sales.
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Cruise companies, for example, often have weeks-long sales periods throughout the month of January. It looks like Amtrak has joined the post-Black Friday sales craze.
Whether or not you’ve ridden Amtrak before, consider this your sign to consider it. While I never particularly enjoyed the Amtrak rides that I took between Chicago and Saint Louis, some routes are worth taking just for the views.
Last October, I took a seven-hour ride on the Ethan Allen Express from Burlington, Vermont, to New York City, partly to enjoy the fall foliage passing by outside the window. It was an experience I can’t wait to have again in another scenic part of the country.
And now is the perfect time to reserve your seat. Here’s what you need to know about Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass sale, which ends tomorrow, January 20, 2026.
Inside Amtrak’s Adventure Awaits Sale
This year, Amtrak launched an ‘Adventure Awaits Sale’ for its USA Rail Pass. The deal lets you save almost 50% on the USA Rail Pass, which allows you to take ten rides in 30 days.
The price tag for the USA Rail pass drops to $250—almost half the price of its usual $499 tag. That means you’ll be paying around $25 per ride. The sale period is partly driven by the US’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Amtrak is expected to launch similar deals as Independence Day approaches, but it’s unclear if they’ll be as impressive as this half-price offer.
The Adventure Awaits sale is flexible, too, letting you book new ones on the fly. So long as you change your route prior to the scheduled departure time, you can even reschedule bookings. Just make sure to read through the rest of the offer’s T&Cs before you take advantage—not all cities and routes are eligible for the USA Rail Pass deal.
