Amtrak Cascades travels across the Pacific Northwest.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
I traveled by train from Seattle to Vancouver on Amtrak Cascades in October.
It was much cheaper than flying or driving, and crossing the US-Canada border was simple.
My $22 fare cost less than half as much as a rental car and a fraction of a plane ticket.
On a trip to the Pacific Northwest in October, I had initially planned to drive from Seattle to Vancouver and fly back to the US from there.
But I found that some rental car agencies don’t allow one-way trips out of the US, and the ones that do often require extra paperwork and charge higher drop fees. I could fly, but plane tickets were hundreds of dollars.
I looked into traveling to Vancouver by train instead, and was surprised by the affordability and abundance of Amtrak tickets. My mind was made up.
While I’ve taken Amtrak numerous times , I’d never crossed an international border by rail before. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I found the process to be simple and affordable compared to flying or driving.
Here’s what the ride was like.
My journey to Vancouver began at Seattle’s King Street Station in October.
Inside Seattle’s King Street Station.
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I booked a four-hour Amtrak Cascades trip from Seattle’s King Street Station to Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station. My one-way coach seat cost $21.90.
A sign at the station’s entrance directed passengers traveling to Canada to check in at the ticket office before boarding their train.
A sign for Amtrak passengers traveling to Canada.
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This instruction was also announced several times over the loudspeaker and by Amtrak staff members at the station, just in case anyone missed the sign.
At the ticket office, I showed my passport and received a customs declaration card and an orange boarding pass.
Documentation to cross the Canadian border.
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The orange boarding pass signaled that my passport had been validated.
Then, it was time to board.
An Amtrak Cascades train car.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The train arrived relatively on time — only six minutes late.
The train car was clearly an older model, with fabric seats that showed signs of wear and tear.
A seat on an Amtrak Cascades train car.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Some of the seats were so shredded that it looked like a cat had clawed at them.
My colleague, Business Insider travel reporter Joey Hadden, rode a newer Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver in 2025, which featured plush leather seats — a more typical Amtrak experience.
Amtrak did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Still, there was plenty of legroom underneath my seat.
Legroom on Amtrak Cascades.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
My spouse and I had enough space to store our backpacks and our bag of snacks underneath our seats.
The train car also included configurations of four seats all facing central tables.
Seats on an Amtrak Cascades train car.
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Signs at the tables said that these arrangements were reserved for parties of three or more.
Amtrak’s WiFi was strong enough to watch the final game of the World Series live with minimal buffering.
Using Amtrak’s WiFi.
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I’m from Wisconsin , so the ability to watch the Milwaukee Brewers win the World Series was crucial.
The ocean views were also stunning along the journey.
Ocean views along the journey from Seattle to Vancouver.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Our train left a little bit after 6 p.m., so we got to see the sunset glowing over the horizon.
Like most Amtrak trains, the Cascades bathroom was spacious and well-equipped.
A bathroom on an Amtrak Cascades train car.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
There was plenty of room to move around, unlike cramped airplane lavatories.
The café car sold a range of meals, snacks, and beverages, with the prices listed in US dollars.
The menu in the Amtrak Cascades café car.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
I bought a ginger ale for $2.50 since I was feeling a bit nauseous from the train’s rocking motion.
A sign in both English and French informed passengers that the café car was no longer accepting Canadian coins.
A sign about Canadian coins on Amtrak Cascades.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Canadian paper currency was still accepted, along with credit cards.
When the train reached the Canadian border, we were told to stay seated while Canada Border Services Agency members checked passports.
Documents to cross the Canadian border.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The conductor announced in advance that the restrooms would be closed during the inspection. Since it wasn’t a very full train, the passport checks only took about 15 minutes.
The train then proceeded the rest of the way to Vancouver, where we went through customs.
Going through customs in Vancouver.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The customs line snaked outside the station in the chilly fall air, which I wasn’t expecting, but it moved quickly. Still, I was glad I’d kept my coat on me and not in my suitcase.
Getting to Canada by train was easy and affordable — a fraction of what it would have cost to fly or rent a car.
Arriving in Vancouver.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Flights from Seattle to Vancouver during my trip started at about $350, and the rental car I used during the first half of the trip cost $58 per day.
At about $22, taking the train to Canada, even if it took a few hours longer than driving or flying, was the most cost-effective option — without the hassle of airport security lines or skyrocketing gas prices .
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