All Aboard, Pets

Bring your small dog or cat along for a small fee.

Dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (combined weight of pet and carrier) are welcome on trips up to seven hours on most routes (some restrictions apply*). Our check-in process is simple, making traveling with your four-legged friend easy and enjoyable.

* Only dogs and cats are allowed to travel as pets. Travel with pets in Canada not available on Adirondack, Maple Leaf and Amtrak Cascades; not available on Auto Train, San Joaquins or Thruway Connecting Services.

    • Reservations are limited to one pet per customer.
    • Pet fee is assessed for each travel segment.
    • Unreserved trains require pet reservations. Your pet reservation is only valid for the date specified on your ticket. This type of reservation is less flexible than standard unreserved tickets.
    • Pets are permitted in Coach Class and Acela Business Class.
      • Pets are not allowed in Acela First Class seating, First Class private rooms, non-Acela Business Class, food service cars or other accommodations. On Keystone and Pennsylvanian trains, pets are not allowed in the Quiet Car.
    • Reservations with pets are limited to seven hours total travel time, including transfer time between trains on multiple-segment trips.
    • Pets cannot be booked with multi-ride tickets, Thruway Connection Services or with unaccompanied minors.
    • In the event of a service disruption, Amtrak will make reasonable efforts to seek (but cannot guarantee) pet-friendly hotel accommodations, if sheltering is necessary.
    • Pets are not allowed in any Amtrak station lounge or First Class waiting area.
  • Route Fee (Effective August 29, 2022)
    Acela (Boston - Washington, DC) $39
    Adirondack (Albany - New York City) $39
    Amtrak Cascades (Seattle - Portland - Eugene) $29
    Amtrak Hartford Line/Valley Flyer (New Haven - Springfield - Greenfield) $39
    Berkshire Flyer (New York City - Albany - Pittsfield)  $39
    California Zephyr (Chicago - Denver - Emeryville) $39; $29 between Chicago and Galesburg
    Capitol Corridor (Sacramento - San Jose) $29
    Capitol Limited (Washington, DC - Cleveland - Chicago) $39
    Cardinal (New York City - Cincinnati - Indianapolis - Chicago) $39
    Carolinian (New York City - Raleigh - Charlotte) $39; $29 between Rocky Mount and Charlotte
    City of New Orleans (Chicago - Memphis - New Orleans) $39; $29 between Chicago and Carbondale
    Coast Starlight (Seattle - Portland - Los Angeles) $39; $29 between Seattle and Eugene & San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles
    Crescent (New York City - Altanta - New Orleans) $39; $29 between Greensboro and Charlotte
    Downeaster (Brunswick - Portland - Boston) $29
    Empire Builder (Chicago - Minneapolis - Seattle/Portland) $39; $29 between Chicago and Milwaukee
    Empire Service (New York City - Albany - Niagara Falls) $39
    Ethan Allen Express (Burlington - Albany - New York City) $39
    Heartland Flyer (Oklahoma City - Fort Worth) $29
    Hiawatha (Chicago - Milwaukee) $29
    Illinois Service (Chicago - Quincy - Carbondale) $29
    Keystone Service (New York City - Harrisburg) $39
    Lake Shore Limited (New York City/Boston - Albany - Chicago) $39
    Lincoln Service (Chicago - St. Louis) $29
    Maple Leaf (Niagara Falls - New York City) $39
    Michigan Services (Chicago - Grand Rapids - Detroit - Pontiac) $29
    Missouri River Runner (St. Louis - Kansas City) $29
    Northeast Regional (Boston - Springfield - Washington, DC - Norfolk/Newport News) $39
    Pacific Surfliner (San Luis Obispo - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles - San Diego) $29
    Palmetto (New York City - Washington, DC - Savannah) $39
    Pennsylvanian (Pittsburgh - New York City) $39
    Piedmont (Raleigh - Charlotte) $29
    San Joaquins No pets permitted
    Silver Meteor (New York City - Washington, DC - Miami) $39
    Silver Star (New York City - Washington, DC - Miami) $39; $29 between Rocky Mount and Cary
    Southwest Chief (Chicago - Kansas City - Albuquerque - Los Angeles)
    $39; $29 between Chicago and Galesburg

    For travel across segments with different prices, the higher price applies.

    • Pet owners must provide a pet carrier, which may be hard or soft sided but must be leak proof and well ventilated.
    • Only one pet per carrier permitted.
    • Maximum weight of pet with carrier is 20 pounds.
    • The maximum size for pet carriers is 19" long x 14" wide x 10.5" high. 
    • For your pet's comfort and safety, it must be able to sit, lie down and remain entirely inside without touching the sides of the carrier.
    • Your pet carrier counts as one piece of carry-on baggage.
    • Pets should remain entirely inside a closed carrier while in stations and onboard trains and must remain with you at all times; do not leave them alone.
    • Onboard, place your pet carrier under your seat (not under the seat in front of you), except on Amtrak Cascades trains where you can put your pet carrier on the floor in front of the seat next to you.
    • Pets are welcome in Coach class and Acela Business Class, but remember they may not travel in Acela First Class seating, non-Acela Business class, First Class private rooms or food service cars. On Keystone and Pennsylvanian trains, pets may not travel in the Quiet Car.
    • Some routes designate a specific Coach car for pets: Amtrak Cascades, Carl Sandburg, Illinois Zephyr, Illini, Lincoln Service, Saluki, Pere Marquette, Wolverine, Blue Water, Hiawatha and Missouri River Runner. On other pet friendly routes, you and your pet may ride in any Coach car.
    • Pets are not allowed in any Amtrak station lounge or First Class waiting area.

    • To confirm pet eligibility, read and sign a Pet Release and Indemnification Agreement for each travel segment prior to travel. This online form is available at the end of your booking after your reservation is completed. The form can also be retrieved through "My Trip" on Amtrak.com or through the Amtrak app.
    • When you arrive at your departure station (staffed stations), check in at the ticket office 45 minutes before departure so that agents may validate pet eligibility and paperwork.
      • At unstaffed stations, the conductor will validate pet eligibility and paperwork onboard.
    • Your pet must be at least eight weeks old and be odorless, harmless, not disruptive and require no attention during travel.
    • Amtrak maintains the right to refuse acceptance, and may remove any pet exhibiting these issues from stations or trains.
    • You certify that your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and accept liability for your pet by signing the pet release document at check-in. Amtrak does not accept liability for the health and well-being of pets.
  • We do not ship pets or allow them to travel as checked baggage — a pet must travel with a human. Service animals are not considered pets, and are welcome on all Amtrak services.