Updated July 5, 2025
When planning an overnight trip on an Amtrak Superliner, it’s difficult to choose which sleeper car to book.
There are four different types of sleeper cars – the Superliner Roomette, Amtrak Family Bedroom, Superliner Bedroom, and Superliner Bedroom Suites. All three sleeper cars are completely different in both price and amenities.
Our family recently rode the Amtrak from Colorado to California. Before Eli was born, Chad and I wouldn’t have hesitated to share a superliner roomette (the smallest and most affordable room). But, the family bedroom came up as an option when I was looking into booking our trip. The price for a family bedroom was substantially more but for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, we decided to splurge.
Did we make the right choice? Yes and no.
Here is everything you need to know to book the right Amtrak Sleepercar-
Superliner Roomette, Family Bedroom, Superliner Bedroom, and Superliner Bedroom Suites Layout Map
When researching the Amtrak sleepercar options, there wasn’t much information on Amtrak’s website.
On my trip I found a brochure in our room with diagrams showing the layout of every train car on the Superliner. This gives you a much better idea of where each sleepercar is located on the Amtrak Superliner.
Map of the lower level of the Amtrak Superliner where the Family Bedroom is located-
The gray area across from the stairs on the lower level is where the sleeper-car passenger’s luggage is stored. The family bedroom is in room 15 on the lower level. Four toilets are shown in this diagram but our car only had three bathrooms and one combination shower and changing room.
Map of the upper level of the Amtrak Superliner where the Roomettes and Superliner Bedroom are located-
The Superliner Roomettes are on the right side numbered 1-10. The Superliner Bedroom rooms are on the left side labeled A-E.
Map of the Superliner Bedrooms Suites. Tthese rooms are the same as the Superliner Bedrooms but you can book two adjoining rooms.
Amtrak Superliner Roomette Layout
The Amtrak Superliner Roomette is by far the smallest sleepercar option that Amtrak offers.
The exact dimensions of the roomette are 3’6 x 6’6. Yes, tiny.
The two chairs fold together to make one of the beds and a bunk bed folds down to make the other.
It’s hard to even get a picture of the roomette because it’s so small. The roomette consists of two reclining chairs facing each other with just enough room for your legs between the chairs. There is a small table that folds out between the chairs and a large window.
If you are traveling solo the roomette would be perfect. Two adults in a roomette? Extremely cramped.
Amtrak Family Bedroom Layout
The Amtrak family bedroom is spacious compared to the superliner roomette. It spans the whole width of the train car and has windows on either side. There is a fold-out table under each window. Seating consists of a large bench seat that spans the back of the room and a chair on one end opposite the bench. Opposite the other end of the bench is the tiniest closet ever. It’s only about six inches deep so I’m not sure what you could put in there.
For sleeping, the bench seat folds into what our attendant said was a double bed. To me, it seemed more like a large single bed. Above the bench is a bunk bed that folds down. It’s long enough for an adult but very narrow. The seats facing each other by the window fold into a small kid’s bed and there is another small bed that folds down above that. Those two beds are really short and wouldn’t be comfortable for a child over ten years old.
The exact dimensions of the family bedroom are 5’2′ x 9’5′. Huge compared to the superliner roomette.
Amtrak Superliner Bedroom and Superliner Bedroom Suite
The superliner bedroom is the other sleeper room option. It wasn’t a good fit for our family of three so we didn’t consider booking it but we did check out an empty one while we were on the train.
Amtrak’s website stated that the superliner bedroom is ideal for two people but could possibly fit three. It’s a little smaller than the family bedroom – 6’6 x 7’6 but has a small bathroom with a toilet and shower in the room.
The bedroom could work for a family with two or three kids because there’s an option to book two adjoining bedrooms. The two adjoining superliner bedrooms are what Amtrak considers the Bedroom Suite option.
We didn’t even think about booking the superliner bedroom because we didn’t want to try to squeeze into two beds. Booking two adjoining bedrooms would have cost twice the price of the family bedroom.
Looking into the superliner bedroom confirmed to us that we made the right decision to pass on that option. An in-room bathroom and shower sounded nice, but the bathroom takes up about a fourth of the room. Also, when we opened the bathroom door the sewer smell was really strong. Only one window is a drawback too.
Pros and Cons of the Amtrak Superliner Roomette
Pros-
- Cheaper Price
- If you book two across the hall from each other you can have a view out both sides of the train without the hefty price of a family bedroom
- Nicer views upstairs (although there are a few roomettes on the lower level so you will have to call and make sure you are upstairs after you book)
- All meals are included in the price
Cons-
- other passengers will be constantly walking by your room
- tiny and cramped
- only one bathroom upstairs so you’ll have to go downstairs if it’s occupied
Pros and Cons of the Amtrak Superliner Bedroom and Bedroom Suite
Pros–
- Upstairs room with nicer views
- All meals included in the price
- Private bathroom and shower in your room
- All meals included in the price
Cons-
- you only have a view out one side of the train
- Very expensive, especially if you book the Suite
- The bathroom in your room gets very stinky as your train ride goes on
Pros and Cons of the Amtrak Family Bedroom-
Pros-
- Very comfortable and spacious
- No one is walking by your room because you are at the end of the hallway
- Three bathrooms and the shower on the same level
- Ample privacy
- All meals are included
- Luggage is stored down the hall so it is easy to grab something out of your bag
Cons-
- Very expensive- we would have saved five hundred dollars if we booked two roomettes instead of one family room for our one-way trip
- There are only two family bedrooms on each superliner train and they are popular so you need to book well in advance and be flexible in order to get one
- The views aren’t as nice from the lower level and the windows are more likely to get dirty because they are so close to the tracks
- It’s a long walk to the dining car
In Conclusion
Chances are, you’re booking a trip on the Amtrak train to relax and watch the world go by. The best place to do that is the second-story observation car or the dining car.
You’ll probably find that you don’t spend a lot of time in your room with the exception of sleeping at night. The Amtrak family bedroom was a great experience for our first overnight train ride in the United States. But, if I were to book the California Zephyr again, I would save the five hundred dollars and book two superliner roomettes across the hall from each other instead.
For more information read The Ultimate Guide to Riding The Amtrak Train from Colorado to California.
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