What I Packed for a 53-Hour California Zephyr Journey and What I Missed

In February 2026 the writer embarked on a 53-hour California Zephyr ride, the longest train journey in the United States, and paid $2,200 for a private bedroom cabin with an en-suite shower. Packing a carry-on suitcase and a backpack, the traveler found waterproof clogs and soft slippers indispensable for the shower, and brought personal skincare and mouthwash because the cabin lacked toothpaste and deodorant. Entertainment was supplied by a Nintendo Switch, a phone loaded with movies, and a book, while a small drum pad, sticks and a ukulele proved unnecessary due to the requirement to use headphones in the sleeper car.

The absence of Wi-Fi made pre-downloaded media essential, and the author regrets not bringing an iPad for a larger viewing screen. Two cameras captured the route’s vistas, yet the trip would have been enhanced by a pair of binoculars to observe wildlife in the Rockies and Sierra Nevada. The experience offers a detailed checklist of what to bring and what to leave behind for future multi-day train trips.