I took a 16-hour Amtrak ride in a roomette. Here are 4 things I wish I packed and 7 I'm glad I brought.

I took a 16-hour Amtrak ride in a roomette. Here are 4 things I wish I packed and 7 I'm glad I brought.
  • When I took a 16-hour Amtrak from Portland to Sacramento, I packed two bags of items for the trip.

  • I was thankful I packed plenty of snacks, water, and essential oils to make me feel more at home.

  • I wish I'd brought something to help with motion sickness, as well as a small padlock.

When I booked a sleeper car for my 16-hour Amtrak ride, I could choose a roomette, bedroom, bedroom suite, or accessible bedroom.

I went with the roomette, which was the smallest sleeping accommodation, so I assumed I wouldn't have much space for luggage.

With that in mind, I packed one rolling carry-on bag and a smaller piece of luggage that could fit under a seat on a plane.

Here's what I brought on my 16-hour Amtrak journey and what I wish I'd packed.

I brought two bags on the train.

Blue travel bag filled with snacks and orange water bottle on a blue Amtrak seat
My smaller bag fit several items I wanted with me in the roomette.Molly Allen

I packed everything I'd need with me in my room in a smaller bag, including snacks, entertainment devices, toiletries, and clothes for sleeping.

I put everything else I needed in Sacramento in a larger bag. I ended up having space to keep both bags in my room, but I was still glad to have everything organized and in one place.

I was thankful I packed plenty of snacks.

Pull-out tray on Amtrak filled with water bottles, Goldfish crackers, chocolate, granola, pretzels, and other pre-packaged snacks
I packed crackers, nuts, pretzels, and chocolate.Molly Allen

I booked a roomette so I had access to the dining car, which included complimentary meals.

I ate a salad for lunch and had dinner on the train. I thought the train food was decent, but I wasn't a huge fan of dinner and dug into the snacks I brought with me instead.

I didn't eat everything I brought on the train, but my own variety of snacks was helpful because I didn't have to spend money at the café.

Disinfecting wipes helped me feel comfortable.

The writer holds a yellow package of Lysol wipes
I made sure to wipe down the areas in my roomette.Molly Allen

Upon boarding the train and arriving in my roomette, the space felt clean. But for my own piece of mind, I was glad I brought a small package of disinfecting wipes.

Cleaning the armrests, the door handle, and high-touch items such as the attendant call button and the air-temperature dial made me feel more comfortable.

Having my water bottle was useful.

View of trees outside of window with orange water bottle on ledge by window inside Amtrak sleeper car
I was glad I didn't have to ask the attendant for water.Molly Allen

When I boarded the train, two small plastic water bottles were already in my room. Though I could've asked my car attendant for more water, I'd already brought my own reusable thermos with me.

Bottle-filling stations were also in the same car as my room, so it was easier to get my own water than repeatedly ask my busy attendant for a beverage.

Bringing makeup-remover wipes was super helpful.

The writer holds a green package of Garnier makeup wipes
My makeup-remover wipes made getting ready for bed a breeze.Molly Allen

I didn't have access to my own bathroom in the roomette. A shared bathroom was just a few doors down from my room on the same floor, and others, as well as showers, were downstairs on the first level of the sleeper car.

Still, I was thankful I brought easy-to-grab makeup-remover wipes to use at night. The shared bathrooms were quite small, so I thought washing my face in a public sink wouldn't have been a pleasant experience.

I cozied up with my own blanket.

Roomette bed with green and white pillows and tan blanket
I had two different blankets in my roomette.Molly Allen

Amtrak provided a blanket for each sleeper-car bed, but I chose to bring an additional one from home.

It was nice to have a piece of home with me on my trip. Plus, I could better adjust my temperature and comfort throughout the night with two blankets.

I was entertained the whole way with a book and downloaded TV shows.

POV of the writer in bed watching TV on her laptop
Between talking to others and entertaining myself, the 16-hour trip went by fast.Molly Allen

Some Amtrak trains don't have WiFi, and in my experience, cell service can be spotty for much of the journey.

Although I spent a lot of time talking to other travelers, I was glad I packed a book to read in my downtime. I also downloaded a few episodes of one of my favorite shows at home to watch before I went to sleep.

A few items helped with my travel anxiety.

Three CBD and essential-oil bottles on a pull-out tray in an Amtrak car
CBD and essential oils can have calming effects.Molly Allen

This was my first Amtrak trip, so I didn't know what to expect. Since I sometimes get travel anxiety, I brought a few items that had helped me on other trips.

I packed CBD and essential oils and an aromatherapy mist to help create a calm space if I needed to.

However, I should've brought something to aid motion sickness.

Train car with tray pulled out and blur of trees in window as train passes by
After I arrived at my destination, I realized I had motion sickness.Molly Allen

The most important item I wish I had packed was something to help with motion sickness. Since I'd never experienced motion sickness before, I assumed I'd be just fine on a train.

I was OK throughout the entire ride but when I arrived in Sacramento, I felt like I was still on the train and was nauseous for most of the day.

I think having something on the moving train, such as a travel wristband or some kind of medicine, would've helped to alleviate motion sickness.

Lightweight pajamas would've been more comfortable.

The writer sits in a dimly lit sleeper car on Amtrak
I had a hard time sleeping through the night.Molly Allen

A temperature dial in the roomette could be used to control an air vent on the ceiling, but it didn't seem to do much. Even with the dial all the way down to cool, I felt really warm in the middle of the night.

I'd brought heavier clothes to sleep in because I thought I'd be cold, but I later wished I'd packed lighter pajamas.

Next time, I'd consider bringing a small lock for my door.

Latch on a metal door to an Amtrak sleeper car
I couldn't lock my door from the outside.Molly Allen

There was a latch to lock the roomette door from the inside, which I appreciated at night, but I didn't see one on the outside of the room.

When I was roaming the train, I carried my phone and wallet with me so they weren't left unattended.

While walking around, I noticed that other travelers had used their own padlocks to lock their sleeper-car rooms. Next time, I might bring a padlock so I can lock my room and leave my items without having to worry.

I also didn't know I could bring my favorite bottle of wine.

View of sunset against mountains and trees outside of Amtrak window
I didn't know I could bring alcohol in my sleeper car before boarding.Molly Allen

After I boarded my train, I learned Amtrak passengers who stay in a sleeper car are allowed to bring their own alcohol on the train.

According to Amtrak's website, bringing private-stock alcoholic beverages is welcome as long as they're kept and consumed in your own room.

Next time, I'll definitely bring my favorite bottle of wine or hard cider to enjoy while watching the sunset out the window.

This story was originally published on October 2, 2022, and most recently updated on February 24, 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider