Amtrak bedroom: top bunk vs. bottom bunk

The author spent two nights on the California Zephyr in a bedroom accommodation with a foldout couch and an upper bunk, booking the 53-hour trip as a solo traveler. She slept one night in the top bunk and one night in the lower bed to compare the two and found that she got roughly the same amount of rest in each, but preferred the top bunk for several reasons.

The 50-square-foot room had a bathroom on the left, a couch on the right, and a table and chair by the back window. The top bunk pulls down from the ceiling and includes a ladder, straps, and small wall pockets; the author found the train’s motion felt stronger up there but still slept seven hours and enjoyed a feeling of nostalgia.

With the couch unused, the raised bed also made the small space feel larger and served as a loft for storing belongings. The lower bunk folds out from the couch using pedals labeled “Push for bed,” and offers easier access to power outlets and a cupholder by the window.

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