The U.S. and the UK are both home to a host of diverse, iconic rail routes. Amtrak, for example, offers over 30 routes across 46 states. In the UK, train travel is fairly cheap and commonplace (Edinburgh to London is just a four-and-a-half hour journey). In the U.S., on the other hand, train travel is less common, primarily due to the country’s huge size and resulting steep ticket prices — $325 on average for domestic travel. Nevertheless, whether you’re in the U.S. or the UK, traveling by train is a great way to see the country.

The City of New Orleans route

Whether you're a lover of music or simply travel, history, and culture, journeying the epic 19-hour City of New Orleans route at least once in your lifetime is a must. Spanning over 900 miles from Chicago and finishing in New Orleans, this route takes you right through the heart of the country’s musical heritage. Amtrak’s spacious superliner also includes showers, amenities, and fine dining to make your trip as comfortable as possible. Memphis — a vibrant city along the Mississippi river and famous birthplace of blues, soul and rock 'n' roll — is one of the trip’s highlights. Here, you can visit Elivs’s Graceland: a lavish mansion once owned by Elvis Presley. The tour includes interactive exhibits, as well as classic car and jeweled jumpsuit collections. Grab a bite to eat at Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous — a Memphis BBQ staple serving up world-famous ribs — before heading to B.B. King’s Blues Club and dancing the night away. For a slice of sobering history, visit the National Civil Rights Museum housed in the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It’s packed with over 260 artifacts, 40 films, interactive media, and oral history to get you up-to-date on five centuries of fascinating history.

From Memphis, New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz and your final destination, is only around four hours away. The French Quarter, in particular, is one of the city’s highlights and oldest neighborhoods; it’s brimming with history, stunning architecture, music, and food. Be sure to also check out historic attractions like the Historic New Orleans Collection, a museum dedicated to preserving the French Quarter and New Orleans history.

The Texas Eagle route

Spanning an epic 32 hours, the Texas Eagle route takes you right into the heart of Texas. This train offers Superliner Sleeping Car accommodation, a dining car, and the Sightseer lounge where you can sit back and take in spectacular views. You’ll catch the train from Chicago: be sure to check out Grant Park’s Buckingham Fountain, a famous landmark built in 1927 and grab a street hot dog — Chicago is the sausage capital of America, after all. From Chicago, you’ll travel across the Mississippi River and through the Ozarks and thick forests of East Texas. The Texas Eagle also hits the cosmopolitan cities of Dallas and Austin before reaching San Antonio — where there’s no shortage of things to see and do.

UK rail routes: Caledonian Sleeper (London to Scotland)

The Caledonian sleeper departs from London Euston station and passes through a number of iconic destinations across Scotland. The service is available from Sunday to Friday, departing in the evening, so you wake up in the morning to some of the best scenery Scotland has to offer. You can also look forward to luxurious cabins with double beds and ensuite facilities. Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, is a favorite destination and an 8-hour, 10-minute journey on the sleeper in total. Edinburgh is a lively historical city famous in part for the landmark castle that sits at the top of Old Town. The city’s also filled with beautiful architecture and is even rumored to be haunted — take a haunted walking tour through the city’s creepiest graveyards and dungeons. Alternatively, you can take the sleeper to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands (just over an 11-hour journey). Inverness is home to beautiful natural landscapes, medieval ruins, and prehistoric sites. Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, for example, is just a half hour bus ride away and offers fascinating ancient ruins and amazing views. Other destinations on the Caledonian include: Glasgow (a 7-and-a-half-hour journey), Aberdeen (just over a 10-hour journey), and Fort William (a 12-hour journey).

If you’re looking to bring your bicycle with you to experience hillside cycling, be sure to book storage room in advance. Even better, you can bring your cat or dog along with you (up to two pets are allowed per room). You will have to pay a reasonable £30 cleaning charge. Moreover, when booking your tickets, split ticketing can also help you save money on your fare. Instead of purchasing just one ticket, split ticketing involves traveling on the same train yet splitting your journey up into multiple rail tickets. Splitmyfare.co.uk - found here - for example, makes it easy for you to find lower priced rail tickets in seconds.

Settle to Carlisle

The Settle to Carlisle line is the most scenic rail route in England. Spanning 73-miles, it takes one hour and forty-five minutes to complete with over a third of the route traveling through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park. Wild moorland, rolling hills, quaint stone barns, and lush green valleys defne this spectacular route. The Ribblehead viaduct, in particular, is the line’s most iconic landmark — it’s 400 meters long, 31 meters tall, and comprises 24 soaring arches. It’s also set against the stunning backdrop of Pen-y-ghent mountain, one of the Three Yorkshire Peaks, which only adds to the experience. This route offers breathtaking scenery all year long across all seasons and weather conditions. In fact, when it rains, waterfalls form and flow down the hills, only enhancing the drama. Although this trip offers useful connections in Lancaster and Leeds for easy accessibility, you also have the option of traveling by steam train for a classic experience.

Traveling by train is one of the best ways to explore the country. If you’re in the U.S., the City of New Orleans and Texas Eagle routes are unmissable, while the Caledonian sleeper and Settle to Carlisle routes are two of the most iconic routes in the UK.