{"id":46343,"date":"2026-02-26T14:31:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T14:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/i-traveled-over-8000-miles-on-amtrak-in-one-year-these-are-the-10-items-i-never-board-the-train-without\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T14:31:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T14:31:33","slug":"i-traveled-over-8000-miles-on-amtrak-in-one-year-these-are-the-10-items-i-never-board-the-train-without","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/i-traveled-over-8000-miles-on-amtrak-in-one-year-these-are-the-10-items-i-never-board-the-train-without\/","title":{"rendered":"I traveled over 8,000 miles on Amtrak in one year. These are the 10 items I never board the train without."},"content":{"rendered":"<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6894cf2d194a2d49b8ae2b89?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Kylie holds a bag on top of a suitcase on a train platform.\"\/><figcaption>My travel bag is one of my favorite things I pack for train rides.<\/p>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2024, I took 53 trips on Amtrak trains, so I&#039;ve become an expert on what to pack for the ride.<\/li>\n<li>I think high-quality luggage and a versatile travel bag are worth the investment.<\/li>\n<li>I always pack a bag with snacks, noise-cancelling headphones, toiletries, and stationery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In 2024, I took 53 Amtrak trips up and down the East Coast, totaling over 8,000 miles traveled.<\/p>\n<p>Because I was almost always racing out the door to catch my next train, I needed a packing solution that worked<em> with<\/em> my chaotic travel tendencies rather than overcomplicating the process.<\/p>\n<p>So, I created a simple packing list that saves me time and minimizes stress. Here are 10 items I never board the train without.<\/p>\n<p>I swear by my versatile travel bag.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893bb493d5881a51c1ebe25?format=jpeg\" alt=\"A blue checkered bag with pockets on top of a black suitcase.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Whether I&#039;m traveling for a quick work trip or for a week away, I never leave the house without a bag that holds all my essentials.<\/p>\n<p>In my opinion, the best travel bags have lots of pockets, a built-in spot for a laptop, and a suitcase sleeve. For these reasons, the Baggu small cloud carry-on bag is my go-to for train trips.<\/p>\n<p>In my experience, high-quality luggage is worth the investment.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893bb99194a2d49b8ae1f13?format=jpeg\" alt=\"A black suitcase with wheels and a tall handle on a train platform.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>By the end of the year, the zipper on my cheap suitcase was busted and the wheels were rickety \u2014 a testament to just how many trips I&#039;d taken. So, I decided to invest in luggage I could count on and use for years to come.<\/p>\n<p>I opted for the chic Away carry-on bag, which is both spacious and compact. Best of all, it has a limited lifetime warranty.<\/p>\n<p>I always keep a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones with me.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893bbfd3d5881a51c1ebe3d?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Kylie wearing a pair of beige over-the-ear Sony headphones.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As a freelance writer, a long train ride simply means I have time to get work done.<\/p>\n<p>When I invested in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones, my remote working experience improved dramatically. I could put my headphones on, turn on my favorite playlist, and lock in regardless of what was happening around me.<\/p>\n<p>I opt for a pair with a built-in compact case, making it easy to throw in a bag on my way out the door.<\/p>\n<p>Pro tip: If you&#039;re looking for total peace and quiet, ask the conductor to point you toward the train&#039;s quiet car. Here, the lights are dimmed, and phone calls or conversations are not permitted.<\/p>\n<p>Comfortable shoes are a necessity.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893bc633d5881a51c1ebe4a?format=jpeg\" alt=\"A pair of black combat boots.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When choosing what kind of shoes to wear during my journey, I make sure they&#039;re comfortable, versatile, and can get me where I need to go.<\/p>\n<p>I love wearing comfortable shoes that support a powerful speed walk \u2014 and the occasional sprint between connecting trains.<\/p>\n<p>I come prepared to charge my devices on the go.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893bc2d3d5881a51c1ebe44?format=jpeg\" alt=\"An unzipped bag with charging cables inside.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Most Amtrak trains have outlets on board, so I keep a small bag of all the cords I need when I&#039;m traveling.<\/p>\n<p>I always carry chargers for my phone, laptop, and headphones, as well as anything else I need to keep my tech running.<\/p>\n<p>I never leave the house without a stocked toiletry kit.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893bcc93d5881a51c1ebe5b?format=jpeg\" alt=\"An unzipped makeup bag filled with skincare and cosmetic products.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sometimes, I need to freshen up in a train station bathroom. So, I always carry a mini toiletry kit full of essentials.<\/p>\n<p>My bag includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, a compact hairbrush, moisturizer that doubles as sunscreen, a cream blush that can be applied as a lipstick, concealer, and any products that bring a natural glow back to my skin.<\/p>\n<p>Stationary helps me stay organized on the go.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893bdab194a2d49b8ae1f61?format=jpeg\" alt=\"A notebook that&#039;s been written in, a pen, and a cup of coffee on a train tray table.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I like having a place to quickly write down thoughts, so I always make sure to have a handful of pens and my favorite notebooks with me.<\/p>\n<p>I also bring a planner, highlighters, and miscellaneous stationery supplies I might need when away from my desk.<\/p>\n<p>A supplement case helps me stay on top of my daily routine.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893bd0f3d5881a51c1ebe6d?format=jpeg\" alt=\"A hand holding a tall green pill case.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It&#039;s tough to stick to routines when traveling, but I find that carrying a compact case helps me keep up with my daily supplements.<\/p>\n<p>I keep my bag packed with snacks.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893be23194a2d49b8ae1f6e?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Kylie holds a blue checkered bag with pockets filled with snacks, and a can of Olipop.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sometimes, I&#039;m running late and don&#039;t have time to grab a bite at the station before boarding the train. That&#039;s why I always keep a few snacks in my bag.<\/p>\n<p>I prioritize high-protein snacks, fruits, and vegetables that won&#039;t go bad during the journey.<\/p>\n<p>I always carry cash, just in case.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6893beaf3d5881a51c1ebe9e?format=jpeg\" alt=\"A hand holding a red wallet with a $20 bill sticking out of the top.\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Kylie Stoltzfus<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During my travels, I&#039;ve noticed that sometimes the caf\u00e9 car&#039;s credit-card reader goes down. It doesn&#039;t happen often, but when it does, it&#039;s nice to have cash on hand.<\/p>\n<p><em>This story was originally published on August 8, 2025, and most recently updated on February 26, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Read the original article on Business Insider<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My travel bag is one of my favorite things I pack for train rides. Kylie Stoltzfus In 2024, I took 53 trips on Amtrak trains, so I&#039;ve become an expert on what to pack for the ride. I think high-quality luggage and a versatile travel bag are worth the investment. I always pack a bag [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-46343","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-usa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46343"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46343\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}