I'm sure the experience of coach varies by train and how busy it is. I took the California Zephyr from Utah to Chicago once for Christmas break. I never had som

I'm sure the experience of coach varies by train and how busy it is. I took the California Zephyr from Utah to Chicago once for Christmas break. I never had someone sitting next to me, the seats are wide, the leg room was plentiful, and I felt like I could recline plenty without the guilt that you feel on an airplane. The hard parts of the journey would have been the loneliness of a college student who is too shy to make the most out of interactions like being sat with strangers for dinner and who can't really communicate with his friends(much of the trip I couldn't even get cell service, and no Wifi on that train). I have done the sleeper car from Chicago to Los Angeles with my parents. Lucky we had one with a private bathroom, as my dad has stomach flu most of the ride. I think the possibility of a shower, and maybe even a private bathroom are the only reasons I'd shell out more money for a sleeper over coach.