Hey breakfast at the cafe was reasonably priced! I thought ill at least check it out and get a soda. I paid $13 for a breakfast sandwich, bagel cream cheese, soda, and $2 tip! read more

Amtrak is great, my review will focus only on this station. It's clean, well lit, but Spartan and closes while you might be waiting for your Uber or a bus. Short staffed, so they can get a little behind on clearing snow. This station is not well served by Uber, Lyft, or taxis, so have a plan. Grand Rapids public bus service isn't bad and Google Maps can help you use it, but there's limited service at night and the walking part can be problematic in winter or if you have a lot of luggage. Dress so you can handle a long wait outside, and there is only one small bench for that. read more

Grand Rapids - Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Easy to navigate. Plan ahead and get there early. Left my car and no issues. My favorite way to travel!

We took the 6am from Grand Rapids to Chicago Union Station and had a great experience from our Coach seats. We were impressed with the train staff as they were extremely personable (I believe his name was Walter who was super fun to engage with) and intuitive enough to ensure we were comfortable and that my mom and I were able to sit together. We arrived at 5:20a at the station and maybe 30 passengers got on the train with us in Grand Rapids. We probably could have arrived at 5:30/5:40a and still had plenty of time to get on. They didn't actually let you board the train until maybe 5:50a. The cafe/snack car was open with waters ($2.25/ea), a nice half bottle size of wines ($13/ea), snacks, etc. perfect for a 4 hour journey. On the ride back, the team knew we had a group of 4 of us (little kids, 4 and 7 along with us) so they suggested we sit at the table with 4 seats so that we can all enjoy the time together. The temperature was very comfortable in the month of July. I had a light sweater but didn't need anything else. The stops that were made at Holland, Bangor, & St. Joseph/Benton Harbor all were extremely fast. As soon as we stopped, we got moving again only 2 minutes after! The seats were very comfy with spacious leg space. Just beware that the seats do not recline in coach (they might in business class but I haven't tried those out yet). There was a nice large tray table that came down so we can put all our items out to entertain us. The WiFi was also great. We streamed shows on the WiFi the whole time with very minimal buffering even when the train was super packed after all the stops when we picked up all the passengers in Michigan. There were two plugs and two USB ports between the seats. Since my mom and I are notorious for having tiny bladders and the need to try out every bathroom when we travel, I feel the impetuous to tell you about the toilets. The bathrooms were excellent! Very spacious. There are two private toilets between each of the cars with touch-less technology. You could easily get a wheelchair in the restroom if needed. Being a mommy with many opinions around how public toilets do not cater to small children, I know the importance of a secure and spacious bathroom with changing tables. There is a perfect set up with a changing table the pulls down. They do not have those little chairs/seats for tiny toddlers while mom uses the toilet, however, so make sure to bring your stroller if needed to keep them secure. There are nice roller shades that pull down to keep that morning Michigan sun out of your eyes on the ride (or sunset on your way home). Beware, on your travels home that they do not dim the car lights so if you have the need to nap or have little kiddos that really need to sleep sometime before you arrive back in GR at 11:30p, you might want to bring an eye mask. Something important to note is that the staff were so contentious of the noise on the train (which I thoroughly appreciate) so if you do talk on the phone or stream a show/movie, you must have headphones. You will not be able to have little kids watching cartoons with the sound on so make sure to come prepared for your little ones! They actually did ask a family to put ear buds on their 2 year old before we got moving on the way back in the evening which I was so thankful for because I may have gone crazy if I had to listen to that for 4 hours. Once you get into Union Station, the customer service and the signage is a 180 difference from the excellent experience we had Grand Rapids. There seemed to be some construction going on so you can get extremely turned around unless you just keep asking questions of the staff in the station. Quite honestly, there wasn't even enough staff to even find someone to ask questions that a couple times we asked patrons/passengers of the station to make sure we were headed in the right direction. read more

See all

We love Amtrak. Could not be more obsessed with the service here. I am a train lover through and through and have never experienced a more enjoyable ride. I am speechless. The friends I've made while on the tracks are unlike any other. I will never forget my ride. The conductor would take the shirt off his back and give it to you if you were chilly. I could go on an on about the impeccable service, but then I would miss out on the rest of my ride:/ I will take my love for Amtrak to my grave. Catch you on the tracks! read more

Grand Rapids - Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

The staff helped me locate a lost phone that fell into my sister's bag when I helped her board the 370 Pere Marquette. The conductors and other staff helped me with not only solving the issue once I realized that it was on it's way to Chicago, but also getting it back to Grand Rapids on the train in their pocket. Thank you so much! I owe you guys a tip! AMAZINGGG customer service. read more

I've taken Amtrak to/from Chicago a few times and have never had any issues. The train I've taken leaves at 6AM and is always there since it arrives the previous night just before 11PM. If you show up 15-30 minutes early, you should be able to board right away; I last arrived roughly 15 minutes before 6 and was able to board the train as soon as I walked up. There are restrooms and a vending machine available if needed, in the event you need to wait or there's an unexpected delay. Amtrak (thankfully) offers eTicketing; simply show the barcode in the email or add to your mobile wallet and show when requested. Although it's never been an issue for me, have an ID ready just in case. In the event you need a physical ticket, there is a Quik-Trak kiosk you can use to print it. My only wish was that service ran to/from GR and Chicago more than twice a day. Having to get there at 6AM has been a struggle some days. However you can always get a connecting bus to Kalamazoo and take the train that leaves later in the morning or early afternoon. read more

We love Amtrak! Can not say enough kind things about this superior train service. In face it's more than a train ride, it's an experience. From point A to point B, the vibes are effortlessly amazing. The conductors would give you their hats off their heads if you mentioned even a slight draft. There's more space in your nook than my bed itself (I do have a twin so never the less). The comrades we make on the tracks our ones we won't forget. See you soon friends, and stay cool out there :) #chicago read more

See all

What more can you ask for? The Amtrak station is clean, well-lit, there are always enough seats, and the solo friendly employee always tells you right when you need to board. There is a decent-sized parking lot but I usually have a Lyft or Runabouts car service drop me, just in case my car is needed at home. The station also has bathrooms and a vending machine in case you're there for longer than a few minutes. As for the train service itself, I take the 6 a.m. to Chicago once a month and usually show up about 5:35 (having always booked my ticket in advance). This timing is basically perfect, as it loads up around 5:45. I've never had the train be late because it's already there waiting from the 11:35pm arrival the previous night. The seats are comfy, trains are typically not too crowded, WiFi is usually reliable, and there are outlets at each seat. The "snack car" is certainly not the fine dining-car dining of decades past, but you can get, as it implies, a snack or beverage in a pinch, and certainly more options than on a domestic flight. The best, least stressful way to get to Chicago, hands down. read more

Amtrak is a great service for Grand Rapids to have. Train fare to Chicago runs just under $25 most days. This station is small and unstaffed, but there's a comfortable waiting area and an automated kiosk through which you can buy or print tickets. I recommend buying in advance, particularly if going to Chicago, as I've seen the train sell out on more than one occasion. I haven't traveled any other routes out of GRR at this time. If you already have your tickets in hand and are just being dropped off, you should plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early. If you need parking, particularly on a weekday, arrive early as the lot is small and fills quickly. The conductors are friendly, and the scenery is great! read more

Business class is the way to go. Spacious and comfy reclining seats. Wifi. Drink voucher. Friendly staff. Free USA today paper. Restrooms downstairs and not next to your seat. Two 120v outlets. This is the best way to ride to Chicago from GR. I'll never fly into O'Hare again. read more

If you are using this station to catch a bus be prepared to wait outside; they tell you to come 30 minutes early...don't. They close the cozy looking waiting area inside and there are no benches outside either. Dress accordingly read more