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The full route of the California Zephyr runs from Chicago in the east to Emeryville, California in the west. During our overnight sleeper journey on the California Zephyr as part of our USA Coast to Coast holiday, we travel on just a section of this route - from Chicago to the 'mile high' city of Denver, a 17 hour 1,038 mile (1670 km) trip.

Chicago to the Mississipi

As we leave Chicago, the California Zephyr  follows the Chicago River and we catch glimpses of the Sears Tower, which dominates the city's skyline. We travel through the state of Illinois, stopping at Princeton and Galesburg, before reaching the Mississippi River. The Illinois/Iowa State Line runs down the centre of the Mississippi: we cross the river into Iowa and, moments later, make a stop in the city of Burlington.

Across Iowa to Nebraska

We travel right across the Midwestern state of Iowa from east to west, reaching the Missouri River and the Iowa/Nebraska State Line just after we make a stop in the city of Council Bluffs. Our first stop in Nebraska is Omaha, the birthplace of a number of famous names including Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando and Malcolm X.

Through Colorado to Denver

The California Zephyr takes us through Nebraska, passing through cities such as Lincoln and Hastings. On reaching the Colorado/Nebraska State Line, we change from Central to Mountain Time: clocks go back one hour at this point. We continue across Colorado, making a stop in Fort Morgan, the hometown of Big Band musician, Glen Miller, until we finally reach our destination, Denver.

On some of our USA tours we travel this route in reverse, beginning in Denver and ending in Chicago.

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