You can board a train in Memphis before breakfast and reach New Orleans that same afternoon.
No highway driving between the cities. No train changes. No overnight ride.
Amtrak’s City of New Orleans makes the trip daily, with Coach seats, private rooms, and a scheduled journey of 8 hours and 52 minutes.
That gives you most of a day to settle into your seat while someone else handles the travel. Read a little, get something to eat, and watch Mississippi pass outside the window.
The early start takes a little more commitment.
Your train is scheduled to leave Memphis at 6:55 a.m. The vacation begins with an alarm clock.
An Early Departure With an Afternoon Arrival
The City of New Orleans runs between Chicago and New Orleans, stopping in Memphis along the way. You can book the Memphis portion and stay aboard the same train until Louisiana.
Amtrak’s timetable dated October 24, 2026, lists southbound Train 59 departing Memphis at 6:55 a.m. and arriving in New Orleans at 3:47 p.m. Both times are Central Time.
The full Chicago route includes overnight travel. This stretch fits into one day.
You board in the morning, spend the journey aboard, and have a scheduled afternoon arrival. There’s no connection to make between the two cities.
Along the way, the train passes through Mississippi, with stops including Greenwood, Yazoo City, Jackson, and McComb, before continuing through Hammond, Louisiana.
These are regular station stops, so plan to enjoy the journey from aboard. They aren’t sightseeing breaks for exploring the towns along the route.
This is scheduled passenger transportation. Unlike Chattanooga’s historic steam train excursions, the trip takes you to another city for a stay of your choosing.
You decide how long to spend in New Orleans, then book the return around those plans.
Nearly Nine Hours to Settle In
Coach gives you reclining seats, legroom, a tray table, reading lights, electrical outlets, and access to onboard restrooms.
There’s time to read, listen to music, or open the book that has been riding around in your bag for three months. With almost nine hours aboard, you don’t need to fill every minute.
Amtrak also advertises a Sightseer Lounge and café service on this route. Equipment and amenities can change, so treat the lounge as an advertised feature rather than a guarantee for every departure.
Keep the things you’ll use during the day within easy reach. Headphones, a charging cable, a book, and any medications are more useful beside your seat than packed at the bottom of a larger bag.
One thing to handle before boarding: downloads.
The City of New Orleans does not appear on Amtrak’s published list of trains offering Wi-Fi. Save entertainment and anything else you need before leaving home, rather than building the day around an internet connection.
Download your hotel details and arrival instructions, too. Having those ready means one less thing to sort out as you reach New Orleans.
Coach or a Private Room
For a daytime trip, Coach is a practical starting point. You have a seat in a shared passenger car, with café purchases added to your budget.
If your plan is to read, watch the scenery, and arrive that afternoon, compare the Coach fare first. Then decide how much having your own space matters to you.
A Roomette buys you privacy.
It has two daytime seats that convert into upper and lower beds, plus an attendant and included meals. For couples who want their own space or travelers hoping to rest after the early departure, that can make the upgrade appealing.
But a Roomette has shared restroom and shower facilities. The room is private; the bathroom is not. Amtrak’s Roomette guide explains the accommodation and its included amenities.
Private-room passengers receive flexible dining on this route. Compare the total price for everyone traveling and confirm which meals fall within your Memphis–New Orleans segment.
The useful comparison is the full cost of each option: Coach plus whatever you expect to spend on food, or a private room with its included services.
With an afternoon arrival, sleeping accommodation is a comfort choice rather than a requirement.
If the meal and vintage railcar atmosphere are your main interest, Nashville To Do’s guide to dinner trains within a day’s drive of Nashville covers outings built around that experience.
Your Trip Begins at a 1914 Station
Memphis Central Station opened in October 1914. The historic building now houses a hotel and Amtrak passenger facilities.
The station address is 545 South Main Street, with the passenger entrance identified at Main and Carolina.
Save the entrance information along with the address, especially if someone is dropping you off before sunrise. It’s easier to sort out where you’re going the night before than while watching the departure clock.
As of October 26, 2026, Amtrak lists temporary restroom restrictions at Memphis Central Station. Check the station’s current advisory before traveling.
For a straightforward departure with carry-on luggage, arrive no later than 6:25 a.m., following Amtrak’s recommendation to reach the station at least 30 minutes before departure. Allow additional time for ticketing, baggage, or boarding assistance, and confirm any checked-baggage cutoff.
For readers coming from Nashville or farther east, a Memphis overnight stay may make that start easier. This train does not stop in Nashville.
Include that extra night when comparing the train with other ways to travel. The rail fare is only one part of the cost if reaching Memphis requires a separate trip.
In New Orleans, you arrive at Union Passenger Terminal, 1001 Loyola Avenue.
The terminal is outside the French Quarter, so include transportation to your hotel in the plan. Knowing how you’ll handle that final stretch is especially helpful when you have luggage with you.
Keep the first evening reasonably flexible, too. The afternoon arrival is scheduled, and delays can affect dinner reservations or prepaid activities.
The Return Ends Late in Memphis
The trip home has a different rhythm.
The Rail Passengers Association’s detailed timetable lists northbound Train 58 leaving New Orleans at 1:45 p.m. and arriving in Memphis at 10:25 p.m. That is a scheduled journey of 8 hours and 40 minutes. All times are Central.
That detailed timetable is independently published using Amtrak schedule data. Confirm the arrival for your travel date with Amtrak before arranging pickup.
You have a later start in New Orleans, followed by an afternoon and evening aboard.
Pay attention to the Memphis arrival when reading the schedule. The train’s 10:45 p.m. Memphis time shown in Amtrak’s route timetable is its onward departure toward Chicago.
For someone meeting you at the station, 10:25 p.m. is the listed arrival to plan around, subject to confirmation for your travel date and actual train status that day.
A late pickup may be simple for Memphis residents. If you still have several hours to drive, another overnight stay deserves a place in the budget.
Work through the return arrangements before buying tickets. They can make as much difference to the trip as the early departure south.
A Short Checklist Before Booking
Check dates and fares through Amtrak’s booking page, then compare the complete trip cost. The southbound times above match Amtrak’s October 24, 2026 timetable; confirm both directions for your travel dates.
- Fare: Include meals in Coach, hotel transfers, and any Memphis lodging or parking.
- Station arrangements: Confirm overnight parking permission and current station advisories, including the temporary restroom restrictions.
- Baggage and accessibility: Check luggage limits and arrange any boarding or onboard assistance you need.
- Pets: Amtrak’s standard pet program has a seven-hour trip limit, which this segment exceeds. Service animals follow separate rules.
- The return home: Confirm the Memphis arrival time and arrange your pickup or overnight stay.
For Tennessee travelers who can make the Memphis departure work, this is a direct rail trip with a full day aboard and New Orleans at the other end. Plan around the early start and late return, and you can leave the highway driving out of that part of the vacation.
