Chicago – Memphis – New Orleans
19 hours | Daily Departure
Ride the City of New Orleans for a 900-mile journey through the heart of America’s musical heritage. Start in Chicago, home to the world-class Symphony Orchestra and a thriving electric blues scene, then continue to Memphis and its legendary Beale Street. Travel through Mississippi’s storied musical crossroads before arriving in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. Along the way, you’ll follow in the footsteps of music legends like Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Elvis Presley.
| Route Segment | Estimated Starting Fare (Coach) | Average Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL → Memphis, TN | $96 – $131 | ~10h 22m |
| Memphis, TN → New Orleans, LA | $123 – $162 | ~9h 7m |
Simply dial +18883860774, and our dedicated support team will guide you through every step of the booking process.
Complete your payment, and once it’s successful, you’ll receive a confirmation email along with your e-ticket.
| Station Name | Code |
|---|---|
| Chicago, IL – Union Station | CHI |
| Homewood, IL | HMW |
| Kankakee, IL | KKI |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | CHM |
| Mattoon, IL | MAT |
| Effingham, IL | EFG |
| Centralia, IL | CEN |
| Carbondale, IL | CDL |
| Fulton, KY | FTN |
| Newbern-Dyersburg, TN | NBN |
| Memphis, TN – Central Station | MEM |
| Marks, MS | MKS |
| Greenwood, MS | GWD |
| Yazoo City, MS | YAZ |
| Jackson, MS | JAN |
| Hazlehurst, MS | HAZ |
| Brookhaven, MS | BRH |
| McComb, MS | MCB |
| Hammond, LA | HMD |
| New Orleans, LA – Union Passenger Terminal | NOL |
The train travels through the heart of America’s musical heritage, starting from Chicago, heading south through Memphis, traversing the Mississippi Delta, and ending in New Orleans—the birthplace of jazz.
The City of New Orleans operates every day. Typical departure from New Orleans is in the early afternoon (around 1:45 PM), and from Chicago around mid-afternoon, according to the latest timetable.
The full trip between Chicago and New Orleans takes approximately 19 hours and 30 minutes.
Passengers can choose a comfortable Reserved Coach seat or upgrade to a private sleeping accommodation. The train includes options such as roomettes, bedrooms, and accessible rooms.
Yes, certain stations offer Amtrak Thruway bus connections. The route’s timetable PDF includes details on available bus links.
