Yes, Amtrak allows dogs, but only small ones. A dog and its carrier together can weigh at most 20 pounds, and the dog rides in a closed carrier in Coach or Acela Business Class. Amtrak's pets page also says pets travel on trips up to 7 hours on most routes. We read that page on 14 October 2026.
The rules in one table
| Rule | What Amtrak's pets page says |
|---|---|
| Animals | Dogs and cats only |
| Weight | 20 pounds for the pet and carrier together |
| Carrier | Leak proof and well ventilated, one pet, at most 19" long x 14" wide x 10.5" high |
| Trip length | Up to 7 hours on most routes. The 7 hours is total travel time, including time spent changing trains |
| Where | Coach Class and Acela Business Class |
| How many | One pet per customer |
| Fee | Varies by route. Shown in the price summary when you reserve. Charged for each travel segment |
| Age | At least eight weeks old |
Note: Source for the table: Amtrak, "Pets on Amtrak Trains" (amtrak.com/pets), read 14 Oct 2026. The page shows no update date
The weight limit and the carrier
The 20 pound limit counts the carrier. A 12 pound dog in an 8 pound carrier is over. Weigh both together before you book.
Amtrak says the carrier must be leak proof and well ventilated and hold one pet. The largest allowed is 19 inches long, 14 wide and 10.5 high. The pet must be able to sit, lie down and turn around without touching the sides.
The carrier counts as one carry-on item, says the page. Amtrak says to keep the pet entirely inside the closed carrier while you are in stations and on the train. Put the carrier under your own seat, not under the seat in front of you. On Amtrak Cascades trains you may put it on the floor in front of the seat next to you.
What the fee is
Price: Amtrak's pets page gives no dollar amount. It says: "Pet fees vary by route and will be shown in the price summary at time of reservation." The fee is charged for each travel segment (Amtrak, amtrak.com/pets, read 14 Oct 2026)
Note: In a press release dated 3 March 2021, Amtrak offered pets on weekday Acela trains "for only $26 or 800 Amtrak Guest Rewards points" (Amtrak Media, read 14 Oct 2026). That is an old figure for one service. We could not confirm what the fee is today on any route
If your trip has a change of trains, you may pay the fee twice, because it is per segment. Look at the price summary before you pay.
Which trains and which seats
Pets sit in Coach Class and Acela Business Class. The page says pets are not allowed in Acela First Class, in First Class private rooms, in non-Acela Business Class, or in food service cars. On Keystone and Pennsylvanian trains, pets are not allowed in the Quiet Car.
That rules out a roomette or a bedroom. If you want a private room on a long trip, you cannot bring a pet into it. Our roomette and bedroom guide, linked at the top, covers what those rooms are.
Some routes set aside one Coach car for pets. Amtrak's page names these: Amtrak Cascades, Carl Sandburg, Illinois Zephyr, Illini, Lincoln Service, Saluki, Pere Marquette, Wolverine, Blue Water, Hiawatha and Missouri River Runner. On other pet routes, pets may ride in any Coach car.
The page does not give a full list of routes that take pets. It says pets travel "only on trips up to 7 hours on most routes (some restrictions apply)." It adds that travel with pets in Canada is not available on the Adirondack, Maple Leaf and Amtrak Cascades, and that pets are not available on Auto Train, Gold Runner or Amtrak Connection services.
The page also says reservations with pets are limited to seven hours of total travel time, including the time between trains on a trip with more than one segment. So a long distance trip of more than 7 hours does not qualify. The page does not name each long distance train, so check your exact trip on the booking page.
Pets cannot be booked with multi-ride tickets or with unaccompanied minors, says the page.
How to book and check in
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Book your ticket and add the pet. Reservations are limited to one pet per customer. Unreserved trains require a pet reservation too.
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Read and sign the Pet Release and Indemnification Agreement for each segment. Amtrak's page says you also certify that your pet is up to date on vaccinations.
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At a staffed station, check in at the ticket office 45 minutes before departure, says the page. At a station with no staff, the conductor checks the pet and the paperwork on board.
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Keep the pet in the closed carrier until you get off.
The reservation is valid only for the date on your ticket. Pets are not allowed in any Amtrak station lounge or First Class waiting area. Amtrak does not ship pets or take them as checked baggage. A pet must travel with a person.
The page says your pet must be at least eight weeks old and be odorless, harmless, not disruptive and need no attention during travel.
Service animals
Service animals follow different rules. Amtrak's pets page says they "are not considered pets, and are welcome on all Amtrak services."
Note: Amtrak, "Traveling with Service Animals" (amtrak.com/service-animals), read 14 Oct 2026. The page shows no update date. It says service animals are trained to do work or perform tasks directly related to a person's disability. Staff may ask what task the animal performs. It cites Department of Transportation regulations. It does not mention the ADA by name
What the service animals page asks of you:
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The animal must be under your control and housebroken.
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It sits on the floor under the seat or at your feet. It may not sit in the aisle, on seats or on beds.
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You can add the animal to your reservation during booking. For extra space for a large animal, call 1-800-USA-RAIL.
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You may walk the animal at station stops if the schedule allows. Tell the conductor when you board. Litter boxes, pee pads and diapers are not allowed on board.
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Staff may ask you to remove an animal that is out of control, or that is a direct threat to others.
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Trains that cross the border to Canada have separate entry rules, which the page links.
An emotional support animal is not a service animal under DOT rules, says the page. It must follow the pet rules, including the weight limit and the carrier.
The page does not say you must carry papers for a service animal. We did not confirm anything beyond what the page states.
What we checked and what can change
We read Amtrak's "Pets on Amtrak Trains" page, its "Traveling with Service Animals" page and a March 2021 Amtrak Media press release on 14 October 2026. Neither page shows an update date.
Not confirmed: the pet fee in dollars for any route, a full list of which trains allow pets, and any limit on the number of pets per train. Amtrak's current page gives no per train number. We found no official 2026 notice that lets pets into private rooms or raises the 20 pound limit. We did not book a trip or ride with a pet. Rules and fees change, so read the pets page and your booking summary before you go.
