Hello! You’re taking your first steps into an exciting world, that of Amtrak train travel across the USA. There are a lot of ways to get around, but in our opinion, taking the train is a such a special thing.

Travel can be stressful for any number of reasons, but we find that taking the train is the best because it eliminates so many variables. No security line to get snarled in, no gas stations to stop at, no motels to track down when you’re tired. But it’s so much more than that. Here are four reasons why you should take the train.

It’s slow, but slow can be good.

Looking at trip times on a website is one thing, but experiencing it is another. Consider that popular wisdom tells us to arrive to the airport at least an hour early. Let’s say you’re extra cautious and arrive two hours early. That’s two extra hours to get through security, find a spot to chill out, and wait. With ground travel time on both ends, waiting at the baggage carousel, a 5-hour flight is suddenly a full-day ordeal.

Let’s talk security: it’s undignified. Having to take your shoes and belt off, unpacking your belongings even though they go through a literal x-ray machine…the TSA agents barking at you, having to remember to empty your water bottle, the ever-changing rules about what’s allowed…it simply sucks! When you take the train, it’s a simple boarding procedure, with no metal detectors, no millimeter wave body scanners, and no hassle. Find your seat or room, get onboard, and get ready to chill out.

Although it’s slower than airline travel, taking the train is often way faster than a road trip and without the bathroom breaks, motel stops, or gas station hunts. Instead of getting road rage, you’ll be able to have quality time with your family instead. No traffic jams, no speed traps, and it’s significantly safer to boot.

It’s an experience.

Especially when taking overnight routes, you’re treated to service no airline could ever manage. Your sleeper car has an attendant who sets you up with dining times, turns down your bed for you, and usually has a plentiful supply of water and/or coffee nearby. Your ticket for these long-distance routes includes three square meals per full day on the train, so it’s all-inclusive. All you have to do is kick back, watch the beautiful scenery go by, and relax until you reach your destination.

It’s your railroad.

Amtrak was founded in 1971 as a way to revive passenger rail travel across the country. Ever since then, it’s been largely subsidized by taxpayer dollars (which, let’s be real, also subsidize highways and airports) and it’s managed to keep the flame aglow, growing in popularity especially in the last two decades, despite many efforts to kill off service, and make cuts to things like traditional white-cloth food service (it’s back, thank goodness!).

This amazing publicly-held company has kept train travel alive on routes that have been used, in many cases, for over a century. This railroad belongs to all of us, so every train trip is an opportunity to celebrate–that we even have the option to ride trains in this country is a significant thing!

It’s a greener option.

Anyone who’s been to an airport can plainly (ha!) see the smoggy exhaust of fossil fuel-burning jet engines. They’re fast, but they also put a lot of carbon into the air…and the smell of jet fuel is simply nauseating! Ever been in a traffic jam on a hot, windless day? Then you know how gross that can feel, even with the windows up and the A/C blasting.

Amtrak can be up to 87% greener than driving with 73% fewer emissions than flying. With new electric and diesel-electric hybrid trains rolling out in the coming years, expect that figure to improve. Especially if you’re in an area like the Northeast Corridor with all-electric trains, it’s a way to get around without feeling like you’re ruining the environment.

All in all, there are so many reasons why you’d want to take the train. Is every experience perfect? No. Is every train on time and without delay? No. Is the food Michelin-star rated gourmet? No. But all of these complaints are relatively minor. Amtrak provides a legitimately different, and in a lot of ways, superior alternative to driving or flying. Why not give it a try?