I too love traveling by train, but it’s usually not going to be your cheapest, quickest option. I’ve taken Amtrak down the California coastline – LOVE that trip, and also took it from Minneapolis to Lafayette, IN. I want to take the train out West sometime. When I do that, I will get at least the smallest sleeper room so that I have a place to lie down and be quiet. That price also includes meals. Then compare the cost of that ticket to the cost of your gas, hotels, meals, and wear and tear on your car. That’s a more accurate comparison.

Something for you to consider, Kevin, is finding an alternate route to Chicago, then picking up Amtrak there to go west. One possibility might be to drive to the South Bend airport, parking your car there (in normal airport parking so it should be secure), then take the South Shore into Chicago. If the trains from your nearest Amtrak stop into Chicago are usually full, that may be why tickets are priced so high. Maybe not, but it’s worth checking into!