Amtrak Pet Policy: How to Take Your Dog or Cat by Train

Yes, you can take a dog or cat on most Amtrak trains, but the rules are stricter than many owners expect. Amtrak's carry-on pet program is built for small animals only: your pet plus its carrier must stay under 20 pounds, the trip has to be 7 hours or less, and only five pet spaces exist per train. Here is exactly who qualifies, what it costs, and how to lock in one of those scarce reservations before they sell out.

Which pets and sizes Amtrak allows

Amtrak's pet program is limited to domestic cats and dogs. Birds, reptiles, rabbits, ferrets, and other small mammals are not eligible as carry-on pets, according to Amtrak's official pet page. The single most important number is the combined weight: your pet and its carrier together must weigh 20 pounds or less. Amtrak weighs the carrier with the animal inside, so a 17-pound dog in a 4-pound crate is over the limit and can be turned away at boarding.

That ceiling rules out medium and large breeds entirely. In practice the program suits cats, toy and small breeds (think Chihuahuas, Yorkies, dachshunds, small terriers, and similar dogs), and puppies that have not yet grown out of the weight cap. Your pet must also be at least 8 weeks old to travel, and you are limited to one pet per passenger. If you have two small dogs, two ticketed travelers each need to bring one.

Carrier rules and the 7-hour limit

Your pet has to stay inside an approved carrier for the entire trip, in stations and onboard alike. The carrier may be hard-sided or soft-sided, but it must be leak-proof and well ventilated. The maximum carrier dimensions are 19 inches long by 14 inches wide by 10.5 inches high. The carrier sits at your feet under the seat in front of you and counts as one of your two allowed carry-on items.

Amtrak also caps pet trips at 7 hours total, and that clock includes connection and transfer time on multi-segment itineraries. A single ride that runs longer than 7 hours, or a connecting journey whose combined scheduled time exceeds 7 hours, does not qualify for carry-on pets. This is why Amtrak's program works for regional and corridor routes but not for long-haul overnight trains where pets are generally not permitted in coach. Pets are also not allowed to be removed from the carrier on platforms or onboard, so plan a relief break before you reach the station.

The pet release and indemnification agreement

Before your first pet trip you sign a Pet Release and Indemnification Agreement, either online during booking or at the station. By signing, you confirm your pet is at least 8 weeks old, is odorless, harmless, not disruptive, and requires no special attention during the trip. You also accept responsibility for your pet's behavior. Keep your pet's current vaccination records (especially rabies) handy. Amtrak does not always check them at boarding, but conductors can ask, and a few state and station rules make them mandatory, so traveling without proof is a risk not worth taking.

What it costs: fee and points

On most routes the carry-on pet fee is $26 per segment, or 800 Amtrak Guest Rewards points if you redeem points instead of cash, per Amtrak's program announcements and the Guest Rewards redemption page. The fee is charged per travel segment, so a journey with a connection costs the fee twice. It is also non-refundable once booked.

A few state-supported routes set their own pricing. The Pacific Surfliner charges around $29 (or about 1,000 points), and Amtrak Cascades lists roughly $29 per reservation. Because fees and route rules change, confirm the current price on Amtrak.com for your specific train before booking. The figures below reflect policy as of 2026.

Coach only, and five pets per train

Pets are permitted only in coach class. They are not allowed in Business class, First class, sleeping cars, or the cafe and dining cars. On many trains pets are seated in a specific designated coach car, so follow the conductor's direction at boarding.

The hardest constraint is supply. Each train carries a maximum of five pets, and those spaces are first come, first served. On popular weekend departures, holiday travel, and busy corridors, the five slots can fill weeks ahead. Pet space cannot be added later or waitlisted reliably, so if rail travel is your plan, book the moment your dates are set. A pet reservation is only confirmed when it is attached to a ticketed passenger fare.

Routes and exceptions: Auto Train and Acela

Carry-on pets are accepted across most Amtrak corridor and regional services, including the Northeast Regional, Pacific Surfliner, Amtrak Cascades, Capitol Corridor, and many other short and mid-distance trains. There are two exceptions worth knowing:

• Auto Train: The Lorton-to-Sanford Auto Train does not accept carry-on pets in coach. It is a long-haul overnight route, which puts it outside the 7-hour rule.
• Acela: Amtrak expanded the pet program to Acela on weekdays. Pets are generally accepted on weekday Acela departures but not on weekends, and the standard weight, carrier, and 7-hour rules still apply. Confirm the specific Acela departure before relying on it.

Long-distance overnight trains (such as the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and Coast Starlight) do not allow carry-on pets in coach because their trip times far exceed 7 hours. If your route does not qualify, compare it against ground pet transport options or a road trip with your dog instead.

Service animals are not pets

Trained service dogs are treated very differently from carry-on pets. Under the rules on Amtrak's service animal page, a service dog trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability rides free, is not subject to the 20-pound weight limit, does not need a carrier, and is exempt from the five-pets-per-train cap and the 7-hour limit. The dog must be under the handler's control and fit within the handler's foot space without blocking the aisle.

Importantly, emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals on Amtrak. An ESA travels under the standard carry-on pet rules (weight, fee, carrier, and trip limits all apply). This mirrors how airlines now handle the distinction, which we cover in our guides to emotional support animals and flying and flying with a dog in the cabin.

How to book a pet space

Pet reservations are tied to your own ticket, so book both together:

1. Search your route and date on Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app and confirm the train is pet-eligible (a coach service of 7 hours or less, not the Auto Train).
2. Add a pet to your reservation during booking. If the online flow does not show a pet option, call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL, since some routes require phone or station booking.
3. Pay the per-segment fee ($26 or 800 points on most routes) for each leg of the trip.
4. Sign the Pet Release and Indemnification Agreement online or at the station counter.
5. Arrive early on travel day with vaccination records and your pet already secured in its carrier.

If you are weighing rail against other options, our guides on how to transport a pet and the cheapest way to transport a pet compare cost and effort across methods. For health paperwork that some trips require, see our explainer on the pet health certificate for travel.

Tips for a calm train ride

• Do a dress rehearsal. Let your pet nap in the carrier at home for a week before the trip so it feels like a safe den, not a trap.
• Skip the big meal. Feed a light meal 3 to 4 hours before departure to reduce motion sickness and the need for a bathroom break.
• Time the relief break. Walk your dog right up until you enter the station, since the carrier stays closed from platform to platform.
• Pack a leak kit. Bring an absorbent pad inside the carrier plus a spare, a roll of paper towels, and a sealable bag in case of an accident.
• Bring quiet comforts. A familiar blanket and a silent chew toy help; a vet-approved calming aid can help anxious pets, so ask your vet first.
• Choose a quieter departure. Off-peak weekday trains are calmer and more likely to have one of the five pet slots open.

Frequently asked questions