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[quote user="schlimm"] Why would you want drive that distance since air is so much cheaper?  Even with the car rental at LAX @ $450 - 600 for a week, it sounds like a more pleasant trip by air and more time to spend at the destination, whether sightseeing or with friends/family.[/quote] For most people flying cross country and renting a car is the best option.  I did the cost comparison because of a prior post and as a matter of interest.  Two years ago I took the train from Dallas to Milwaukee, stayed one night, and then went on to Portland on the Empire Builder.  It was a great trip.  I went during the first week of December, which is a good time to travel for folks who are looking for great fares, plenty of elbow room on the train, and a winter wonderland.  Last year I did the same thing from Denver to Emeryville on the CZ.  This year I am taking the Texas Eagle to LA, where I will spend two days, before going onto Portland on the Coast Starlight.  This makes good sense for this rail buff, but it doesn't for most people, and I know it.  It is not a good trip for people who don't care for train travel or people who are in a hurry to get there.  For me the getting there is as much fun as being there.  Curling up in my roomette after dark, with a bottle (half) of wine and a good book is as good as it gets.  During the day I enjoy watching the scenery float past the lounge car's big windows or my room and chatting with other passengers in the dinning and lounge cars.    One could take Greyhound from Pittsburgh to LA for $106 if he or she buys a 21 day advance purchase ticket.  The quickest bus runs from Pittsburgh to LA in 27 hours and 30 minutes and requires two transfers.  By comparison, the train requires 43 hours and involves one transfer.  Part of the greater time required for the train is accounted for by the long layover in Chicago.  There is one train a day from Pittsburgh and Chicago.  By comparison, Greyhound has four offerings per day.  Meals at the bus rest stops would cost about $62 compared to $78 on the train.  Clearly, the cost of the meals could differ significantly.  And my wine, which I always buy on the train, would add to the cost.  These figures are for one way and would be approximately double for round trip. The best one way fares that I could find for comparison are $174.50 on Southwest Airlines, $106 on Greyhound, and $193 on Amtrak, plus applicable taxes.  Clearly, the best economical and time bet is to fly.  This is why Amtrak's long distance trains carry less than per cent of the intercity travelers in the U.S.  Economically they don't make any sense.  But as long as they run, I'll be on them.  After all, I am paying for them, as is every other federal tax payer, so I might as well us them.    The cost to rent a compact car in LA from Budget would be $454.65 for a week.  In addition, I have begun taking the loss damage waiver because of an insight that I gained from a personal financial advisor.  Although my auto insurance would cover an accident (liability and damage) in a rental car, it seems the rental car companies are dunning their customers involved in an accident for the opportunity cost that is lost to them whilst the car is out of service for repairs or a replacement vehicle is being delivered.  And my insurance would not cover this charge.  The loss damage waiver insurance would run the price of this rental up to $699.58.
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