I went on a 19-hour Amtrak train ride with a carry-on suitcase and a backpack. Here are 8 things I wish I'd packed and 4 items I'm glad I took.

  • I took a small suitcase and a backpack for a weeklong trip that started with a 19-hour train ride.

  • I regret not packing items like slippers that would have made my Amtrak trip more comfortable.

  • But I'm glad I packed my laptop, camera, and books to help pass the time on the long journey.

  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Ahead of a 19-hour train ride from New York City to Chicago, I was nervous about what I could fit in my suitcase.

an empty suitcase laying
Packing wasn't easy. Frank Olito/Insider

I typically travel light, forcing everything into a small backpack, but this trip would be different.

When I booked a private roomette on the Lake Shore Limited Amtrak train, I knew I had to pack some creature comforts to get me through the 19-hour trek. I decided to take a carry-on suitcase and a backpack for my journey, which would be followed by a week in the Midwest.

By the end of the journey, I realized I had left some important items at home. On the other hand, some of the items I packed were lifesavers.

When I sat down in my private room on the train for the first time, I wished I had sanitizing wipes to clean everything.

A room aboard the amtrak train
I wish I could have sanitized my room. Frank Olito/Insider

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit, I've been wary of public transportation. Amtrak says it has been "utilizing EPA-registered cleaning products and enhancing cleaning on commonly used surfaces" in light of COVID-19.

Still, out of an abundance of caution, I found myself wanting to clean everything in my roomette before settling in. I wish I could have wiped down and sanitized the door handle, the pull-out table, the control-panel buttons, and the armrests. But I couldn't do that without sanitary wipes.

Though I did pack some snacks in my bag, I wish I had packed more.

chicken and pasta, a salad, and a roll on amtrak train
My dinner on the train left me wanting snacks. Frank Olito/Insider

Soon after we left New York City, an Amtrak attendant knocked on my door and delivered my dinner: pasta, chicken, and salad. But none of it was particularly appetizing. Instead of eating the whole meal, I munched on a few pretzels I had bought back at Penn Station.

By the midway point of my trip, I realized I didn't have enough snacks to last me the journey. I contemplated going to the snack car or the dining car, but they were several cars ahead of me — it would have been easier and cheaper to bring more of my own snacks.

In the same vein, a reusable water bottle would have come in handy.

my meal on an amtrak train
The bottle of water with my dinner wasn't enough. Frank Olito/Insider

My dinner came with a bottle of water, and another one was waiting in my roomette when I arrived. But I drank both quickly and wished I had brought a reusable bottle to fill with water from the coffee station at the back of my train car.

Though I could control the temperature, I wish I'd packed a cozy sweatshirt for the long ride.

a man wearing a sweatshirt
A sweatshirt would have kept me cozy. Shutterstock

I had debated packing a sweatshirt. I could see myself getting chilly on the train and wanting to bundle up — but the sweatshirt took up too much room in my suitcase, so I left it at home.

That proved to be the wrong decision. I wore shorts and a T-shirt for the bulk of the trip, and at times I was chilly and wanted to be cozier. The sweatshirt definitely would have made my trip more comfortable.

The room came with hand towels, but I wished I'd brought a larger bath towel.

towels and soap on amtrak train
The hand towels weren't enough. Frank Olito/Insider

At the back of my train car was a communal shower. I thought about using it, but I realized I didn't have a large towel to dry off. I asked the attendant for one, and she said they didn't supply them. I couldn't dry myself off with a hand towel, so I had to forgo my morning shower, which left me feeling groggy.

The bed had blankets, sheets, and a pillow, but I should have packed my own.

a bed on the amtrak train
The blanket was scratchy. Frank Olito/Insider

When the attendant turned down my bed, she gave me sheets, blankets, and a pillow that were wrapped in plastic. Though they smelled nice and clean when I took them out, the blanket was a bit scratchy, and the sheets were thin. If I'd brought my own blankets, I would have had a better night's sleep.

Earplugs would've also been useful while sleeping.

two yellow earplugs in a plastic container
Earplugs were necessary. Shutterstock

Before taking the 19-hour trek, I didn't realize how loud trains are. As the train rattled down the track, it shook everything on board and created loud clanging. This added to my difficulty falling asleep, and while in bed I remember wishing I had packed earplugs.

I should have taken slippers instead of walking barefoot in my roomette.

feet in a pair of slippers
Slippers would have a great addition. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

When I got out of bed in the morning, I didn't want to put on my sneakers, but I also didn't want to walk around barefoot in my roomette. I compromised by putting on a pair of dirty socks, but a small pair of foldable slippers that I could put in my carry-on would have been much better.

However, I'm glad I packed my laptop to help pass the time.

a room with a table and laptop on amtrak train
The laptop helped pass the time. Frank Olito/Insider

Nineteen hours on a train can feel like an awfully long time, so I spent several hours watching Netflix. I was hesitant to bring my laptop because it takes up so much space in my bag, it's heavy, and there was no guarantee the WiFi would work on the train.

But I'm glad I did, because the WiFi worked great and watching movies really helped pass the time.

I knew that packing a few books and a journal would make my bag heavy, but it was worth it.

a stack of books in a table
The books were also helpful. Frank Olito/Insider

Packing two books and one journal may seem excessive, but I didn't regret it. I realized early in the journey that it would be difficult to keep my attention on one thing. While watching movies on my laptop was great, I needed a break every now and then, so the books came in handy.

I found that having several options for entertainment was extremely important in keeping myself sane during the 19 hours.

It was difficult to pack my DSLR camera, but I'm so happy I made it fit.

a dslr camera on a table
I put my camera to good use. Frank Olito/Insider

My camera is large and bulky, so packing it was not easy. After playing a complicated game of Tetris, I got it to fit at the top of my personal bag — I'm glad, because I was able to photograph some great landscapes on the journey.

I'm glad I packed a change of clothes that were easily accessible in my suitcase.

mirror selfie aboard amtrak train
The outfit change helped perk up my mood. Frank Olito/Insider

I had to change twice during the 19-hour train ride: into pajamas for bed, and into my daytime clothes the next morning. Thankfully, I carefully planned these outfits and packed them at the top of my carry-on so they were accessible.

Changing twice helped break up the 19 hours and kept me on my usual routine.

Read the original article on Insider