This Guy Saw the USA for Less Than $500. Here’s How He Did It.

DAY 3: DENVER TO CHICAGO (19 hours)

At this point in his terrific train journey, Low had traveled 2,438 miles. As the train mostly traveled at night during this leg of the journey, Low slept through most of it.

You can stay in the train's sleeper cabins for an added cost.

The train had gone through all sorts of terrain.

Train shop: The historic Chicago Union Station.

DAY 4: CHICAGO TO NEW YORK (20 hours)

For this leg of his train travel, Low needed to transfer to another train line — the Lake Shore Limited — to head to New York.

The view on the way to New York.

Low's cross-country train journey ends at New York's Penn Station.

Low raved about his train journey, saying, “The experience rewards you with far more stories and experiences and sights than you could ever witness alone in a car, eyes fixed to the road, or on a five-hour flight across the country.” He also admitted that he already “splurged” a bit by spending $429. He noted that if train travelers don’t want to stop at any of the cities along the way, they can spend as little as $213 for a train ride from San Francisco to New York.

There's no doubt Low was on a high during his train journey.

But, of course, you don’t need to pinch pennies to the point where your journey becomes an ordeal rather than an enriching ride.