I spent $500 to have my own room on a 30-hour Amtrak ride. Take a look inside the 20-square-foot private cabin.

I’ll never forget my first Amtrak roomette.

Before I’d spent roughly 200 hours on overnight trains in the US and Europe, I had no idea what to expect on the 30-hour journey from New York City to Miami in October 2021.

It was my first overnight Amtrak trip, and I was set on having a bed in a private space.

So I spent $500 on a roomette accommodation — the lowest-tier private cabin on Amtrak sleeper trains.

The 22.75-square-foot cabin contained two beds, a toilet, and basic amenities.

Thanks to clever storage hacks, it felt like a tiny hotel room with no unused space.

See inside the most affordable Amtrak ride in a private cabin.