Seattle → Minneapolis-St. Paul

1 a dayfastest 37h38AmtrakNight train

Direct trains · no change

16:55 → 08:33⁺²
Empire Builder 8 Night train
Seattle → St. Paul-Minneapolis · via Spokane, Whitefish
37h3828 stops
Runs: DailyAmtrak ↗

Local times at each station. Times from official open data: Amtrak (file of 26 Oct 2026). Checked Mon 26 Oct 2026; they cover 26 Oct to 22 Nov 2026. Timetables change, so check with the operator before you travel. How we build this.

Door to door vs flying

Overnight: leave 16:55, arrive 08:33

The plane is 29h54 quicker on paper, but the night train uses your night instead of a day and saves a hotel.

Train · fastest direct37h49

To Seattle1 min
Before departure10 min
Empire Builder 837h38

Plane · nonstop SEA to MSP7h55

To Seattle–Tacoma (SEA)45 min
Check-in & security2h00
Flight SEA to MSP3h55
Landing to exit35 min
From MSP40 min

From city centre to city centre unless you pick otherwise. Getting to stations and airports: typical public-transport times (estimates). Airport: check-in & security 2h before, 35 min to get out after landing. Flight time is typical for the distance.

Flying instead? Seattle → Minneapolis-St. Paul

3 airlines fly it nonstop. Book direct on the airline's own site:

Alaska AirlinesSEA→MSPBook direct ↗
Delta Air LinesSEA→MSPBook direct ↗
Sun Country AirlinesSEA→MSPBook direct ↗

Compare on picktheflight ↗