I spent 2 nights in an Amtrak bedroom and tried both bunks. The smaller bed won me over. The author booked a bedroom on Amtrak's California Zephyr and slept in both bunks. Joey Hadden/Business Insider With two nights on the California Zephyr and two beds to choose from, I picked both. In February 2026, I took the Amtrak sleeper train's full route from Chicago to Emeryville, California. For the 53-hour train journey, I booked a $2,200 bedroom with a foldout couch and an upper bunk. As a solo traveler in a room for two, I spent one night in each cot to see which I preferred. I got roughly the same amount of sleep in each bunk, but some key differences led me to prefer the top one. And honestly, you probably won't agree with me. My Amtrak bedroom was 50 square feet and had two beds. The author booked a bedroom accommodation. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Inside the bedroom, there was a bathroom on the left, a foldout couch on the right, and a table and chair against the back window.…