Amtrak · Chicago, IL – Emeryville, CA
California Zephyr Cell Service & Coverage Map
Modeled coverage on board the California Zephyr, Chicago, IL to Emeryville, CA. On the train, AT&T has the most solid coverage at 76% of the route, ahead of Verizon (71%) and T-Mobile (70%). Amber stretches are spotty: signal often works but may drop. AT&T's longest true dead zone runs about 50 miles between Granby and Glenwood Springs.
The whole line at a glance
Emeryville, CA on the left, Chicago, IL on the right. Scroll sideways on a phone. Hover a band for its mileposts. Verizon, on the train.
Carriers compared on the train
| Carrier | Coverage mix | Solid | Spotty | 5G | Dead-zone miles | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Best on board | 76% | 15% | 38% | 227 | 50.4 mi | |
| Verizon | 71% | 20% | 25% | 209 | 57.6 mi | |
| T-Mobile | 70% | 21% | 59% | 218 | 59.5 mi |
Coverage summary
Verizon · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid Verizon service on the train, plus 20% spotty
has modeled 5G; 16% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Granby and Glenwood Springs
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Winnemucca and Reno
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 16.3%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 8.6%
- 4G LTE 46.5%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 19.9%
- No modeled coverage 8.7%
- Not yet processed 0.0%
Plan downloads and calls around Granby–Glenwood Springs (60.0 mi without coverage), Helper–Provo (34.9 mi without coverage), Salt Lake City–Elko (30.0 mi without coverage).
Verizon · Outdoor model
of the route has solid Verizon service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 43% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Granby and Glenwood Springs
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Creston and Omaha
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 43.3%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 5.7%
- 4G LTE 42.3%
- No modeled coverage 8.7%
- Not yet processed 0.0%
Plan downloads and calls around Granby–Glenwood Springs (60.0 mi without coverage), Helper–Provo (34.8 mi without coverage), Salt Lake City–Elko (30.0 mi without coverage).
AT&T · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid AT&T service on the train, plus 15% spotty
has modeled 5G; 31% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Granby and Glenwood Springs
longest unbroken covered stretch, near Salt Lake City, UT
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 30.5%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 7.6%
- 4G LTE 37.7%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 14.7%
- No modeled coverage 9.4%
- Not yet processed 0.0%
Plan downloads and calls around Granby–Glenwood Springs (64.0 mi without coverage), Salt Lake City–Elko (31.1 mi without coverage), Elko–Winnemucca (23.0 mi without coverage).
AT&T · Outdoor model
of the route has solid AT&T service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 46% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Granby and Glenwood Springs
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Princeton and Galesburg
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 46.5%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 10.0%
- 4G LTE 34.2%
- No modeled coverage 9.4%
- Not yet processed 0.0%
Plan downloads and calls around Granby–Glenwood Springs (63.7 mi without coverage), Salt Lake City–Elko (30.9 mi without coverage), Elko–Winnemucca (23.0 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid T-Mobile service on the train, plus 21% spotty
has modeled 5G; 41% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Granby and Glenwood Springs
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Provo and Salt Lake City
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 41.5%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 17.8%
- 4G LTE 11.1%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 20.6%
- No modeled coverage 9.0%
- Not yet processed 0.0%
Plan downloads and calls around Granby–Glenwood Springs (83.8 mi without coverage), Salt Lake City–Elko (24.7 mi without coverage), Denver–Fraser (23.7 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · Outdoor model
of the route has solid T-Mobile service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 78% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Granby and Glenwood Springs
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Lincoln and Hastings
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 78.0%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 8.0%
- 4G LTE 4.7%
- No modeled coverage 9.2%
- Not yet processed 0.0%
Plan downloads and calls around Granby–Glenwood Springs (84.0 mi without coverage), Salt Lake City–Elko (24.9 mi without coverage), Helper–Provo (24.4 mi without coverage).
Station to station
In timetable order from Chicago, IL. Distances are along the track. Follows the carrier and model selected on the map.
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 61% | — | |
| Naperville → Princeton | 76 | 88% | 33% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 77% | 30% | — | |
| Galesburg → Burlington | 43 | 81% | 27% | — | |
| Burlington → Mount Pleasant | 28 | 73% | 17% | — | |
| Mount Pleasant → Ottumwa | 46 | 75% | 22% | — | |
| Ottumwa → Osceola | 80 | 56% | 8% | — | |
| Osceola → Creston | 33 | 79% | 6% | — | |
| Creston → Omaha | 108 | 68% | 9% | — | |
| Omaha → Lincoln | 55 | 97% | 69% | — | |
| Lincoln → Hastings | 96 | 73% | 31% | — | |
| Hastings → Holdrege | 55 | 87% | 25% | — | |
| Holdrege → McCook | 77 | 76% | 32% | — | |
| McCook → Fort Morgan | 176 | 52% | 19% | 15.2 mi | |
| Fort Morgan → Denver | 78 | 81% | 52% | — | |
| Denver → Fraser | 63 | 50% | 17% | 20.9 mi | |
| Fraser → Granby | 13 | 46% | 28% | 4.5 mi | |
| Granby → Glenwood Springs | 109 | 24% | 3% | 57.6 mi | |
| Glenwood Springs → Grand Junction | 88 | 77% | 19% | 3.3 mi | |
| Grand Junction → Green River | 105 | 44% | 11% | 10.5 mi | |
| Green River → Helper | 71 | 58% | 10% | 1.6 mi | |
| Helper → Provo | 74 | 32% | 19% | 11.9 mi | |
| Provo → Salt Lake City | 44 | 100% | 75% | — | |
| Salt Lake City → Elko | 262 | 80% | 30% | 18.2 mi | |
| Elko → Winnemucca | 140 | 85% | 17% | 9.8 mi | |
| Winnemucca → Reno | 174 | 93% | 14% | — | |
| Reno → Truckee | 35 | 66% | 35% | — | |
| Truckee → Colfax | 64 | 54% | 8% | 5.1 mi | |
| Colfax → Roseville | 35 | 85% | 37% | — | |
| Roseville → Sacramento | 18 | 100% | 60% | — | |
| Sacramento → Davis | 13 | 100% | 73% | — | |
| Davis → Martinez | 44 | 100% | 62% | — | |
| Martinez → Richmond | 19 | 98% | 47% | — | |
| Richmond → Emeryville | 8 | 100% | 54% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Naperville → Princeton | 76 | 100% | 80% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 100% | 68% | — | |
| Galesburg → Burlington | 43 | 100% | 53% | — | |
| Burlington → Mount Pleasant | 28 | 100% | 55% | — | |
| Mount Pleasant → Ottumwa | 46 | 100% | 39% | — | |
| Ottumwa → Osceola | 80 | 100% | 11% | — | |
| Osceola → Creston | 33 | 100% | 8% | — | |
| Creston → Omaha | 108 | 100% | 26% | — | |
| Omaha → Lincoln | 55 | 100% | 98% | — | |
| Lincoln → Hastings | 96 | 100% | 72% | — | |
| Hastings → Holdrege | 55 | 100% | 58% | — | |
| Holdrege → McCook | 77 | 100% | 66% | — | |
| McCook → Fort Morgan | 176 | 91% | 52% | 15.2 mi | |
| Fort Morgan → Denver | 78 | 100% | 95% | — | |
| Denver → Fraser | 63 | 62% | 48% | 21.0 mi | |
| Fraser → Granby | 13 | 66% | 28% | 4.5 mi | |
| Granby → Glenwood Springs | 109 | 45% | 7% | 57.6 mi | |
| Glenwood Springs → Grand Junction | 88 | 96% | 43% | 3.3 mi | |
| Grand Junction → Green River | 105 | 84% | 19% | 10.5 mi | |
| Green River → Helper | 71 | 96% | 17% | 1.6 mi | |
| Helper → Provo | 74 | 53% | 25% | 11.9 mi | |
| Provo → Salt Lake City | 44 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Salt Lake City → Elko | 262 | 89% | 51% | 18.2 mi | |
| Elko → Winnemucca | 140 | 93% | 31% | 9.8 mi | |
| Winnemucca → Reno | 174 | 100% | 31% | — | |
| Reno → Truckee | 35 | 99% | 58% | 0.5 mi | |
| Truckee → Colfax | 64 | 90% | 49% | 4.0 mi | |
| Colfax → Roseville | 35 | 100% | 90% | — | |
| Roseville → Sacramento | 18 | 100% | 94% | — | |
| Sacramento → Davis | 13 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Davis → Martinez | 44 | 100% | 97% | — | |
| Martinez → Richmond | 19 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Richmond → Emeryville | 8 | 100% | 100% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 97% | — | |
| Naperville → Princeton | 76 | 92% | 64% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 83% | 29% | — | |
| Galesburg → Burlington | 43 | 79% | 33% | — | |
| Burlington → Mount Pleasant | 28 | 99% | 43% | — | |
| Mount Pleasant → Ottumwa | 46 | 85% | 23% | — | |
| Ottumwa → Osceola | 80 | 52% | 0% | 9.1 mi | |
| Osceola → Creston | 33 | 87% | 0% | 0.6 mi | |
| Creston → Omaha | 108 | 78% | 9% | 2.1 mi | |
| Omaha → Lincoln | 55 | 99% | 66% | — | |
| Lincoln → Hastings | 96 | 70% | 16% | 5.3 mi | |
| Hastings → Holdrege | 55 | 98% | 4% | — | |
| Holdrege → McCook | 77 | 85% | 33% | — | |
| McCook → Fort Morgan | 176 | 81% | 6% | 1.8 mi | |
| Fort Morgan → Denver | 78 | 99% | 69% | — | |
| Denver → Fraser | 63 | 63% | 38% | 4.0 mi | |
| Fraser → Granby | 13 | 44% | 27% | 6.0 mi | |
| Granby → Glenwood Springs | 109 | 31% | 16% | 50.4 mi | |
| Glenwood Springs → Grand Junction | 88 | 79% | 43% | 3.1 mi | |
| Grand Junction → Green River | 105 | 70% | 44% | 17.1 mi | |
| Green River → Helper | 71 | 77% | 44% | — | |
| Helper → Provo | 74 | 59% | 32% | 4.2 mi | |
| Provo → Salt Lake City | 44 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Salt Lake City → Elko | 262 | 78% | 62% | 28.5 mi | |
| Elko → Winnemucca | 140 | 73% | 45% | 12.0 mi | |
| Winnemucca → Reno | 174 | 66% | 23% | 10.3 mi | |
| Reno → Truckee | 35 | 80% | 47% | 0.3 mi | |
| Truckee → Colfax | 64 | 52% | 33% | 4.6 mi | |
| Colfax → Roseville | 35 | 81% | 70% | — | |
| Roseville → Sacramento | 18 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Sacramento → Davis | 13 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Davis → Martinez | 44 | 93% | 72% | — | |
| Martinez → Richmond | 19 | 82% | 77% | — | |
| Richmond → Emeryville | 8 | 100% | 100% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Naperville → Princeton | 76 | 100% | 93% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 100% | 59% | — | |
| Galesburg → Burlington | 43 | 100% | 75% | — | |
| Burlington → Mount Pleasant | 28 | 100% | 92% | — | |
| Mount Pleasant → Ottumwa | 46 | 100% | 50% | — | |
| Ottumwa → Osceola | 80 | 75% | 2% | 9.1 mi | |
| Osceola → Creston | 33 | 97% | 0% | 0.6 mi | |
| Creston → Omaha | 108 | 97% | 22% | 2.1 mi | |
| Omaha → Lincoln | 55 | 100% | 89% | — | |
| Lincoln → Hastings | 96 | 94% | 31% | 5.3 mi | |
| Hastings → Holdrege | 55 | 100% | 19% | — | |
| Holdrege → McCook | 77 | 100% | 55% | — | |
| McCook → Fort Morgan | 176 | 98% | 15% | 1.0 mi | |
| Fort Morgan → Denver | 78 | 100% | 88% | — | |
| Denver → Fraser | 63 | 85% | 56% | 4.0 mi | |
| Fraser → Granby | 13 | 55% | 29% | 6.0 mi | |
| Granby → Glenwood Springs | 109 | 41% | 18% | 50.4 mi | |
| Glenwood Springs → Grand Junction | 88 | 90% | 76% | 3.1 mi | |
| Grand Junction → Green River | 105 | 84% | 71% | 17.1 mi | |
| Green River → Helper | 71 | 100% | 72% | — | |
| Helper → Provo | 74 | 94% | 38% | 4.2 mi | |
| Provo → Salt Lake City | 44 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Salt Lake City → Elko | 262 | 88% | 85% | 28.4 mi | |
| Elko → Winnemucca | 140 | 84% | 68% | 11.9 mi | |
| Winnemucca → Reno | 174 | 87% | 32% | 10.3 mi | |
| Reno → Truckee | 35 | 98% | 73% | 0.4 mi | |
| Truckee → Colfax | 64 | 87% | 67% | 4.6 mi | |
| Colfax → Roseville | 35 | 100% | 93% | — | |
| Roseville → Sacramento | 18 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Sacramento → Davis | 13 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Davis → Martinez | 44 | 100% | 98% | — | |
| Martinez → Richmond | 19 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Richmond → Emeryville | 8 | 100% | 100% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 98% | 93% | — | |
| Naperville → Princeton | 76 | 81% | 75% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 88% | 76% | — | |
| Galesburg → Burlington | 43 | 74% | 56% | — | |
| Burlington → Mount Pleasant | 28 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Mount Pleasant → Ottumwa | 46 | 83% | 79% | — | |
| Ottumwa → Osceola | 80 | 55% | 50% | 4.6 mi | |
| Osceola → Creston | 33 | 77% | 63% | — | |
| Creston → Omaha | 108 | 67% | 47% | 0.4 mi | |
| Omaha → Lincoln | 55 | 97% | 86% | — | |
| Lincoln → Hastings | 96 | 80% | 53% | — | |
| Hastings → Holdrege | 55 | 89% | 36% | — | |
| Holdrege → McCook | 77 | 82% | 44% | — | |
| McCook → Fort Morgan | 176 | 69% | 50% | 1.3 mi | |
| Fort Morgan → Denver | 78 | 82% | 69% | — | |
| Denver → Fraser | 63 | 49% | 46% | 20.7 mi | |
| Fraser → Granby | 13 | 15% | 15% | 5.5 mi | |
| Granby → Glenwood Springs | 109 | 12% | 11% | 59.5 mi | |
| Glenwood Springs → Grand Junction | 88 | 83% | 75% | 1.4 mi | |
| Grand Junction → Green River | 105 | 60% | 49% | 4.4 mi | |
| Green River → Helper | 71 | 61% | 43% | 1.0 mi | |
| Helper → Provo | 74 | 39% | 38% | 9.2 mi | |
| Provo → Salt Lake City | 44 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Salt Lake City → Elko | 262 | 73% | 67% | 23.6 mi | |
| Elko → Winnemucca | 140 | 67% | 64% | 8.9 mi | |
| Winnemucca → Reno | 174 | 74% | 69% | 1.3 mi | |
| Reno → Truckee | 35 | 78% | 63% | 0.8 mi | |
| Truckee → Colfax | 64 | 60% | 53% | 2.7 mi | |
| Colfax → Roseville | 35 | 83% | 76% | 1.2 mi | |
| Roseville → Sacramento | 18 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Sacramento → Davis | 13 | 90% | 84% | — | |
| Davis → Martinez | 44 | 83% | 76% | — | |
| Martinez → Richmond | 19 | 70% | 56% | — | |
| Richmond → Emeryville | 8 | 86% | 80% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Naperville → Princeton | 76 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Galesburg → Burlington | 43 | 100% | 96% | — | |
| Burlington → Mount Pleasant | 28 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Mount Pleasant → Ottumwa | 46 | 100% | 98% | — | |
| Ottumwa → Osceola | 80 | 84% | 77% | 4.6 mi | |
| Osceola → Creston | 33 | 100% | 83% | — | |
| Creston → Omaha | 108 | 99% | 83% | 0.8 mi | |
| Omaha → Lincoln | 55 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Lincoln → Hastings | 96 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Hastings → Holdrege | 55 | 100% | 84% | — | |
| Holdrege → McCook | 77 | 100% | 84% | — | |
| McCook → Fort Morgan | 176 | 99% | 96% | 1.4 mi | |
| Fort Morgan → Denver | 78 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Denver → Fraser | 63 | 63% | 62% | 20.7 mi | |
| Fraser → Granby | 13 | 55% | 37% | 5.5 mi | |
| Granby → Glenwood Springs | 109 | 23% | 20% | 59.6 mi | |
| Glenwood Springs → Grand Junction | 88 | 98% | 92% | 1.4 mi | |
| Grand Junction → Green River | 105 | 89% | 77% | 4.4 mi | |
| Green River → Helper | 71 | 98% | 74% | 1.0 mi | |
| Helper → Provo | 74 | 67% | 66% | 9.8 mi | |
| Provo → Salt Lake City | 44 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Salt Lake City → Elko | 262 | 91% | 89% | 23.6 mi | |
| Elko → Winnemucca | 140 | 88% | 84% | 9.3 mi | |
| Winnemucca → Reno | 174 | 99% | 97% | 1.3 mi | |
| Reno → Truckee | 35 | 98% | 95% | 0.8 mi | |
| Truckee → Colfax | 64 | 84% | 82% | 2.8 mi | |
| Colfax → Roseville | 35 | 97% | 96% | 0.9 mi | |
| Roseville → Sacramento | 18 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Sacramento → Davis | 13 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Davis → Martinez | 44 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Martinez → Richmond | 19 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Richmond → Emeryville | 8 | 100% | 100% | — |
California Zephyr cell service FAQ
Does the California Zephyr have cell service?
For most of the trip, yes. Inside the train, solid coverage (the FCC's in-vehicle model) reaches 76% for AT&T, 71% for Verizon, 70% for T-Mobile of the 2,413-mile route from Chicago, IL to Emeryville, CA. Much of the rest is spotty rather than dead: AT&T has some signal on 91%, Verizon has some signal on 91%, T-Mobile has some signal on 91%.
Which carrier is best on the California Zephyr?
AT&T has the most modeled on-train coverage (76%), with 5G on 38% of the route. Verizon covers 71% and T-Mobile covers 70%.
Where is the longest dead zone on the California Zephyr?
AT&T: about 50 miles between Granby and Glenwood Springs. Verizon: about 58 miles between Granby and Glenwood Springs. T-Mobile: about 59 miles between Granby and Glenwood Springs.
Does Amtrak Wi-Fi work on the California Zephyr?
Amtrak Wi-Fi relies on cellular networks, so it generally weakens or drops in the same places your phone does. Expect it to be unreliable through the dead zones shown on this map.
How accurate is this coverage map?
It reflects carrier-reported modeled coverage published by the FCC (data as of Dec 31, 2025). It is not an onboard measurement. BarTrakr shows the FCC's in-vehicle model by default; the outdoor model is available with the Outdoor switch.
Can I use BarTrakr on the train without signal?
Yes. Tap “Save for offline” before you board. The route, coverage data and map background up to zoom 10 are stored on your device, and live tracking uses your phone's GPS, which works without cell service.
About this data
- Coverage: FCC Broadband Data Collection mobile coverage for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, release D25 (as of Dec 31, 2025, published Oct 13, 2026).
- Route: U.S. DOT / BTS National Transportation Atlas Database, Amtrak Routes. Stations and stop order: Amtrak GTFS.
- On the train: colored where the FCC in-vehicle model shows coverage; amber (spotty) where only the outdoor model does; red where neither does.
- Stretches shorter than a quarter mile are merged into their neighbors; at train speed they last only seconds.