Amtrak · Chicago, IL – Los Angeles, CA
Southwest Chief Cell Service & Coverage Map
Modeled coverage on board the Southwest Chief, Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA. On the train, AT&T has the most solid coverage at 81% of the route, ahead of Verizon (68%) and T-Mobile (62%). Amber stretches are spotty: signal often works but may drop. AT&T's longest true dead zone runs about 45 miles between Flagstaff and Kingman.
The whole line at a glance
Los Angeles, 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 | 81% | 12% | 46% | 139 | 45.4 mi | |
| Verizon | 68% | 26% | 25% | 116 | 25.5 mi | |
| T-Mobile | 62% | 28% | 53% | 225 | 44.8 mi |
Coverage summary
Verizon · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid Verizon service on the train, plus 26% spotty
has modeled 5G; 15% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between La Junta and Trinidad
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Riverside and Fullerton
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 15.3%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 9.7%
- 4G LTE 43.5%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 26.3%
- No modeled coverage 5.2%
Plan downloads and calls around Flagstaff–Kingman (35.6 mi without coverage), La Junta–Trinidad (25.8 mi without coverage), Fort Madison–La Plata (13.5 mi without coverage).
Verizon · Outdoor model
of the route has solid Verizon service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 45% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between La Junta and Trinidad
longest unbroken covered stretch, near Hutchinson, KS
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 45.0%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 8.3%
- 4G LTE 41.5%
- No modeled coverage 5.2%
Plan downloads and calls around Flagstaff–Kingman (36.0 mi without coverage), La Junta–Trinidad (25.8 mi without coverage), Fort Madison–La Plata (13.5 mi without coverage).
AT&T · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid AT&T service on the train, plus 12% spotty
has modeled 5G; 38% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Flagstaff and Kingman
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Albuquerque and Gallup
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 38.0%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 7.9%
- 4G LTE 35.4%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 12.4%
- No modeled coverage 6.2%
Plan downloads and calls around Flagstaff–Kingman (71.3 mi without coverage), Fort Madison–La Plata (32.7 mi without coverage), Needles–Barstow (6.1 mi without coverage).
AT&T · Outdoor model
of the route has solid AT&T service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 58% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Flagstaff and Kingman
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Gallup and Winslow
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 58.4%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 10.0%
- 4G LTE 25.4%
- No modeled coverage 6.2%
Plan downloads and calls around Flagstaff–Kingman (71.4 mi without coverage), Fort Madison–La Plata (32.3 mi without coverage), Needles–Barstow (6.6 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid T-Mobile service on the train, plus 28% spotty
has modeled 5G; 36% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Flagstaff and Kingman
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Dodge City and Garden City
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 36.1%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 17.0%
- 4G LTE 8.7%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 28.0%
- No modeled coverage 10.1%
Plan downloads and calls around Flagstaff–Kingman (66.9 mi without coverage), Needles–Barstow (46.7 mi without coverage), La Plata–Kansas City (24.9 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · Outdoor model
of the route has solid T-Mobile service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 74% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Flagstaff and Kingman
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Gallup and Winslow
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 74.1%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 10.9%
- 4G LTE 4.5%
- No modeled coverage 10.6%
Plan downloads and calls around Flagstaff–Kingman (67.9 mi without coverage), Needles–Barstow (47.7 mi without coverage), La Plata–Kansas City (28.5 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 → Mendota | 54 | 93% | 44% | — | |
| Mendota → Princeton | 22 | 74% | 14% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 76% | 27% | — | |
| Galesburg → Fort Madison | 56 | 42% | 14% | — | |
| Fort Madison → La Plata | 79 | 37% | 10% | 2.3 mi | |
| La Plata → Kansas City | 138 | 65% | 5% | 2.0 mi | |
| Kansas City → Lawrence | 40 | 95% | 40% | — | |
| Lawrence → Topeka | 26 | 90% | 17% | — | |
| Topeka → Newton | 134 | 89% | 33% | — | |
| Newton → Hutchinson | 33 | 100% | 45% | — | |
| Hutchinson → Dodge City | 120 | 63% | 23% | — | |
| Dodge City → Garden City | 50 | 83% | 31% | — | |
| Garden City → Lamar | 100 | 54% | 10% | — | |
| Lamar → La Junta | 53 | 28% | 8% | 2.3 mi | |
| La Junta → Trinidad | 81 | 36% | 14% | 25.5 mi | |
| Trinidad → Raton | 23 | 55% | 12% | 1.4 mi | |
| Raton → Las Vegas | 110 | 66% | 9% | 1.3 mi | |
| Las Vegas → Lamy | 64 | 61% | 29% | 4.2 mi | |
| Lamy → Albuquerque | 67 | 70% | 43% | 4.0 mi | |
| Albuquerque → Gallup | 159 | 84% | 23% | 7.8 mi | |
| Gallup → Winslow | 127 | 76% | 25% | — | |
| Winslow → Flagstaff | 58 | 65% | 32% | — | |
| Flagstaff → Kingman | 173 | 45% | 9% | 12.0 mi | |
| Kingman → Needles | 61 | 84% | 64% | — | |
| Needles → Barstow | 165 | 65% | 17% | 8.7 mi | |
| Barstow → Victorville | 36 | 83% | 46% | — | |
| Victorville → San Bernardino | 44 | 90% | 61% | — | |
| San Bernardino → Riverside | 11 | 100% | 85% | — | |
| Riverside → Fullerton | 36 | 100% | 78% | — | |
| Fullerton → Los Angeles | 25 | 100% | 67% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Naperville → Mendota | 54 | 100% | 97% | — | |
| Mendota → Princeton | 22 | 100% | 38% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 100% | 68% | — | |
| Galesburg → Fort Madison | 56 | 100% | 53% | — | |
| Fort Madison → La Plata | 79 | 83% | 29% | 2.3 mi | |
| La Plata → Kansas City | 138 | 98% | 31% | 2.0 mi | |
| Kansas City → Lawrence | 40 | 100% | 98% | — | |
| Lawrence → Topeka | 26 | 100% | 73% | — | |
| Topeka → Newton | 134 | 100% | 80% | — | |
| Newton → Hutchinson | 33 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Hutchinson → Dodge City | 120 | 100% | 61% | — | |
| Dodge City → Garden City | 50 | 100% | 62% | — | |
| Garden City → Lamar | 100 | 100% | 48% | — | |
| Lamar → La Junta | 53 | 95% | 30% | 2.3 mi | |
| La Junta → Trinidad | 81 | 68% | 35% | 25.5 mi | |
| Trinidad → Raton | 23 | 94% | 28% | 1.4 mi | |
| Raton → Las Vegas | 110 | 98% | 22% | 1.3 mi | |
| Las Vegas → Lamy | 64 | 93% | 50% | 4.2 mi | |
| Lamy → Albuquerque | 67 | 90% | 57% | 4.0 mi | |
| Albuquerque → Gallup | 159 | 94% | 51% | 7.8 mi | |
| Gallup → Winslow | 127 | 100% | 42% | — | |
| Winslow → Flagstaff | 58 | 100% | 35% | — | |
| Flagstaff → Kingman | 173 | 79% | 21% | 12.4 mi | |
| Kingman → Needles | 61 | 100% | 87% | — | |
| Needles → Barstow | 165 | 93% | 48% | 8.7 mi | |
| Barstow → Victorville | 36 | 100% | 87% | — | |
| Victorville → San Bernardino | 44 | 100% | 92% | — | |
| San Bernardino → Riverside | 11 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Riverside → Fullerton | 36 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Fullerton → Los Angeles | 25 | 100% | 100% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Naperville → Mendota | 54 | 94% | 76% | — | |
| Mendota → Princeton | 22 | 85% | 30% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 84% | 31% | — | |
| Galesburg → Fort Madison | 56 | 64% | 22% | 3.0 mi | |
| Fort Madison → La Plata | 79 | 33% | 3% | 12.8 mi | |
| La Plata → Kansas City | 138 | 80% | 29% | 2.1 mi | |
| Kansas City → Lawrence | 40 | 96% | 90% | — | |
| Lawrence → Topeka | 26 | 74% | 38% | — | |
| Topeka → Newton | 134 | 81% | 46% | 1.8 mi | |
| Newton → Hutchinson | 33 | 100% | 77% | — | |
| Hutchinson → Dodge City | 120 | 98% | 37% | 0.3 mi | |
| Dodge City → Garden City | 50 | 91% | 30% | — | |
| Garden City → Lamar | 100 | 94% | 56% | — | |
| Lamar → La Junta | 53 | 86% | 18% | — | |
| La Junta → Trinidad | 81 | 89% | 22% | 1.6 mi | |
| Trinidad → Raton | 23 | 72% | 42% | 0.8 mi | |
| Raton → Las Vegas | 110 | 85% | 52% | 2.5 mi | |
| Las Vegas → Lamy | 64 | 88% | 65% | — | |
| Lamy → Albuquerque | 67 | 65% | 40% | 2.2 mi | |
| Albuquerque → Gallup | 159 | 93% | 73% | — | |
| Gallup → Winslow | 127 | 95% | 59% | — | |
| Winslow → Flagstaff | 58 | 99% | 36% | — | |
| Flagstaff → Kingman | 173 | 46% | 15% | 45.4 mi | |
| Kingman → Needles | 61 | 90% | 77% | — | |
| Needles → Barstow | 165 | 71% | 31% | 2.4 mi | |
| Barstow → Victorville | 36 | 85% | 75% | — | |
| Victorville → San Bernardino | 44 | 81% | 70% | 2.4 mi | |
| San Bernardino → Riverside | 11 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Riverside → Fullerton | 36 | 98% | 94% | — | |
| Fullerton → Los Angeles | 25 | 100% | 100% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Naperville → Mendota | 54 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Mendota → Princeton | 22 | 100% | 74% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 100% | 58% | — | |
| Galesburg → Fort Madison | 56 | 90% | 61% | 3.5 mi | |
| Fort Madison → La Plata | 79 | 59% | 8% | 12.8 mi | |
| La Plata → Kansas City | 138 | 97% | 53% | 2.1 mi | |
| Kansas City → Lawrence | 40 | 100% | 98% | — | |
| Lawrence → Topeka | 26 | 100% | 86% | — | |
| Topeka → Newton | 134 | 96% | 71% | 1.8 mi | |
| Newton → Hutchinson | 33 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Hutchinson → Dodge City | 120 | 100% | 60% | 0.4 mi | |
| Dodge City → Garden City | 50 | 100% | 59% | — | |
| Garden City → Lamar | 100 | 100% | 92% | — | |
| Lamar → La Junta | 53 | 100% | 36% | — | |
| La Junta → Trinidad | 81 | 98% | 51% | 1.6 mi | |
| Trinidad → Raton | 23 | 100% | 64% | — | |
| Raton → Las Vegas | 110 | 97% | 96% | 2.8 mi | |
| Las Vegas → Lamy | 64 | 100% | 84% | — | |
| Lamy → Albuquerque | 67 | 95% | 54% | 2.2 mi | |
| Albuquerque → Gallup | 159 | 100% | 84% | — | |
| Gallup → Winslow | 127 | 100% | 83% | — | |
| Winslow → Flagstaff | 58 | 100% | 74% | — | |
| Flagstaff → Kingman | 173 | 59% | 20% | 45.4 mi | |
| Kingman → Needles | 61 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Needles → Barstow | 165 | 96% | 63% | 2.5 mi | |
| Barstow → Victorville | 36 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Victorville → San Bernardino | 44 | 88% | 85% | 2.3 mi | |
| San Bernardino → Riverside | 11 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Riverside → Fullerton | 36 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Fullerton → Los Angeles | 25 | 100% | 100% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 98% | 91% | — | |
| Naperville → Mendota | 54 | 87% | 81% | — | |
| Mendota → Princeton | 22 | 67% | 64% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 85% | 73% | — | |
| Galesburg → Fort Madison | 56 | 61% | 37% | 1.1 mi | |
| Fort Madison → La Plata | 79 | 49% | 46% | 4.3 mi | |
| La Plata → Kansas City | 138 | 32% | 28% | 4.4 mi | |
| Kansas City → Lawrence | 40 | 63% | 56% | — | |
| Lawrence → Topeka | 26 | 33% | 33% | 1.6 mi | |
| Topeka → Newton | 134 | 62% | 52% | 7.2 mi | |
| Newton → Hutchinson | 33 | 91% | 74% | — | |
| Hutchinson → Dodge City | 120 | 48% | 41% | — | |
| Dodge City → Garden City | 50 | 98% | 79% | — | |
| Garden City → Lamar | 100 | 59% | 54% | 0.5 mi | |
| Lamar → La Junta | 53 | 47% | 40% | 4.6 mi | |
| La Junta → Trinidad | 81 | 41% | 27% | 15.5 mi | |
| Trinidad → Raton | 23 | 68% | 58% | — | |
| Raton → Las Vegas | 110 | 73% | 59% | 0.3 mi | |
| Las Vegas → Lamy | 64 | 69% | 56% | 1.8 mi | |
| Lamy → Albuquerque | 67 | 54% | 46% | 9.2 mi | |
| Albuquerque → Gallup | 159 | 79% | 74% | 2.5 mi | |
| Gallup → Winslow | 127 | 81% | 62% | 0.5 mi | |
| Winslow → Flagstaff | 58 | 88% | 84% | — | |
| Flagstaff → Kingman | 173 | 39% | 35% | 44.8 mi | |
| Kingman → Needles | 61 | 76% | 74% | — | |
| Needles → Barstow | 165 | 42% | 29% | 36.0 mi | |
| Barstow → Victorville | 36 | 42% | 37% | — | |
| Victorville → San Bernardino | 44 | 67% | 64% | 1.0 mi | |
| San Bernardino → Riverside | 11 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Riverside → Fullerton | 36 | 98% | 95% | — | |
| Fullerton → Los Angeles | 25 | 100% | 90% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Naperville | 28 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Naperville → Mendota | 54 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Mendota → Princeton | 22 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Princeton → Galesburg | 58 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Galesburg → Fort Madison | 56 | 92% | 85% | 1.3 mi | |
| Fort Madison → La Plata | 79 | 87% | 78% | 4.3 mi | |
| La Plata → Kansas City | 138 | 79% | 76% | 4.5 mi | |
| Kansas City → Lawrence | 40 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Lawrence → Topeka | 26 | 86% | 65% | 1.6 mi | |
| Topeka → Newton | 134 | 87% | 81% | 7.3 mi | |
| Newton → Hutchinson | 33 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Hutchinson → Dodge City | 120 | 99% | 97% | 0.4 mi | |
| Dodge City → Garden City | 50 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Garden City → Lamar | 100 | 99% | 95% | 0.5 mi | |
| Lamar → La Junta | 53 | 80% | 68% | 4.6 mi | |
| La Junta → Trinidad | 81 | 69% | 62% | 15.8 mi | |
| Trinidad → Raton | 23 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Raton → Las Vegas | 110 | 100% | 98% | 0.3 mi | |
| Las Vegas → Lamy | 64 | 94% | 89% | 1.6 mi | |
| Lamy → Albuquerque | 67 | 85% | 77% | 9.7 mi | |
| Albuquerque → Gallup | 159 | 98% | 97% | 2.5 mi | |
| Gallup → Winslow | 127 | 100% | 82% | 0.5 mi | |
| Winslow → Flagstaff | 58 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Flagstaff → Kingman | 173 | 61% | 59% | 44.9 mi | |
| Kingman → Needles | 61 | 100% | 98% | — | |
| Needles → Barstow | 165 | 71% | 67% | 40.8 mi | |
| Barstow → Victorville | 36 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Victorville → San Bernardino | 44 | 96% | 94% | 1.0 mi | |
| San Bernardino → Riverside | 11 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Riverside → Fullerton | 36 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Fullerton → Los Angeles | 25 | 100% | 92% | — |
Southwest Chief cell service FAQ
Does the Southwest Chief have cell service?
For most of the trip, yes. Inside the train, solid coverage (the FCC's in-vehicle model) reaches 81% for AT&T, 68% for Verizon, 62% for T-Mobile of the 2,229-mile route from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA. Much of the rest is spotty rather than dead: AT&T has some signal on 94%, Verizon has some signal on 95%, T-Mobile has some signal on 90%.
Which carrier is best on the Southwest Chief?
AT&T has the most modeled on-train coverage (81%), with 5G on 46% of the route. Verizon covers 68% and T-Mobile covers 62%.
Where is the longest dead zone on the Southwest Chief?
AT&T: about 45 miles between Flagstaff and Kingman. Verizon: about 26 miles between La Junta and Trinidad. T-Mobile: about 45 miles between Flagstaff and Kingman.
Does Amtrak Wi-Fi work on the Southwest Chief?
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.