Taking your bike on Amtrak is easy if you plan ahead. On select trains a full-size bike rolls on and hangs in a rack in a Coach car, but on most of those trains you need to reserve a bike spot when you book; the fee varies by route. On long-distance routes, some stations offer trainside checked bike service in the baggage car. Anywhere Amtrak handles checked baggage, you can also box the bike and check it for $10. Folding bikes ride free as a carry-on.
Commuter rail is simpler but has peak-hour limits. Caltrain and Metra take bikes free on every train, while Metro-North and the MBTA Commuter Rail keep bikes off rush-hour trains.
All rules below were checked on each railroad’s official site on October 19, 2026. They change from time to time, so check again when you buy your ticket.
Amtrak bike options at a glance
| Option | How it works | Size and weight | Cost | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on (roll-on) bike | Bike hangs in a rack in a Coach car on select trains | Standard bike, up to 50 lb (23 kg), tires up to 2 in wide | Varies by route, shown at booking | Required on most trains |
| Trainside checked bike | Crew loads the bike, unboxed, into racks in the baggage car at select stations | Same as carry-on; remove panniers and bags | Fee may apply, varies by route | Required |
| Boxed bike | Bike travels in a box as checked baggage | Up to 50 lb and 70 × 41 × 8.5 in (178 × 104 × 22 cm) | $10, plus $15 for an Amtrak box | Check in at least 1 hour before departure |
| Folding bike | Folded, stored in the luggage area at the end of the car | Up to 34 × 15 × 48 in (86 × 38 × 112 cm) | Free, in place of one bag | No |
Source: Amtrak’s bicycle policy page.
Carry-on bikes on Amtrak
On trains with carry-on bike service, your bike goes in a rack inside a Coach car. Search for your trip on Amtrak.com or the app and add a bike to the reservation; the price shows up in the summary before you pay.
A reservation is required on most of these trains, including the Adirondack, Amtrak Cascades, Carolinian, Downeaster, Keystone, Northeast Regional, Pacific Surfliner, Piedmont, Vermonter and Wolverine. On the Capitol Corridor and Gold Runner in California there’s no reservation: racks are first come, first served, and when they’re full, bikes are turned away (except on the Pacific Surfliner).
Tips that save trouble:
- Book early. Each train has a limited number of bike racks, and once they’re reserved the bike option disappears from booking.
- On short Northeast routes, remove the front wheel before storing the bike, as Amtrak requires.
- Tandems can only ride as carry-on on the Pacific Surfliner.
- Take the bags off if a crew member has to lift the bike. Panniers and handlebar bags travel as your own luggage.
Trainside checked bikes on long-distance trains
On many long-distance routes, the bike travels unboxed in the baggage car. You need an advance reservation, a fee may apply, and you check in with the station agent (or the conductor at unstaffed stations) to get a claim check. Saddlebags, handlebar bags, baskets and panniers must come off first.
Amtrak lists this service on the Amtrak Cascades, California Zephyr, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder (trains 7 and 8), Floridian, Lake Shore Limited (trains 48 and 49), Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Pere Marquette, Piedmont, Silver Meteor, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle. Several only offer it at certain stations, so check your origin and destination when you book.
This is the best way to start a bike tour from a train: you step off at a small station with a ready-to-ride bike. If you’re loading up for a multi-day trip, our guides to touring with panniers and bikepacking cover the gear.
Boxed bikes as checked baggage
Where trainside service isn’t available, box the bike. It costs $10 in place of a piece of baggage, and Amtrak sells boxes for $15 at most staffed stations; you can use your own. Turn the handlebars sideways and remove the pedals (Amtrak doesn’t lend tools), label the box with your name and address, and check it at least one hour before departure. Recumbents, tandems and other oversized bikes that won’t fit a standard box aren’t accepted. Not every train or station handles checked baggage, so confirm both ends of your trip.
On a connection, Amtrak crews transfer boxed bikes for you; with an unboxed bike you reclaim it at the baggage car and take it to the next train. During long layovers you can leave the bike in the station baggage room for free.
On the Auto Train bikes travel free, but only on a rack on the back of your car; roof racks aren’t allowed.
E-bikes on Amtrak
Amtrak accepts e-bikes on the same terms as regular bikes if they are standard size, 50 lb (23 kg) or lighter, with tires up to 2 in wide, a lithium-ion battery certified by a nationally recognized testing lab, fully working pedals, a motor of less than 750 W continuous power and a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) on motor power alone. California’s state-supported trains are more generous with tires: 2.5 in on the Gold Runner and Capitol Corridor, 4 in on the Pacific Surfliner. Staff can inspect and refuse any vehicle.
Cargo and fat-tire e-bikes often go over 50 lb, so weigh yours before you book. A class 3 e-bike assists up to 28 mph only while you pedal, so it can still meet Amtrak’s 20 mph motor-only limit, but check its weight and tire width. For battery care on the road, see e-bike battery care.
Commuter rail: the main systems
| System | Bikes allowed | Peak limits | Cost | E-bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caltrain (San Francisco–San José) | Every train; 2 bike cars with 36 bikes each on electric trains | None listed; conductors can refuse on crowded trains | Free | Not addressed; gas bikes banned |
| Metra (Chicago) | Every train, in bike-logo cars or ADA priority areas | None, first come, first served | Free | Allowed; you must lift it on, no motor assist |
| Metro-North (New York) | Most trains | No bikes on weekday inbound trains reaching Grand Central 6-10 a.m. or outbound 4-8 p.m.; holiday blackouts | Free, no permit | No motorized bikes; MTA’s PEV policy applies |
| MBTA Commuter Rail (Boston) | All trains on Greenbush, Kingston, Fall River/New Bedford and Fairmount; others per timetable bike symbols | Non-folding bikes generally not at rush hour | No fee listed | Not addressed separately |
Sources: Caltrain, Metra, MTA and MBTA official pages.
A few details by system:
- Caltrain: each bike must fit its 71-inch spot without blocking the aisle. Tandems, three-wheelers, training wheels, trailers and bulky add-ons like baskets aren’t allowed, and you can’t lock the bike to the train. Folding bikes up to 32 in wide can go in any car if folded under the seat.
- Metra: riders with a bike must be at least 16 or travel with an adult. Bikes can be up to 80 in long and 30 in wide, you must carry the bike on and off yourself without using the e-bike motor, and you can’t charge it from onboard outlets.
- Metro-North: weekdays allow up to 4 bikes per train, weekends 8, never more than 2 per car. Bikes can be up to 80 in long and 48 in high. Full-day blackouts include Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day. Fully folded bikes ride on any train.
- MBTA: folded bikes are welcome on every service at all times; for full-size bikes, check the bike symbols on the Commuter Rail timetable.
Common mistakes
- Showing up without a bike reservation on an Amtrak train that requires one. Without it, the crew can turn the bike away.
- Riding commuter rail at rush hour. Even where bikes are technically allowed, a packed train means you’ll be blocking doors and getting dirty looks.
- Forgetting to strip the bags before trainside check-in.
- Bringing a heavy e-bike. Anything over 50 lb is over Amtrak’s limit even if everything else qualifies.
- Assuming a “folding” bike counts. On Amtrak and Caltrain, only true folding bikes do; a regular bike with the wheels off still counts as a full-size bike.
If the train doesn’t work for your trip, compare flying with a bike or car bike racks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to bring a bike on Amtrak?
A boxed bike in checked baggage costs $10, plus $15 if you buy Amtrak's box at the station. The carry-on (roll-on) bike fee varies by route and shows in the price summary when you add a bike reservation. Folding bikes go free in place of a piece of baggage.
Do I need a reservation for my bike on Amtrak?
On most trains, yes, including the Northeast Regional, Pacific Surfliner, Amtrak Cascades, Downeaster, Vermonter and Wolverine. Capitol Corridor and Gold Runner don't require one; their racks are first come, first served.
Can I take an e-bike on Amtrak?
Yes, if it weighs 50 lb (23 kg) or less, has tires no wider than 2 in, a lab-certified lithium-ion battery, working pedals, a motor under 750 W and a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) on motor power alone. California's state-supported trains allow wider tires.
Can you bring a bike on Metro-North?
Yes, outside rush hour: no bikes on weekday trains arriving at Grand Central from 6 to 10 a.m. or leaving it from 4 to 8 p.m., and none on blackout holidays. Weekdays allow 4 bikes per train, weekends 8, two per car. No permit is needed.
Is it free to bring a bike on Caltrain?
Yes. Caltrain charges nothing extra for a bike. Its electric trains have two bike cars with room for 36 bikes each; tandems, three-wheelers and gas-powered bikes are not allowed.
