I've spent 128 hours on Amtrak sleeper trains. Here are 6 essentials I've always packed and 4 I discovered along the way.

Comfort and cabin entertainment

The traveler keeps a comfortable outfit separate from other clothes, choosing cozy garments for long days aboard overnight trains. A Nintendo Switch is also packed to bring familiar activities into the cabin.

Solo trips leave plenty of time for reflection, so a journal offers a chance to write without interruption. The changing scenery outside also provides inspiration. A camera gets more use than a phone, with the traveler drawn to both passing views and distinctive train interiors.

Headphones and shower shoes

Noise-canceling headphones are a regular item for watching shows and movies, taking calls, and listening to music or podcasts. The traveler says Amtrak announcements ask passengers to use headphones for audio, including inside closed sleeper cabins.

Roomettes and bedrooms have a sink and vanity, while bedrooms also include a full bathroom. Roomette passengers use shared toilets and showers in the sleeper car. After feeling unprepared for a first train shower, the traveler recommends Crocs rather than flip-flops, especially in winter.

Medicine and slippers learned later

After forgetting motion sickness medicine on two overnight rides, including 30-hour trips between New York City and Miami, the traveler now packs Dramamine. The daytime choice is the less drowsy version, while the original is used at night; the traveler says the medicine makes it easier to sleep and feel well during trips.

Padded Muji slippers joined the packing list on a February journey aboard the 53-hour California Zephyr, from Chicago to Emeryville, California. They were thin and soft enough to fit into a bag that seemed full.

One item for next time

Binoculars are the one item the traveler has not yet packed but plans to bring on the next overnight train ride. The reason is simple: the traveler has repeatedly wanted a closer view of the landscapes passing outside.