GREAT IDEA! AND: Another idea to maximize the coach seating idea... get a rail pass... one can even combine the national rail pass with the California pass... but be careful of allotted days of travel.
You can get on and off... points that interest you. And you're not paying for the foods you don't want or enjoy... pick up items along the way. You can use uber where the station is further from the central city. Or, you can stop at cities that have direct connecting local service... examples: St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, most East Coast cities... and on and on. You can literally circle the country with the lowest costing pass of $459 for 15 days and 8 segments. [I still think that pricing is high... but it's a great alternative for the rail buff to sit above those rolling wheels.
Cautions: En route stops with reduced LD service would incur stays of 2 or 3 nights.
These extended vacations would maximize your budget and allow greater flexibility. See info below or google. Enjoy exploring this option!!!
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