I purchased Amtrak's USA Rail Pass to travel the country in 30 days. Here's what 170 hours in coach looked like.

Taking Amtrak trains across the United States was an incredible experience.

Frank Hoffmann I recently moved to the US, and spent 30 days on Amtrak trains in coach to get to know the country.

The USA Rail Pass cost about $500, but allowed me to stop in so many cities across the nation.

I traveled with just a backpack and a folding bike, which wasn't easy, but kept me hands-free.

After recently moving to the United States from India, I wondered how best to familiarize myself with the country.

As a lover of trains, the answer was easy: traveling across the nation via Amtrak.

So, after booking an Amtrak USA Rail Pass for $499, I was ready to embark on 170 hours of train travel for 30 days — from Connecticut to California and back — all in coach.

I couldn't wait to see bustling cities like Chicago and Los Angeles and watch the sunrise over the Rocky Mountains.

The journey ended up being one of the greatest adventures I've ever experienced.

My backpack held all my essentials.

Frank Hoffmann To ensure I was hands-free for the entire journey, I challenged myself to travel with only a backpack and my folding bike.

However, I didn't want my backpack to be too heavy.

After considering my options, I settled on a single 25-liter version, roughly the size allowed for a personal item on most airlines.

I filled it with the essentials: my laptop and charger, travel-size toiletries , and some basic bike equipment — a pump, lights, and a lock.