Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation

America Coast to Coast - DC to San Francisco

Amtrak coast-to-coast rail journey from Washington DC to San Francisco

America Coast to Coast - DC to San Francisco, a rail journey with Amtrak Vacations

Amtrak Vacations runs this 9-day, 8-night independent rail vacation from Washington, DC to San Francisco, with a stop in Chicago. Two days in the capital open the trip with a hop-on, hop-off tour of the city's monuments and memorials, before the Capitol Limited carries travellers overnight to Chicago, sleeping and dining onboard as the landscape rolls by. One day in Chicago includes a stroll through Millennium Park and Navy Pier and a Skydeck Admission at the Willis Tower for views over the city and Lake Michigan. The California Zephyr then continues overnight toward the West Coast, crossing grassy plains, mountains, foothills, and desert, before arriving in San Francisco. Two final days there include a hop-on, hop-off tour and a Bay Cruise past Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. This trip suits travellers who want a compact, coast-spanning rail itinerary built around two long-distance trains and a single stop in the Midwest, with guided touring bookended by open days to explore independently.

What to know before you look closer

  • The day-by-day itinerary has no day 6 entry between the overnight ride from Chicago and the arrival in San Francisco; the included list separately states 3 nights onboard Amtrak, one more than the two overnight-onboard days shown in the itinerary.
  • The San Francisco hop-on, hop-off tour is marked with an asterisk in the highlights list without explanation; confirm any conditions with the operator.
  • The package offers 18 accommodation options across tiers in Washington DC and Chicago; the specific hotel you get depends on the tier selected at booking.
  • All rail travel is booked in standard Coach class across both legs, not a premium or sleeper service, though the day 3 description notes sleeping and dining onboard the train.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Washington, D.C.

    Your Journey Begins in Washington, D.C.

    Welcome to Washington, D.C! Upon arriving into the city, check into your hotel and start enjoying your time in the nation's capital.

  2. Day 2overnight: Washington, D.C.

    Washington, DC

    Explore the city and famous monuments and memorials with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Today you will board Amtrak and begin an epic rail journey across America. As the train heads to Chicago, you will enjoy the experience of traveling by train, sleeping and dining onboard, as fascinating landscapes roll by just outside your window.

  4. Day 4overnight: Chicago

    Chicago

    Arrive in Chicago, drop off your bags at your hotel and begin exploring. Take a stroll on Navy Pier and through Millennium Park. Head over to the Willis Tower and venture to the top with your Skydeck Admission for the best views of Chicago and Lake Michigan.

  5. Day 5overnight: Onboard Amtrak (California Zephyr)

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Board the California Zephyr route and continue across the heart of America. You will experience amazing scenery from grassy plains and soaring mountains to rolling foothills and open desert. By the time you arrive to the West Coast, you will have enjoyed just about every type of landscape the country has to offer.

  6. Day 7overnight: San Francisco

    San Francisco

    You will arrive to San Francisco today. After disembarking, relax and explore the "City by the Bay."

  7. Day 8overnight: San Francisco

    San Francisco

    Enjoy a full day of exploring today with your hop-on, hop-off tour. Check out Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Golden Gate Park and more. Head out on the water on a Bay Cruise for the best views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

  8. Day 9

    Your Journey Ends in San Francisco

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Amtrak's Capitol Limited carries travellers overnight from Washington DC to Chicago, with sleeping and dining onboard as the landscape rolls by.
  • Day 4In Chicago, the Willis Tower Skydeck Admission gives views over the city and Lake Michigan.
  • Day 5The California Zephyr crosses grassy plains, soaring mountains, rolling foothills, and open desert on the overnight ride toward the West Coast.
  • Day 8A San Francisco Bay Cruise gives views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Included

  • One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Washington, DC to Chicago and Chicago to San Francisco on the Capitol Limited® and California Zephyr®
  • 5 nights' hotel accommodations
  • 3 nights' onboard Amtrak

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes one-way Coach class travel on the Capitol Limited (Washington DC to Chicago) and the California Zephyr (Chicago to San Francisco).
Are there overnight trains?
Yes. The itinerary describes overnight travel onboard Amtrak on day 3 (to Chicago) and day 5 (the California Zephyr toward San Francisco), and the included list states 3 nights onboard Amtrak in total.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is an independent rail vacation with hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours included in Washington DC and San Francisco; other time, including day 7 in San Francisco, is left free to explore on your own.
What is included in Chicago?
Admission to the Willis Tower Skydeck is included, along with 1 night of hotel accommodation.
What is not included?
The included list covers rail, 5 hotel nights, and 3 nights onboard Amtrak; meals are not listed among the inclusions.

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