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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

America's Great National Parks

13-day escorted tour of five U.S. national parks by train and coach

Illustration of America's Great National Parks

Vacations By Rail's 13-day America's Great National Parks tour is an escorted journey through the American West, beginning with a classic overnight rail experience aboard Amtrak's Empire Builder from Chicago to Glacier National Park. The Tour Manager remains with the group throughout, guiding visits to five national parks across Big Sky Country and Utah. Days in Glacier include a drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road on a vintage open-air Red Jammer bus and a boat cruise across a glacial lake where wildlife such as bears and moose are often spotted. The route continues by coach through Yellowstone National Park's geysers and canyons, Grand Teton's mountain lakes and valleys, and concludes in Utah's red rock country with guided tours of Arches and Canyonlands national parks. A float trip down the Snake River in Grand Teton and a stop at an Oregon Trail heritage site add regional history and outdoor activity. This tour suits travelers seeking comfort, guided expertise, and access to America's most celebrated natural landscapes within a structured itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • Mobility Rating 3 indicates substantial walking and activity; this tour is not suitable for those with limited mobility
  • The from-price covers the package; flights and airport transfers are not included and must be booked separately
  • West Coast travelers meet the Tour Manager at the Glacier National Park hotel on Day 2 rather than boarding in Chicago; confirm your gateway city when booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Train

    Depart Chicago aboard the Empire Builder

    Meet your Tour Manager at Chicago Union Station and board the Empire Builder for an overnight trip through the Midwest toward Glacier National Park. Travelers from the West Coast instead meet the Tour Manager at the Glacier National Park hotel on Day 2.

  2. Day 2overnight: Whitefish, MT (or East Glacier Park, MT)

    The Empire Builder to Whitefish, MT

    Continue aboard the Empire Builder through rolling prairies to Glacier National Park, checking into the hotel in Whitefish (or East Glacier Park on certain departures) with an evening at leisure.

  3. Day 3overnight: Whitefish, MT (or East Glacier Park, MT)

    Driving along Going-to-the-Sun Road

    Visit the Swiss chalet-style Lake McDonald Lodge, then board a vintage open-air Red Jammer bus for a tour along the Going-to-the-Sun Road across the Continental Divide.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Whitefish, MT (or East Glacier Park, MT)

    Memorable perspectives on Glacier National Park

    Travel to Many Glacier Hotel to board a boat for a cruise across a glacial lake, watching for bears, moose and mountain goats, then a free afternoon to explore Whitefish.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  5. Day 5overnight: Yellowstone National Park, WY

    Journeying to Yellowstone National Park

    Travel by coach to Helena, a historic Gold Rush town, then continue through Madison Canyon Gorge and past Quake Lake to Yellowstone National Park's West Entrance.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Yellowstone National Park, WY

    Seeing the sights in Yellowstone

    A sightseeing tour taking in Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Artist Point, the Fountain Paint Pots and the Old Faithful Inn and Geyser Basin.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Jackson, WY

    Jackson and Grand Teton National Park

    Stop at Lewis Falls before continuing to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Lake Lodge, then check into a hotel in Jackson.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Jackson, WY

    A relaxed float trip down the Snake River

    A guided float trip on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park aboard a large inflatable boat, spotting moose, deer, elk, bison and bald eagles.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9overnight: Salt Lake City, UT

    Experiencing the Oregon Trail

    Travel to Salt Lake City, stopping at the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho, for a chuckwagon lunch and a taste of 1850s pioneer life.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10overnight: Moab, UT

    Journeying to Moab

    A scenic drive from Salt Lake City to Moab through the San Rafael Valley, with a stop in Spanish Fork, checking into a hotel with views of Moab's red rocks.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11overnight: Moab, UT

    Exploring Arches National Park

    A guided tour of Arches National Park, home to more than 2,100 rock formations including Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch.

    Meals: Breakfast

  12. Day 12overnight: Grand Junction, CO

    Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park

    Visit Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park, then travel to Grand Junction for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  13. Day 13

    Traveling home

    Your tour concludes this morning as you transfer to Grand Junction Amtrak Station or Grand Junction Airport for your onward journey.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Depart Chicago Union Station aboard Amtrak's Empire Builder for an overnight journey through the Midwest toward Glacier National Park
  • Day 3Board a vintage open-air Red Jammer bus and drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road across the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park
  • Day 4Cruise across a glacial lake at Many Glacier Hotel, watching for bears, moose and mountain goats
  • Day 6Tour Yellowstone's Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Artist Point, and Old Faithful Geyser Basin
  • Day 8Guided float trip on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park aboard an inflatable boat, spotting moose, deer, elk, bison and bald eagles
  • Day 11Guided tour of Arches National Park to see Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch among over 2,100 rock formations

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 12 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • Coach Seat Sleeper Class rail travel on Amtrak's Empire Builder
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Meals on train included when upgrading to private sleeping accommodations
  • 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
  • National Park Entrance Fees
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The tour includes Coach Seat Sleeper Class rail travel on Amtrak's Empire Builder from Chicago to Glacier National Park on Day 1, plus all subsequent coach travel
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager who accompanies the group from start to finish and leads all guided tours and excursions
Which hotels are included?
Whitefish Waterfront Hotel (3 nights), Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier Park (3 nights), Canyon Lodge and Cabins in Yellowstone (2 nights), Rustic Inn Creekside Resort and Spa in Jackson (2 nights), DoubleTree by Hilton Salt Lake City Downtown (1 night), Hyatt Place Moab (2 nights), and DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Junction (1 night)
What meals are included?
11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 2 dinners. Additional meals are at your own expense
How much walking is involved?
The operator rates this tour as Mobility Rating 3, indicating substantial walking and activity through national parks, including guided tours, a Red Jammer bus excursion, and a float trip
What is not included?
Flights, airport transfers, cancellation and travel insurance, and meals not listed above

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