Amtrak Vacations
Grand Pacific Coast Rail Journey
Independent Pacific coast rail journey from Vancouver to San Diego
21 daysfrom $4,279
33% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Coast to Coast - Best of the USA and Canada
29-day coast-to-coast USA-Canada rail journey, New York to Toronto
Amtrak Vacations runs this 29-day independent rail vacation from New York City to Toronto by way of Washington, D.C., Chicago, the Grand Canyon, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Jasper. The route strings together nine named trains, including four overnight legs on Amtrak and four on VIA Rail's the Canadian, with 20 hotel nights chosen from 56 accommodation options across the stops. City days follow a similar pattern: check into a hotel, then use an included hop-on-hop-off sightseeing pass to see landmarks like Top of the Rock, the Smithsonian Museums, and San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. The pace slows in Jasper, where four nights allow for the Icefields Parkway, the Athabasca Glacier and the Jasper Skytram, and again in Toronto, which includes a full-day trip to Niagara Falls. It suits independent-minded travelers who want an extended, multi-city rail crossing of two countries without a guide leading each day.
What to know before you look closer
- Hotels are offered as 56 accommodation options across price tiers and cities rather than one fixed hotel per stop, so your actual property depends on what you choose.
- The evidence lists no current departure dates for this package, though it is shown under a 'Flash Sale' category.
- The included overnight rail segments (4 nights on Amtrak, 4 nights on VIA Rail) are in standard Coach or Economy seating; a private sleeping compartment onboard the train is only an optional upgrade.
- The evidence's day-by-day itinerary has no separate entries for day 24 or day 25; the multi-night VIA Rail crossing from Jasper is described only at its departure (day 23) and its Toronto arrival (day 26).
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: New York City
Your Journey Begins in New York City
Welcome to New York City! Today is free for you to relax or explore the city on your own.
- Day 2overnight: New York City
New York City
Today you will get to explore the city on a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. Also enjoy admission to the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.
- Day 3overnight: Washington, D.C.
New York City to Washington, D.C.
Check out of your hotel in NYC today and board Amtrak's Northeast Regional route down to Washington, DC. Upon arrival, begin to explore our nation's capital at your leisure.
- Day 4overnight: Washington, D.C.
Washington, DC
Continue your journey around the city with your hop-on, hop-off tour, stopping at the Smithsonian Museums, the White House, and the U.S. Capitol Building. Tonight, visit the major monuments on an evening tour.
- Day 5overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
This morning is yours to enjoy the city. Later this afternoon board Amtrak's Capitol Limited route for your overnight trip to Chicago.
- Day 6overnight: Chicago
Chicago
Welcome to the Windy City! Check into your hotel and begin exploring the city with your hop-on, hop-off tour. Also discover the city's amazing architecture on your included architecture river cruise.
- Day 7overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Enjoy admission to the Chicago Skydeck today before boarding Amtrak's Southwest Chief in the afternoon to journey south towards the Grand Canyon.
- Day 8railovernight: Williams
Williams
This evening, the train will arrive in Williams. Check into your hotel and settle in for the night. Tomorrow you will get to visit the iconic Grand Canyon!
- Day 9railovernight: Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Today wake up and enjoy a hearty breakfast. After your meal, board the famous Grand Canyon Railway for a trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Meals: B
- Day 10railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
This morning is open for you to explore around the South Rim on your own. Later in the afternoon, board the Grand Canyon Railway to travel back to Williams. Upon arrival, enjoy dinner in the iconic Route 66 town of Williams before an evening departure onboard the Southwest Chief westbound to California!
Meals: D
- Day 11overnight: Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Welcome to Los Angeles! You have the entire day to explore Hollywood with a hop-on, hop-off tour of the city.
- Day 12overnight: San Francisco
Los Angeles to San Francisco
This morning you will board the Coast Starlight for your journey up to San Francisco. Tonight, settle in to your hotel to begin your two-night stay in the 'City by the Bay.'
- Day 13overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco
Today, explore the city with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing pass, bringing you to landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and Union Square. Also enjoy a cruise of the San Francisco Bay.
- Day 14railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Continue to enjoy San Francisco and hit all the stops you missed yesterday. In the evening, transfer to the train station for your overnight journey to Seattle.
- Day 15overnight: Seattle
Seattle
Welcome to Seattle! Travel on your own today to your centrally located hotel and start your exploration of the city.
- Day 16overnight: Seattle
Seattle
Your full day in Seattle today includes a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour, and a cruise around the scenic harbor, visiting Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, Seattle's Waterfront, and Pier 66.
- Day 17railovernight: Vancouver
Seattle to Vancouver
Take the train from Seattle to Vancouver today. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel for a one-night stay and use your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of Stanley Park, Chinatown, Gastown, Granville Island and more!
- Day 18railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail
Overnight Onboard VIA Rail
Take some time this morning to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Afterwards, head to the VIA Rail station for your train eastbound to Jasper, enjoying a comfortable overnight journey onboard the train.
- Day 19overnight: Jasper
Jasper
Arrive into Jasper this morning and check in at your hotel for a four-night stay. Spend the rest of the day discovering the charming shops and restaurants of downtown.
- Day 20overnight: Jasper
Jasper
Tour the famous Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre, including an ice explorer adventure onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk.
Meals: L
- Day 21overnight: Jasper
Jasper
Today on your Jasper sightseeing tour, highlights include the Jasper townsite, Athabasca Viewpoint, Medicine Lake, Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake with an optional cruise included.
- Day 22overnight: Jasper
Jasper, AB
Today, use your admission to the Jasper Skytram - the longest and highest guided aerial tramway in Canada - to get an incredible bird's eye view of the Canadian Rockies.
- Day 23railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail
Overnight Onboard VIA Rail
Check out of your hotel and travel to the VIA Rail station to board the Canadian for your trip eastbound across Canada.
- Day 26overnight: Toronto
Toronto
Arrive in Toronto today and enjoy some city sightseeing. Admission to the CN Tower, with sweeping views of Toronto, is also included today.
- Day 27overnight: Toronto
Niagara Falls Day Trip
This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel for a full day tour to Niagara Falls, including a meal overlooking the falls, a boat ride, free time in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, and a winery tour and tasting.
Meals: L
- Day 28railovernight: New York City
Toronto to New York City
Take the train from Toronto to New York City today and upon arrival, check in at your hotel for an overnight stay and enjoy a relaxing final evening of your trip.
- Day 29
Your Journey Ends in New York City
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 9The train transfers to the Grand Canyon Railway for the ride up to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
- Day 18An overnight VIA Rail journey carries travelers from Vancouver east to Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.
- Day 20A tour of the Icefields Parkway includes an ice explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier and a walk on the Glacier Skywalk.
- Day 23Travelers board VIA Rail's the Canadian in Jasper for the multi-night crossing east to Toronto.
- Day 27A full-day trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls includes a meal overlooking the falls, a boat ride and a winery tour and tasting.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from New York City to Washington, DC; Washington, DC to Chicago; Chicago to Williams, AZ; Williams to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to San Francisco, San Francisco to Seattle, Seattle to Vancouver, and Toronto to New York City on the Northeast Regional®, Capitol Limited®, Southwest Chief®, Coast Starlight®, Cascades® and Maple Leaf® routes
- One-way VIA Rail in Economy from Vancouver to Jasper and Jasper to Toronto onboard the Canadian®
- 20 nights' hotel accommodations
- 4 nights' onboard Amtrak; 4 nights' onboard VIA Rail
- Roundtrip service in Coach accommodations on the Grand Canyon Railway
- 4 meals included (1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner)
Also sold by
The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.
- Railbookersfrom $9,899
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. The package includes one-way travel on Amtrak's Northeast Regional, Capitol Limited, Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight, Cascades and Maple Leaf routes in Coach, VIA Rail's the Canadian in Economy for the Vancouver-to-Jasper and Jasper-to-Toronto legs, and a roundtrip on the Grand Canyon Railway.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- It is an independent rail vacation. Each city includes a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing pass and select admissions, but travelers move through their own days at their own pace.
- What hotels are used?
- The package offers 56 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than one fixed hotel per stop. Examples in New York City include the Waldorf Astoria, the Conrad New York Downtown and the DoubleTree by Hilton Times Square West.
- Do the overnight trains have sleeper cabins?
- The included overnight legs (4 nights on Amtrak, 4 nights on VIA Rail) are in Coach or Economy seating. Upgrading to a sleeping accommodation onboard the train is an optional extra.
- What is not included?
- Only 4 meals are included in total (1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner); other meals are not listed as included.
