Amtrak Vacations
Cowboys and Cajuns
Independent rail trip from Fort Worth to New Orleans via San Antonio
8 daysfrom $909
25% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Cowboy Country
Independent rail trip through Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston, Texas
Amtrak Vacations runs Cowboy Country as an 8-day, 7-night independent rail vacation through three Texas cities: Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston. The trip opens with two nights in the Fort Worth Stockyards district, where travellers can meet a Texas Longhorn, visit the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and watch the twice-daily cattle drive down Exchange Avenue. Amtrak's Texas Eagle then carries travellers to San Antonio for a three-night stay built around a multi-day hop-on, hop-off tour of the Alamo, Mission Concepcion, and Mission San Jose, plus admission to the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museums. The Sunset Limited continues to Houston for two nights, where a CityPASS covers Space Center Houston and other attractions. Travel between cities is independent, with sightseeing largely self-directed using the included passes and tours. It suits travellers who want to explore Texas history and culture at their own pace rather than on a guided schedule, at one of the lower per-day prices in this style of trip.
What to know before you look closer
- Hotel accommodation is chosen from 16 options across Fort Worth and San Antonio tiers (a sample includes the Hilton Fort Worth, Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Hilton Palacio del Rio, and Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk), so the actual hotel depends on availability and tier chosen.
- No meals are listed as included in the package; dining throughout the 8 days is on your own budget.
- No current departure dates are listed for this package; confirm availability directly with Amtrak Vacations.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Fort Worth
Your Journey Begins in Fort Worth
Welcome to Fort Worth! When you arrive, check into your hotel and step out to start exploring this laid-back southern city. On Main Street, meet a Texas Longhorn and capture memories with your camera and visit the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame to see the latest exhibits. Twice a day, watch as the cattle drive goes down Exchange Avenue led by Texas cowhands. Walk to the back of the Livestock Exchange Building and meet the drovers of the Fort Worth Herd, who are always dressed in late 1800s attire. At Billy Bob's Texas, enjoy live music in a genuine Texas atmosphere, take a line dancing lesson, dine on a delicious Texas-sized meal at the Honky Tonk Kitchen and see the handprints of famous musicians, including Tim McGraw, BB King, Willie Nelson, and REO Speedwagon.
- Day 2overnight: Fort Worth
Fort Worth, TX
The day and night is yours to explore at your leisure. With so much to see and do in Fort Worth, you won't have to look too far to be entertained. Enjoy some Tex-Mex cuisine or world-famous BBQ, visit the beautiful Water Gardens, stop by the John F. Kennedy memorial, relax in Sundance Square, or visit the Fort Worth Zoo.
- Day 3overnight: San Antonio
Fort Worth to San Antonio
Spend your morning checking out the sights you didn't get to see, like the acclaimed Kimball Art Museum or walk a section of the Trinity Trails. Then, board the Texas Eagle toward San Antonio! When you arrive, check into your hotel and spend your night getting some rest or having an authentic Texas-style dinner at a local favorite.
- Day 4overnight: San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Today, begin using your multi-day hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of San Antonio. Visit the Alamo (famous for the 1836 Battle for Texas Independence), see the oldest stone church in America (the Mission Concepcion), stroll through the Japanese Sunken Gardens and El Mercado's quintessential Mexican shops, and get a glimpse of Mission San Jose's exquisite Rose Window stone carving. The evening is all yours to enjoy at your leisure.
- Day 5overnight: San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
At the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Rangers Museum, you'll get a taste of frontier life. In the evening, spend some time strolling the renowned Riverwalk on your own.
- Day 6overnight: Houston
San Antonio to Houston
In the early morning, climb aboard the Sunset Limited toward Houston. When you arrive, check into your hotel and then you have the entire day to get to know the city's roots and cowboy culture. Use your included CityPass to visit Space Center Houston, the Downtown Aquarium, Museum of National Science, and so much more! The rest of the day is yours to explore on your own.
- Day 7overnight: Houston
Houston, TX
Spend today exploring on your own and seeing everything you didn't have a chance to yesterday. Discover a ranch where you can play the part of a "cowboy," learn more about Houston's Western heritage, enjoy a delectable ribeye, or do-si-do at a honky tonk.
- Day 8
Your Journey Ends in Houston
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1In the Fort Worth Stockyards, meeting a Texas Longhorn on Main Street and visiting the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, with the twice-daily cattle drive down Exchange Avenue.
- Day 3A ride on the Texas Eagle from Fort Worth to San Antonio.
- Day 4A multi-day hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of San Antonio, visiting the Alamo, Mission Concepcion (described as the oldest stone church in America), and Mission San Jose's Rose Window.
- Day 5A visit to the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Rangers Museum, followed by an evening stroll along the Riverwalk.
- Day 6A ride on the Sunset Limited from San Antonio to Houston, followed by CityPASS admission to Space Center Houston and other attractions.
Included
- One-way Amtrak in Coach accommodations from Fort Worth to San Antonio; San Antonio to Houston on the Texas Eagle and the Sunset Limited
- 7 nights' hotel accommodations
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included?
- Yes, one-way Amtrak Coach travel from Fort Worth to San Antonio on the Texas Eagle, and from San Antonio to Houston on the Sunset Limited.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- It's an independent rail vacation with an included hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of San Antonio; there is no tour manager for the rest of the trip.
- Which trains are used?
- The Texas Eagle (Fort Worth to San Antonio) and the Sunset Limited (San Antonio to Houston), both in Coach class.
- What hotels are included?
- 7 nights of hotel accommodations, chosen from 16 options across Fort Worth and San Antonio, including the Hilton Fort Worth, Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Hilton Palacio del Rio, and Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk.
- What sightseeing is included?
- A multi-day hop-on, hop-off tour of San Antonio, admission to the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museums, and a Houston CityPASS covering Space Center Houston plus four more attractions of choice.
- How much does it cost?
- Prices start from $779 per person.
