Amtrak Vacations
America Coast to Coast - LA to Boston
Independent coast-to-coast US rail trip on four Amtrak trains, LA to Boston
10 daysfrom $1,809
100% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
East Coast to West Coast Rail Experience
Ten-day cross-country rail trip, Washington DC to San Francisco
Amtrak Vacations runs this 10-day, 9-night independent rail vacation across the United States, starting in Washington, D.C. and ending in San Francisco, with Coach travel on the Capitol Limited, Empire Builder and Coast Starlight. Four of the nine nights are spent onboard the train across three overnight legs, including a crossing of the northern plains and the Rocky Mountains, with a pass by Glacier National Park, on the way to Seattle. Single-night stops in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Seattle each include a guided sightseeing tour, such as an architecture river cruise in Chicago and Space Needle admission in Seattle, before two nights in San Francisco with a hop-on, hop-off city tour and a day trip to Muir Woods and Sausalito. No tour manager travels with the group throughout. This suits travelers who want an extended, genuinely cross-country rail journey with a fast-moving mix of overnight trains and single-night city stops, rather than a slower, single-region trip.
What to know before you look closer
- The hotel is chosen from 24 accommodation options across the stop cities, described as 'choices, not consecutive stays,' so the property and comfort tier depend on what you select.
- Four of the trip's nine nights are spent onboard the train in Coach seating rather than a hotel bed, across three overnight legs between Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco.
- Return rail travel is not included: the evidence's final day notes 'want to travel back by train? Just speak with one of our Travel Consultants,' so a return trip is booked separately.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Washington, D.C.
Your Journey Begins in Washington, D.C.
Arrive in Washington, DC today to kick off your cross-country rail journey. Make your way to your hotel to settle in before your evening tour through the famous monuments illuminated throughout the nation's capital.
- Day 2railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Today, make your way to the train station and board Amtrak to Chicago. Enjoy the experience of traveling by train, sleeping and dining onboard, as fascinating landscapes roll by just outside your window.
- Day 3overnight: Chicago
Chicago, IL
Arrive in Chicago, drop off your bags at your hotel and begin exploring. Take a stroll on Navy Pier and through Millennium Park. Take your included architecture river cruise and learn about the fascinating history of the impressive buildings that line the river.
- Day 4railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
This afternoon board Amtrak at Chicago's Union Station for your journey west to Seattle. Sit back and relax and prepare for a scenic train ride across the top of the country.
- Day 5overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Wake up and enjoy the amazing views that slip by your window as you continue to make your way west. Today you will be traveling through the great northern plains, the Rocky Mountains, and passing by Glacier National Park.
- Day 6overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Arrive in Seattle this morning and check in to your hotel before setting off to explore the "Emerald City". Enjoy admission to the iconic Space Needle, where you can view the entire city while 520 feet above the ground for stunning views of Mt. Rainier, the lights of downtown Seattle, Elliott Bay, and several other popular attractions. Visit the beautiful Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibits, and stroll by the famous Pike Place Market.
- Day 7overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Today, travel on your own to Seattle's Amtrak station and prepare to take a beautiful ride on the Coast Starlight to San Francisco. The scenery along the Coast Starlight route is truly breathtaking as you wind through lush forests and fertile valleys.
- Day 8overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
You will arrive in San Francisco this morning and then head to your hotel to check in and drop off your belongings. Then, it's time for some sightseeing! Climb aboard a hop-on, hop-off tour that includes all of San Francisco's great locations, like Fisherman's Wharf, Downtown, the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and many more.
- Day 9overnight: San Francisco
Muir Woods and Sausalito
Today, get ready to discover the beauty of the Muir Woods and Sausalito! On the drive to Muir Woods, you'll cross over the Golden Gate Bridge and disembark in the serene redwood forest. Once you've taken in all that Muir Woods has to offer, you'll stopover in Sausalito, a "California original." You'll have some free time to explore before your 30-minute bay cruise, which takes you back to Fisherman's Wharf.
- Day 10rail
Your Journey Ends in San Francisco
Check out of your hotel this morning to head home. Want to travel back by train? Just speak with one of our Travel Consultants.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2The Capitol Limited carries travelers overnight from Washington, D.C. to Chicago, with sleeping and dining onboard as the landscape passes outside the window.
- Day 5The Empire Builder crosses the northern plains and the Rocky Mountains, and passes by Glacier National Park, on the second overnight leg to Seattle.
- Day 6The Space Needle in Seattle offers views 520 feet up of Mt. Rainier, downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay.
- Day 9A day trip crosses the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods' redwood forest, then continues to Sausalito before a bay cruise back to Fisherman's Wharf.
Included
- One-way Amtrak in Coach accommodations from Washington, DC to Chicago; Chicago to Seattle; Seattle to San Francisco on the Capitol Limited, Empire Builder and Coast Starlight
- 5 nights' hotel accommodations; 4 nights onboard Amtrak
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. One-way Amtrak Coach travel is included from Washington, D.C. to Chicago on the Capitol Limited, Chicago to Seattle on the Empire Builder, and Seattle to San Francisco on the Coast Starlight.
- How many nights are spent onboard the train?
- Four, across the Capitol Limited overnight leg on day 2, the Empire Builder overnight legs on days 4 and 5, and the Coast Starlight leg on day 7.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- Independent. Guided sightseeing tours and excursions are included at each stop, but no tour manager travels with the group throughout.
- What is not included?
- Return rail travel from San Francisco is not included; the evidence notes it can be booked separately through a Travel Consultant.
- What hotels are used?
- The package offers 24 accommodation options across the stop cities, from Holiday Inn to Waldorf Astoria properties, rather than one fixed hotel per city.
