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Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Empire Builder Experience - Chicago to Seattle

Five-day independent rail journey Chicago to Seattle on Amtrak Empire Builder

Illustration of Empire Builder Experience - Chicago to Seattle

Vacations By Rail's Empire Builder Experience is a five-day independent rail vacation across 2,300 miles of the northern United States. The journey begins in Chicago, where you start with a sightseeing boat tour of the Chicago River and architecture before spending the day exploring the city on your own, visiting Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the lakefront, and the Magnificent Mile. On Day 2, you board Amtrak's legendary Empire Builder at Chicago's Union Station for a two-day passage to Seattle. Passengers with sleeping accommodations gain access to the first-class Metropolitan Lounge before boarding and can enjoy included meals in the Dining Car and views from the glass-enclosed Sightseer Lounge. Day 3 takes you through North Dakota grasslands where wildlife abounds, then into rolling hills, canyons, gorges, and the rugged terrain of the Pacific Northwest. You arrive in Seattle mid-morning on Day 4 with a full day to explore Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, and the city's galleries and museums before your departure on Day 5. This package suits independent travelers seeking a structured but self-guided rail journey and first-time rail travelers who want a famous American train experience without group obligations.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of USD 895 covers two nights in hotels and two nights aboard the train, but meals on the train are included only if you upgrade to private sleeping accommodations; otherwise dining is an additional cost.
  • Flights, airport transfers, and cancellation insurance are not included and must be arranged separately.
  • Independent transfers mean you arrange your own transportation from the rail station to your Chicago hotel and from Seattle's station to your downtown hotel.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Chicago

    Chicago

    Begin the Empire Builder experience on the Chicago River with an iconic sightseeing tour of Chicago's architecture and history by boat. Spend the rest of your day exploring all Chicago has to offer. From Navy Pier, Millenium Park and the spectacular lakefront, to the Magnificent Mile shopping, world-class parks and museums, you will wish you had a few more days.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Train

    Empire Builder to Seattle

    Arrive at Union Station for your mid-day departure on Amtrak's Empire Builder. For those passengers with sleeping accommodations, check into Amtrak's first-class Metropolitan Lounge for complimentary beverages and snacks, or take a walk through historic Union Station. Once onboard the legendary Empire Builder, settle into your seat and prepare yourself for the 2300 mile journey through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country. Enjoy a full-course dinner in the dining car this evening. All meals onboard the train included with your sleeping accommodation. Relax as the train makes its way through the Wisconsin Dells and St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota tonight.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Train

    En Route

    As you awake this morning, the train makes its way through the grasslands of the "Northern Prairie State" of North Dakota. Wildlife is in abundance in this area, so be sure to have your camera ready! Delicious meals are available in the Dining Car, or lighter fare is available in the Sightseer Lounge car. As the train continues on through the day, the landscape gives way to rolling hills, canyons, gorges, and rugged mountain terrain. Relax in the Sightseer Lounge this evening as the train rolls through Glacier National Park.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Seattle

    Seattle

    The train is scheduled for a mid-morning arrival in Seattle, Washington. Transfer independently from the rail station to your downtown hotel. Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and Pioneer Square are steps from your doorway. Explore the thriving music and theater scene, vibrant galleries, and one-of-a-kind museums or relax with some of the best coffee in the country.

  5. Day 5rail

    Conclusion

    Today ends your Empire Builder Experience. Independent transfer to the airport or rail station.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Chicago River architecture and sightseeing tour by boat, followed by independent exploration of Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the lakefront, and the Magnificent Mile.
  • Day 2Mid-day departure from Chicago's Union Station aboard Amtrak's Empire Builder for a 2,300-mile journey; access to the glass-enclosed Sightseer Lounge car and Dining Car.
  • Day 3Travel through North Dakota grasslands with abundant wildlife, then into rolling hills, canyons, gorges, and rugged terrain as the landscape transitions toward the Pacific Northwest.
  • Day 4Mid-morning arrival in Seattle; full day to visit Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, galleries, and museums.

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 2 nights
  • Transportation aboard Amtrak (2 nights)
  • Meals on train included when upgrading to private sleeping accommodations

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 package includes transportation aboard Amtrak's Empire Builder for two nights on the Chicago-to-Seattle route.
Is this an escorted tour?
No. Vacations By Rail describes this as an independent rail vacation. You travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary; there is no group leader or guided experiences except the optional Chicago River boat tour on Day 1.
What is included in the USD 895 from-price?
Hotel accommodations for two nights, transportation aboard Amtrak for two nights, and meals on the train only when you upgrade to private sleeping accommodations.
Are meals included?
Meals on the train are included only if you upgrade to private sleeping accommodations. Otherwise, you purchase meals separately in the Dining Car or Sightseer Lounge.
How much walking or physical activity is involved?
The package involves independent transfers from stations to hotels and walking-based exploration of Chicago and Seattle. The boat tour and train travel involve minimal exertion.
What scenery does the Empire Builder pass?
The route crosses the Mississippi River, Lake Pepin, North Dakota grasslands, the Bear Paw Mountains, Glacier National Park, Icicle Canyon, the Skykomish region, the gateway to Mount Rainier, and the Columbia River Gorge.

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