Amtrak Vacations
Grand Canyon to Yosemite Roundtrip from Chicago
Roundtrip rail trip from Chicago to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite
11 daysfrom $1,939
45% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Glacier National Park, Seattle, and San Francisco
Cross-country rail journey linking Chicago, Glacier, Seattle, and San Francisco
Amtrak Vacations runs this 11-day, 10-night independent rail vacation across four cities, starting in Chicago and finishing in San Francisco by way of Glacier National Park and Seattle. Travel between stops is independent, using the Empire Builder and the Coast Starlight, with guided sightseeing included at each destination rather than a tour manager for the whole trip. Chicago brings a Skydeck Chicago visit to the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower before an overnight train ride toward Montana. Two nights at Glacier National Park include a Going-to-the-Sun Road sightseeing tour and a Two Medicine Valley boat cruise, followed by an overnight run to Seattle for hop-on, hop-off touring, the Space Needle, and Chihuly Garden and Glass. The Coast Starlight then carries travelers through the Cascades to San Francisco for two final days built around a GO San Francisco Explorer Card. It suits travelers who want a longer, multi-city rail itinerary with sightseeing handled at each stop but flexibility to choose their own hotel tier.
What to know before you look closer
- The hotel in each city is chosen from 19 accommodation options across different tiers, not fixed stays, so the property you get (from options like the Holiday Inn to the Waldorf Astoria Chicago) depends on what you select and its availability.
- Only 4 meals are included across the 11-day trip (2 breakfasts and 2 dinners), so most meals are on your own.
- Day 3 is described as 'a relaxing day on the train,' with the Empire Builder traveling through North Dakota and Montana before arriving at Glacier National Park that evening, so much of that day is spent in transit rather than sightseeing.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Welcome to Chicago! Spend some free time exploring all this amazing city has to offer. Take a walk down the Magnificent Mile for world class shopping, dining, and attractions.
- Day 2overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Enjoy admission to the Skydeck Chicago and views of the city from the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower. This afternoon, head to Chicago's Union Station and board the Empire Builder®.
- Day 3railovernight: Glacier National Park, MT
Glacier National Park, MT
Enjoy a relaxing day on the train. Head to the observation car as you travel through the plains of North Dakota and into Montana and Big Sky Country. Arrive in this evening and settle in for a good night's rest.
- Day 4overnight: Glacier National Park, MT
Glacier National Park, MT
Today, explore Glacier National Park on a full day sightseeing tour. Venture along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, a windy-mountain thoroughfare that spans 50 miles through the park. After your tour, you'll return to Glacier Park Lodge for your final night's stay.
- Day 5overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Today, explore the serene sights of Glacier National Park on a scenic boat cruise of Two Medicine Valley. This evening, board the Empire Builder once more as you travel to Seattle.
- Day 6overnight: Seattle, WA
Seattle, WA
Welcome to Seattle! Take a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour to explore the city, including Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Seattle's Great Wheel, the waterfront, and more.
- Day 7overnight: Seattle, WA
Seattle, WA
Continue exploring Seattle and use your included admission to visit the Space Needle Observation Deck and Chihuly Garden and Glass museum.
- Day 8overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
This morning, board the Coast Starlight and travel through the Cascades making your way south to San Francisco.
- Day 9overnight: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
Start exploring San Francisco with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. Visit Union Square, Golden Gate Park and Fisherman's Wharf.
- Day 10overnight: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
Your GO San Francisco card gives you the choice of 4 tours or activities from over 25 to choose from. Perhaps you want to take a cruise through the San Francisco Bay or visit world class museums like the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art or the California Academy of Sciences.
- Day 11
Your Journey Ends in San Francisco
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2Admission to Skydeck Chicago gives views from the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower before boarding the Empire Builder that afternoon.
- Day 4A full day sightseeing tour follows the Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50-mile mountain road through Glacier National Park.
- Day 5A scenic boat cruise of Two Medicine Valley in Glacier National Park is followed by boarding the Empire Builder for Seattle that evening.
- Day 7Included admission covers the Space Needle Observation Deck and the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum in Seattle.
- Day 8The Coast Starlight travels through the Cascades on its way south to San Francisco.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Chicago to Glacier National Park; Glacier National Park to Seattle and Seattle to San Francisco onboard the Empire Builder® and Coast Starlight®
- 7 nights' hotel accommodations; 3 nights' onboard Amtrak
- 4 meals included (2 breakfasts and 2 dinner)
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. One-way Amtrak coach travel is included from Chicago to Glacier National Park, Glacier National Park to Seattle, and Seattle to San Francisco, on the Empire Builder and Coast Starlight, with 3 nights spent onboard the train.
- Is this trip guided or independent?
- Travel between destinations is independent, with guided sightseeing tours and excursions included at each stop; there is no tour manager for the whole journey.
- Which trains are used?
- The Empire Builder from Chicago through Glacier National Park to Seattle, and the Coast Starlight from Seattle to San Francisco, both in coach class.
- What hotels are included?
- The package includes 7 nights of hotels chosen from 19 accommodation options across the cities and tiers, including choices like Glacier Park Lodge in Glacier National Park, Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle-Downtown, and several Chicago hotels ranging from the Holiday Inn to the Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
- What meals are included?
- 4 meals: 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners.
- What sightseeing is included?
- Admission to Skydeck Chicago, the Two Medicine Valley boat cruise and Big Sky Circle Tour in Glacier National Park, Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass admission in Seattle, hop-on, hop-off tours in Seattle and San Francisco, and a GO San Francisco Explorer Card with a choice of 4 activities.
