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Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Gold Rush Trail by Rail
8-day California rail trip: Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles
Amtrak Vacations runs this eight-day, seven-night independent rail vacation through California's Gold Rush country, from Sacramento to Los Angeles by way of San Francisco. Travelers make their own way between stops, with guided sightseeing tours included at each city rather than a tour manager throughout. The trip opens with two nights in Sacramento, where the itinerary visits the California State Railroad Museum and the Old Sacramento Historic District. From there, the Capitol Corridor carries travelers to San Francisco for three nights that include a guided food tour of the Mission District and a sightseeing cruise past Alcatraz. The Coast Starlight then runs down the California coast to Los Angeles for two final nights, with a nighttime city tour covering Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Sunset Strip. This suits independent travelers who want a structured, multi-city rail trip with sightseeing built in at each stop, rather than a single destination.
What to know before you look closer
- The 16 hotel options span multiple tiers and cities, from the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown to the Fairmont San Francisco; the specific hotel used depends on the tier and city selected at booking.
- This is an independent rail vacation: travelers make their own way between train stations and hotels, with guided sightseeing tours included only at each stop, not a tour manager traveling throughout.
- No current departure dates are listed in the evidence; confirm availability with Amtrak Vacations before booking.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Sacramento, CA
Your Journey Begins in Sacramento
Arrive in Sacramento and check into your hotel for a two-night stay. Spend your evening exploring the Old Sacramento waterfront or enjoying a riverside dinner.
- Day 2railovernight: Sacramento, CA
Sacramento
Explore at your own pace. Perhaps you'll step back in time at the California State Railroad Museum and explore the Old Sacramento Historic District, complete with wooden sidewalks and Gold Rush-era buildings.
- Day 3overnight: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco
Board Amtrak's Capitol Corridor® for a relaxing ride to the Bay Area.
- Day 4overnight: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco
Today, enjoy a guided food tour through San Francisco's eclectic Mission District. You'll savor the flavors of several culinary styles including San Francisco classics and some true surprises that are sure to dazzle the taste buds.
- Day 5overnight: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco
Continue to explore the City by the Bay. Visit neighborhoods like Chinatown, North Beach, and the Castro before taking your sightseeing cruise with views of infamous Alcatraz.
- Day 6overnight: Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles
Enjoy one of the most scenic rides in the country aboard the Coast Starlight® as you head down the California coast to Los Angeles.
- Day 7overnight: Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles
Take a tour through the glitz and glamour of LA, explore Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip, and more. Enjoy the rest of your day discovering the city's museums or relaxing at the beach.
- Day 8
Your Journey Ends in Los Angeles
Check out of your hotel and continue your travels.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2The itinerary visits the California State Railroad Museum and the Old Sacramento Historic District, with its wooden sidewalks and Gold Rush-era buildings.
- Day 4A guided food tour through San Francisco's Mission District samples several culinary styles.
- Day 5A sightseeing cruise in San Francisco passes Alcatraz.
- Day 6The Coast Starlight runs down the California coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
- Day 7A city tour covers Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Sacramento to San Francisco on the Capitol Corridor®; San Francisco to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight®
- 6 nights' hotel accommodations
Questions travellers ask
- Is rail travel included?
- Yes, one-way Amtrak in Coach class from Sacramento to San Francisco on the Capitol Corridor, and San Francisco to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- Independent: no tour manager travels throughout, but guided sightseeing tours and excursions are included at each stop.
- Which trains are used?
- The Capitol Corridor (Sacramento to San Francisco) and the Coast Starlight (San Francisco to Los Angeles), both in Coach class.
- What hotels are used?
- The package offers 16 accommodation options across tiers and cities, from the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown to the Fairmont San Francisco; travelers choose the tier and city.
- What's included?
- Six nights' hotel accommodations and one-way Amtrak travel from Sacramento to San Francisco and San Francisco to Los Angeles.
- What sightseeing is included?
- A guided food tour of San Francisco's Mission District, a sightseeing cruise past Alcatraz, and a nighttime sightseeing tour of Los Angeles.
