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Amtrak Vacations

Grand Canyon Discovery Roundtrip from Washington, D.C.

13-day roundtrip rail journey from Washington, D.C. to the Grand Canyon

Illustration of Grand Canyon Discovery Roundtrip from Washington, D.C.

, looping out to the Grand Canyon and back. The route moves through Chicago, Santa Fe, Williams, the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and Sedona, riding the Capital Limited and Southwest Chief between cities and the Grand Canyon Railway into the park. Days alternate between overnight train legs and multi-night city stops: two nights in Chicago with a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing pass, two nights in Santa Fe that include a guided walking tour through the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and a night at the Grand Canyon after breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant and a motorcoach tour of the South Rim. Later, a jeep tour covers Sedona's red rock formations before the return trains head back east. The pace suits travelers who want a mix of guided sightseeing and free time, and who are comfortable making their own way between hotels and stations on travel days.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen US$110 since 4 Jul, to US$1,999.

US$2,109US$1,8994 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

  • Final hotels depend on which of the 27 accommodation options and cities you choose; the sample list ranges from the Holiday Inn Washington-Central/White House to the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC.
  • Only 2 meals are included across the 13 days, one breakfast and one dinner; other meals are on your own.
  • C.

Day by day

The operator's published day-by-day is incomplete (day 12 is not published). Day counts and hotel changes are not calculated from it.

  1. Day 1railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    This afternoon board the train in Washington to start your trip to Chicago!

  2. Day 2overnight: Chicago

    Chicago, IL

    Welcome to Chicago! Today, your journey begins with a multi-day hop-on, hop-off sightseeing pass, which gives you transportation to the most famous Chicago attractions.

  3. Day 3overnight: Chicago

    Chicago, IL

    Enjoy the second day of your hop-on, hop-off city tour of Chicago. This enjoyable day of sightseeing will be followed by an included dinner at a popular Chicago restaurant.

  4. Day 4overnight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Transfer on your own to the Amtrak station and board the Southwest Chief® to Santa Fe.

  5. Day 5overnight: Santa Fe

    Santa Fe, NM

    After your arrival in Santa Fe in the afternoon, take some time to get know this cultural gem of a city. Enjoy a free day exploring all that Santa Fe has to offer.

  6. Day 6overnight: Santa Fe

    Santa Fe, NM

    Today you will enjoy a guided walking tour of Santa Fe, nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Williams

    Santa Fe to Williams

    You will be transferred from downtown Santa Fe back to the Amtrak station where you will board the train to Williams Junction, then transferred to Williams, AZ.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Grand Canyon

    Williams to Grand Canyon

    This morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant. Then, board the Grand Canyon Railway into the heart of Grand Canyon National Park. Enjoy a motorcoach tour of the Canyon's majestic South Rim and your included lunch.

  9. Day 9overnight: Flagstaff

    Grand Canyon to Flagstaff

    Today you'll have some time in the morning to take in the fresh mountain air. You'll depart later this morning and head to Flagstaff.

  10. Day 10overnight: Flagstaff

    Flagstaff to Sedona to Flagstaff

    Get ready to explore the spectacular Red Rocks of Sedona with your included Canyons & Cowboys jeep tour.

  11. Day 11overnight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    This morning board the Southwest Chief for your trip back to Chicago.

  12. Day 13

    Your Journey Ends in Washington, D.C.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 8Breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant in Williams, then the Grand Canyon Railway carries the group into Grand Canyon National Park for a motorcoach tour of the South Rim and an included lunch.
  • Day 6A guided walking tour of Santa Fe, a city set in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
  • Day 10The included Canyons and Cowboys jeep tour explores the red rock formations around Sedona.
  • Day 3A second day on the Chicago hop-on, hop-off sightseeing pass, followed by an included dinner at a Chicago restaurant.

Included

  • Roundtrip Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Washington, DC to Chicago; Chicago to Santa Fe; Santa Fe to Williams Junction, and Flagstaff to Washington, DC on the Capital Limited® and Southwest Chief®
  • 8 nights' hotel accommodations; 4 nights' onboard Amtrak
  • 2 meals (1 breakfast, 1 dinner)
  • One-way shuttle transfer from Maswik Lodge in the Grand Canyon to Flagstaff hotel
  • Roundtrip transfer from Flagstaff to Sedona

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From $1,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,999 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?
Yes. Roundtrip Amtrak in Coach accommodations covers Washington, D.C. to Chicago, Chicago to Santa Fe, Santa Fe to Williams Junction, and Flagstaff back to Washington, D.C., on the Capital Limited and Southwest Chief, plus a roundtrip ride on the Grand Canyon Railway between Williams and the park.
What class of train service is included?
Coach accommodations on all rail segments.
What hotels are used?
The package includes 8 nights of hotel stays selected from 27 accommodation options across the cities on the route, plus 4 nights onboard Amtrak. Sample hotels include the Kimpton Hotel Monaco and Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C. and the Palmer House in Chicago.
How many meals are included?
Two: one breakfast and one dinner.
Is the trip guided or independent?
It mixes both. A guided walking tour in Santa Fe, a hop-on, hop-off pass in Chicago, and a jeep tour in Sedona are included, but travelers make their own way between train stations and hotels.

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