Amtrak Vacations
Grand Northern Rail Experience
Independent Amtrak roundtrip from Chicago to Seattle and San Francisco
12 daysfrom $2,059
42% rail
Amtrak Vacations
Grand National Parks of the West
12-day rail trip to 6 national parks from Denver to Yosemite
Amtrak Vacations operates this 12-day, 11-night rail vacation that begins in Denver, Colorado, and ends in San Francisco, California, using the California Zephyr for the legs between Denver, Grand Junction, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, including one overnight train on day 9. Guided sightseeing tours are included at Rocky Mountain National Park on day 2, Arches and Canyonlands on day 4, and later at Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Yosemite, while a 5-day intermediate rental car covers the drive from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone. Day 7 takes in Grand Teton's alpine lakes, canyons, glacier-carved summits and forests before entering Yellowstone, and day 8 tours both the Lower and Upper Loop, including the Grand Prismatic Spring. This suits travelers who want most of their national park sightseeing arranged as guided tours, with the California Zephyr providing the connecting rail legs rather than being the trip's main feature.
What to know before you look closer
- This package lists 28 accommodation options across cities and price tiers rather than one fixed hotel per stop, so which hotel you get depends on the tier and city you choose.
- Getting from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole on day 6, and back to Salt Lake City before the overnight train on day 9, is done by road, not rail.
- The evidence does not list any meals as included in this package.
- The itinerary does not list specific current departure dates, so confirm the trip is running before booking.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Denver
Your Journey Begins in Denver
Welcome to Denver! Explore the Mile High City's museums, art galleries, craft breweries, and world-class cuisine, or check out the National Ice Core Lab.
- Day 2overnight: Denver
Denver, CO
Sightseeing tour of Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado, spanning the Continental Divide with 76 mountains and 412 square miles of beauty.
- Day 3overnight: Moab
Denver to Moab
Board the California Zephyr bound for Grand Junction, then take your included shuttle transfer to Moab for a two-night stay.
- Day 4overnight: Moab
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Full-day tour of Arches and Canyonlands, featuring 2,000 natural sandstone arches including Delicate Arch, and Island in the Sky.
- Day 5overnight: Salt Lake City
Moab to Salt Lake City
Shuttle transfer from Moab back to Grand Junction, then board the California Zephyr to Salt Lake City.
- Day 6overnight: Jackson Hole
Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole
Drive up to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the basecamp for exploring Grand Teton National Park.
- Day 7overnight: Yellowstone
Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone National Park
Explore Grand Teton's alpine lakes, canyons, glacier-carved summits, and forests, then drive into Yellowstone.
- Day 8overnight: Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park
Sightseeing tour of both the Lower and Upper Loop, seeing Old Faithful Geyser, Gibbon River, Monument Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Prismatic Spring.
- Day 9overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Drive back to Salt Lake City, then head to the Amtrak Station to board the California Zephyr.
- Day 10overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Board your included transfer to San Francisco from Emeryville Station; stroll Fisherman's Wharf and sample local cuisine.
- Day 11overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco to Yosemite National Park to San Francisco
Cross the Bay Bridge at sunrise en route to Yosemite; 2.5 hours to hike and shop in Yosemite Village.
- Day 12
Your Journey Ends in San Francisco
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2A sightseeing tour of Rocky Mountain National Park spans the Continental Divide, with 76 mountains across 412 square miles.
- Day 4A full-day tour of Arches and Canyonlands features 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including Delicate Arch, and Island in the Sky.
- Day 7Grand Teton National Park's alpine lakes, canyons, glacier-carved summits and forests are explored before the drive into Yellowstone.
- Day 8A sightseeing tour of Yellowstone's Lower and Upper Loop takes in Old Faithful Geyser, Gibbon River, Monument Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs and the Grand Prismatic Spring.
- Day 11A day trip to Yosemite National Park includes 2.5 hours to hike and shop in Yosemite Village.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Denver to Grand Junction; Grand Junction to Salt Lake City; Salt Lake City to San Francisco onboard the California Zephyr®
- 10 nights' hotel accommodations; 1 night onboard Amtrak
- Roundtrip Transfers from Grand Junction to Moab
- 5 day intermediate car rental in Salt Lake City
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included in this trip?
- Yes. One-way Amtrak Coach travel is included for Denver to Grand Junction, Grand Junction to Salt Lake City, and Salt Lake City to San Francisco on the California Zephyr, including one night onboard.
- Is this trip guided or independent?
- Guided sightseeing tours are included at Rocky Mountain, Arches and Canyonlands, Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks; rail travel between stops is independent.
- Which train does the trip use?
- The California Zephyr, in Coach class, for the legs between Denver, Grand Junction, Salt Lake City and San Francisco.
- What hotels are included?
- 10 nights of hotel accommodations plus 1 night onboard Amtrak are included, chosen from 28 accommodation options across the route's cities and price tiers.
- Is a rental car included?
- Yes, a 5-day intermediate car rental is included in Salt Lake City, used for the Jackson Hole, Grand Teton and Yellowstone portion of the trip.
- How much walking or hiking is involved?
- Most days are full-day sightseeing tours, but day 11 includes 2.5 hours to hike and shop in Yosemite Village.
