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Amtrak Vacations · Rail vacation package

Grand National Parks with Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Glacier National Park Roundtrip from Washington, D.C.

16-day Amtrak roundtrip from Washington DC to three national parks

Illustration of Grand National Parks with Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Glacier National Park Roundtrip from Washington, D.C.

Amtrak Vacations operates this 16-day rail vacation package roundtrip from Washington, D.C. to three national parks, with 7 nights spent onboard the train and 8 in hotels. After an overnight ride on the Capitol Limited and Southwest Chief to Williams, Arizona, Day 4 boards the historic Grand Canyon Railway up to the South Rim for an included motorcoach tour. The Coast Starlight then carries travelers up the California coastline to San Francisco for a Yosemite National Park sightseeing day, before the Empire Builder heads north through Seattle to Glacier National Park for three nights, including the Big Sky Circle Tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road and a Two Medicine Valley boat cruise. The return trip retraces the route through Chicago back to Washington, D.C. Hotels are drawn from a list of 26 options across tiers and cities rather than one fixed property per stop. With five named long-distance trains and extended nights onboard, the trip suits travelers who want the classic cross-country rail experience paired with pre-arranged park touring.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are chosen from 26 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than fixed properties; the actual hotel depends on the tier and city selected.
  • The Big Sky Circle Tour and Two Medicine Valley Boat Cruise in Glacier National Park are both marked seasonal in the inclusions, so they may not run on every departure date.
  • Only 8 meals are included across the 16-day trip (4 breakfasts, 4 dinners); most meals are not included.
  • No current departure dates are listed in the evidence; confirm timing directly with Amtrak Vacations.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Your Journey Begins in Washington, D.C.

    Begin your journey in Washington, DC with an overnight on the train to Chicago. Your journey to the national parks has begun!

  2. Day 2railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Your train journey continues today from Chicago toward the Grand Canyon. Enjoy the views of the Midwestern US and spend an additional relaxing night onboard the train.

  3. Day 3overnight: Williams

    Williams, AZ

    Enjoy the beautiful western scenery as you get closer to the Grand Canyon. This evening you will arrive in Williams, AZ, a quaint Route 66 community.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Grand Canyon

    Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

    After an included breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant, board the historic Grand Canyon Railway for the trip up to the Grand Canyon. Your tour picks you up from the depot and takes you all around the South Rim.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    The morning and early afternoon are yours to continue exploring the Grand Canyon. This afternoon, the Grand Canyon Railway brings you back to Williams. Enjoy an included dinner as you prepare to board Amtrak once more for your journey to the West Coast.

  6. Day 6overnight: San Francisco

    San Francisco, CA

    Change trains this morning in Los Angeles as you prepare to ride up the spectacular California coastline on the Coast Starlight. Arriving to San Francisco this evening, check in to your hotel.

  7. Day 7overnight: San Francisco

    San Francisco to Yosemite National Park

    Head off to experience the wonders of Yosemite National Park, from bold rocky peaks such as El Capitan to sprawling piney forests. This evening you return to San Francisco.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Use your included hop-on, hop-off tour pass to enjoy a narrated tour of San Francisco featuring Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, Union Square and more. This evening, head out on Amtrak to Emeryville to meet the train heading north.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Seattle

    Seattle, WA

    As your train heads to Seattle, experience the relaxing scenery of the Pacific Northwest. You will arrive to Seattle in the evening and check in to your hotel.

  10. Day 10overnight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Free morning to explore Seattle; admission to the Space Needle Observation Deck is included. This afternoon, you depart on the Empire Builder heading to Glacier National Park.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Glacier National Park

    Glacier National Park, MT

    Your train arrives in Glacier National Park this morning. Your hotel is right across from the depot. Take some time to relax and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.

  12. Day 12overnight: Glacier National Park

    Glacier National Park, MT

    Your Big Sky Circle tour picks you up from the hotel and carries you through the park along Going-to-the-Sun Road, past Logan Pass and Goat Lick, with narration on the park's history, geology and native tribes.

  13. Day 13overnight: Glacier National Park

    Glacier National Park, MT

    Transported to Two Medicine Valley for a sightseeing boat cruise, taking in the natural beauty of the valley, the lake, and its wildlife.

  14. Day 14railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    After breakfast this morning you'll board the train heading back to Chicago, taking in soaring snow-capped peaks, rolling foothills, and wide-open plains.

  15. Day 15railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Continue on the train from Chicago back to Washington, DC today, relaxing, enjoying the views and reflecting on your journey.

  16. Day 16

    Your Journey Ends in Washington, D.C.

    Your Journey Ends in Washington, D.C.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Board the historic Grand Canyon Railway up to the South Rim, followed by a motorcoach Freedom Tour around it.
  • Day 6Change trains in Los Angeles to ride the Coast Starlight up the spectacular California coastline into San Francisco.
  • Day 11Arrival by train into Glacier National Park, with the hotel located across from the depot.
  • Day 12Big Sky Circle Tour through the park along Going-to-the-Sun Road, past Logan Pass and Goat Lick.
  • Day 13Sightseeing boat cruise of Two Medicine Valley, taking in the lake and its wildlife.

Included

  • Roundtrip service in Coach accommodations on the Grand Canyon Railway
  • Motorcoach Freedom Tour of the Grand Canyon's South Rim
  • Sightseeing tour of Yosemite National Park
  • Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of San Francisco
  • Admission to the Space Needle Observation Deck
  • Big Sky Circle Tour of Glacier National Park (seasonal)
  • Two Medicine Valley Boat Cruise of Glacier National Park (seasonal)
  • Roundtrip Amtrak in Coach accommodations from Washington, DC to Chicago on the Capitol Limited
  • One way Amtrak in Coach accommodations Chicago to Williams on the Southwest Chief; Williams to San Francisco and San Francisco to Seattle on the Coast Starlight; Seattle to Glacier National Park and Glacier National Park to Chicago on the Empire Builder
  • 8 nights' hotel accommodations
  • 7 nights onboard Amtrak
  • 8 meals included (4 breakfasts, 4 dinners)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. All named long-distance Amtrak routes are included in Coach accommodations: the Capitol Limited (Washington, D.C. to Chicago), Southwest Chief (Chicago to Williams), Grand Canyon Railway (Williams to the South Rim), Coast Starlight (to San Francisco and Seattle), and Empire Builder (Seattle to Glacier National Park and on to Chicago).
How many nights are spent onboard the train versus in hotels?
7 nights are spent onboard Amtrak and 8 nights in hotels, across the trip's 15 total nights.
What is included?
Roundtrip Coach-class Amtrak travel on all named routes, the Grand Canyon Railway, a motorcoach tour of the Grand Canyon's South Rim, a Yosemite National Park sightseeing tour, a hop-on-hop-off San Francisco tour, Space Needle admission, the Big Sky Circle Tour and Two Medicine Valley Boat Cruise in Glacier National Park (both seasonal), 8 nights of hotels, and 8 meals (4 breakfasts, 4 dinners).
What hotels are used?
The package draws from 26 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than one fixed property per stop; sample options include the Kimpton Hotel Monaco and Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., and the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, in Chicago.
How much walking or activity is involved?
Sightseeing is mostly by included motorcoach and boat tour, the Grand Canyon Freedom Tour, the Yosemite tour, the Big Sky Circle Tour and the Two Medicine Valley Boat Cruise, rather than hiking, though free time allows for more active exploring at each park.

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