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Amtrak Vacations · Escorted rail vacation

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

17-day roundtrip Amtrak journey from Washington DC to three national parks

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

Amtrak Vacations operates this 17-day, 16-night escorted rail vacation roundtrip from Washington, D.C., to three national parks: Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier. After an overnight ride to Chicago on the Capitol Limited, the California Zephyr carries travelers across the Great Plains and through the Rocky Mountains to Salt Lake City, then on to West Yellowstone for a guided tour taking in Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Hayden Valley, and Yellowstone Lake. The route continues by train to San Francisco for a guided day trip to Yosemite National Park, then north to Seattle, and on to Glacier National Park for three nights, where a Going-to-the-Sun Road tour passes Logan Pass and a boat cruise crosses the mountain lake at Two Medicine Valley. Rail travel between stops is independent, while sightseeing at each park and city is guided. The trip suits travelers who want built-in touring at the parks without giving up the flexibility of moving between them on their own.

What to know before you look closer

  • Amtrak Vacations lists two possible lodging options for the Yellowstone stop, Lake Lodge Cabins and Old Faithful Inn; the property used depends on availability.
  • The operator does not list current departure dates for this package; confirm availability directly with Amtrak Vacations before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Journey begins with an overnight on the train from Washington, DC to Chicago on Amtrak's Capitol Limited.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Chicago, IL

    Hop aboard the California Zephyr train toward Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier National Park.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Salt Lake City

    Salt Lake City, UT

    Train journey through the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains; arrives Salt Lake City in the evening.

  4. Day 4overnight: West Yellowstone

    Yellowstone National Park

    Continue on to Yellowstone with a scenic ride.

  5. Day 5overnight: West Yellowstone

    Yellowstone National Park

    Guided tour through Yellowstone taking in Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Hayden Valley, and Yellowstone Lake.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Transported back to Salt Lake City to board the train heading to San Francisco and Yosemite National Park.

  7. Day 7overnight: San Francisco

    San Francisco, CA

    Arrive in San Francisco; check into hotel.

  8. Day 8overnight: San Francisco

    San Francisco to Yosemite National Park

    Guided tour of Yosemite National Park with free time to explore before returning to San Francisco in the evening.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Use the included hop-on, hop-off sightseeing pass to tour San Francisco, then head to Emeryville to board the train north.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Seattle

    Seattle, WA

    Scenic train ride north through the Pacific Northwest, arriving in Seattle in the evening.

  11. Day 11overnight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Explore Seattle including admission to the Space Needle, then board Amtrak's Empire Builder for Glacier National Park.

  12. Day 12overnight: Glacier National Park

    Glacier National Park, MT

    Arrive in Glacier National Park, check into lodge, free day.

  13. Day 13overnight: Glacier National Park

    Glacier National Park, MT

    Guided tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road, taking in Logan Pass and Goat Lick.

  14. Day 14overnight: Glacier National Park

    Glacier National Park, MT

    Transfer to Two Medicine Valley for a boat cruise on the mountain lake.

  15. Day 15overnight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Board the Empire Builder once more for the journey through the Rockies toward Chicago.

  16. Day 16railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Back in Chicago, board the final overnight train back to Washington, DC.

  17. Day 17

    Your Journey Ends in Washington, D.C.

    Arrive in Washington, DC.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5A guided tour through Yellowstone National Park taking in Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Hayden Valley, and Yellowstone Lake.
  • Day 8A guided tour of Yosemite National Park with free time to explore before returning to San Francisco.
  • Day 13A guided tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, taking in Logan Pass and Goat Lick.
  • Day 14A boat cruise on the mountain lake at Two Medicine Valley in Glacier National Park.

Included

  • Roundtrip Amtrak in Coach accommodations from Washington, DC to Chicago on the Capitol Limited
  • One-way Amtrak in Coach accommodations from Chicago to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City to San Francisco, San Francisco to Seattle, Seattle to Glacier National Park, Glacier National Park to Washington, DC on the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, and Empire Builder
  • 9 nights' hotel accommodations
  • 7 nights' onboard Amtrak
  • 6 meals included (3 breakfasts and 3 dinners)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes roundtrip Amtrak Coach travel from Washington, DC to Chicago on the Capitol Limited, plus one-way Coach travel from Chicago to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City to San Francisco, San Francisco to Seattle, and Seattle to Glacier National Park back to Washington, DC on the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, and Empire Builder.
Is this trip guided or independent?
Amtrak Vacations describes it as an escorted rail vacation with guided sightseeing tours at Yellowstone, Yosemite, San Francisco, and Glacier National Park; rail travel between stops is independent.
Which national parks does it visit?
Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Glacier National Park.
How many nights are spent on the train versus in hotels?
The trip includes 9 nights in hotels and 7 nights onboard Amtrak, over 17 days and 16 nights total.
What is included in the price?
Guided sightseeing tours at Yellowstone, Yosemite, San Francisco, and Glacier National Park; roundtrip and one-way Amtrak Coach travel; 9 hotel nights; 7 nights onboard Amtrak; and 6 meals (3 breakfasts, 3 dinners).
How much does the trip cost?
Prices start from $5,689 USD, about $335 per day.

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