Amtrak Vacations
Grand Mountain Peaks and The Grandest Canyons
Rail and road trip from Denver to LA through seven national parks
13 daysfrom $3,169
30% rail
Amtrak Vacations
Grand National Parks with Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon
13-day rail trip to Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon
Amtrak Vacations operates this 13-day, 12-night rail vacation that begins in Chicago, Illinois, and ends in Williams, Arizona, near the Grand Canyon, using four named trains, the California Zephyr, the Coast Starlight, the Southwest Chief and the Grand Canyon Railway. After crossing the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains to Salt Lake City, the trip includes a guided tour of Yellowstone on day 4, then an overnight train to San Francisco, followed by a day trip to Yosemite on day 7 that passes rocky peaks such as El Capitan. Day 8 follows the California coast to Los Angeles, with a city tour and Hollywood visit on day 9, before an overnight train to Williams and a Grand Canyon sightseeing tour on day 10. This suits travelers who want three major national parks in one trip, with guided tours doing most of the sightseeing and long-distance trains carrying them between stops.
What to know before you look closer
- This package lists 33 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.
- Only 3 meals are included across the 12 nights, 1 breakfast and 2 dinners, so most meals are on your own.
- The Yellowstone sightseeing tour is marked seasonal by the operator, so confirm it operates on your chosen departure date.
- The itinerary does not list specific current departure dates, so confirm the trip is running before booking.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Your Journey Begins in Chicago
Head to Union Station in Chicago to board the California Zephyr train heading West.
- Day 2overnight: Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Journey from Chicago across the Great Plains and through the Rocky Mountains; arrive in Salt Lake City and head to your hotel for the evening.
- Day 3overnight: West Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park
Continue on to Yellowstone, taking in amazing mountain scenery along the way.
- Day 4overnight: West Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park
Experience the majesty of Yellowstone, the world's first national park, with an included tour stopping at landmarks such as Old Faithful.
- Day 5railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Transported back to Salt Lake City to board your train heading to the West Coast and Yosemite National Park.
- Day 6overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Arrive in San Francisco this evening; check into your hotel to relax or head out to enjoy dinner or some sights.
- Day 7overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco to Yosemite National Park
Ride through California's agricultural heartland to Yosemite National Park, experiencing rocky peaks such as El Capitan, then return to San Francisco.
- Day 8overnight: Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Scenic journey down to the California coast, savoring rolling hills and ocean views; stop for a night in Los Angeles before continuing to the Grand Canyon.
- Day 9overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Included tour to learn about Hollywood with a visit to some of the homes of the stars, then board the Southwest Chief bound for the Grand Canyon.
- Day 10railovernight: Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Arrive in Williams, Arizona; breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant, then board the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim for an included sightseeing tour.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 11railovernight: Williams
Williams, AZ
Morning to continue exploring the Grand Canyon, including a visit to the historic Hopi House; return to Williams on the Grand Canyon Railway with included dinner.
Meals: Dinner
- Day 12railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Depart from Williams in the morning, enjoying the desert sunrise as the train winds its way east.
- Day 13
Your Journey Ends in Chicago
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1The trip boards the California Zephyr at Chicago's Union Station heading west.
- Day 4A tour of Yellowstone, the world's first national park, stops at landmarks such as Old Faithful.
- Day 7A ride to Yosemite National Park passes rocky peaks such as El Capitan.
- Day 8The scenic journey down to Los Angeles follows the California coast, with rolling hills and ocean views.
- Day 10After breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant, the Grand Canyon Railway carries travelers from Williams to the South Rim for an included sightseeing tour.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Chicago to Salt Lake City; Salt Lake City to San Francisco; San Francisco to Los Angeles; Los Angeles to Williams; Williams to Chicago in Coach accommodations on the California Zephyr®, Coast Starlight®, and Southwest Chief®
- 8 nights' hotel accommodations; 4 nights' onboard Amtrak
- 3 meals included (1 breakfast, 2 dinners)
Also sold by
The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.
- Railbookersfrom $4,599
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included in this trip?
- Yes. One-way Amtrak Coach travel is included for Chicago to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City to San Francisco, San Francisco to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Williams, and Williams to Chicago, on the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight and Southwest Chief, plus a roundtrip on the Grand Canyon Railway, with 4 nights spent onboard.
- Is this trip guided or independent?
- Guided sightseeing tours are included at Yellowstone, Yosemite, Los Angeles and the Grand Canyon, a Motorcoach Freedom Tour of the South Rim; rail travel between stops is independent.
- Which trains does the trip use?
- The California Zephyr, Coast Starlight and Southwest Chief, all in Coach class, plus the Grand Canyon Railway between Williams and the South Rim.
- What hotels are included?
- 8 nights of hotel accommodations plus 4 nights onboard Amtrak are included, chosen from 33 accommodation options across the route's cities and price tiers.
- What meals are included?
- 3 meals, 1 breakfast and 2 dinners, including a dinner at The Roof Restaurant in Salt Lake City.
- When does the Yellowstone tour run?
- The operator marks the Yellowstone Lower Loop sightseeing tour as seasonal, so confirm it operates on your chosen departure date.
