Amtrak Vacations
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Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Grand Northern Rail Experience
Independent Amtrak roundtrip from Chicago to Seattle and San Francisco
Amtrak Vacations runs this independent, 12-day rail vacation that starts and ends in Chicago, travelling by train to Seattle and San Francisco. There is no tour manager: travellers make their own way to the hotel in each city, and days are largely left free to explore with an included hop-on, hop-off tour or, in Seattle, a CityPASS covering sights such as the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Five nights are spent onboard Amtrak in Coach seating across three long-distance trains. On day 2, the Empire Builder leaves Chicago, follows the Mississippi River toward Minneapolis, and crosses the Rockies past Glacier National Park on its way to Seattle. On day 9, a half-day excursion visits Muir Woods National Monument and the village of Sausalito, returning to Fisherman's Wharf by boat. It suits independent, experienced rail travellers who want a three-city rail route across the northern United States without a guided schedule.
What to know before you look closer
- This is an independent rail vacation, not an escorted tour: there is no tour manager, and travellers make their own way to the hotel in each city.
- The evidence lists 6 hotel options in each city, ranging from the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn to the Waldorf Astoria and Fairmont, so the exact hotel depends on what is booked.
- All the Amtrak travel, including the five overnight legs on the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and California Zephyr, is in Coach class rather than a sleeper cabin.
- Only one meal, a single dinner in San Francisco, is included across the full 12-day, 11-night trip.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Chicago
Your Journey Begins in Chicago
Welcome to Chicago! When you arrive, check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring the Windy City with your included hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. Must visits include the Navy Pier, Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park (including the "Bean"), 360 Chicago, the Magnificent Mile, and Lincoln Park Zoo.
- Day 2railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Spend your morning continuing to enjoy the city before heading to the Amtrak station in the afternoon. You'll board the Empire Builder and head west to Seattle. Travelling from Chicago, the train passes through the city of Milwaukee and follows along the Mississippi river to Minneapolis. Traverse through the heart of the Rockies and Glacier National Park and then the route splits in Spokane before reaching Seattle.
- Day 4overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Welcome to Seattle! the "Emerald City" is full of gorgeous sights just waiting for you to discover. Upon arrival, you will travel on your own to your hotel to drop off your luggage. Then, the rest of the day is yours to explore all Seattle has to offer. Use your included CityPASS to see some of Seattle's most popular sights.
- Day 5overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Today, continue using your Seattle CityPASS to get to know the city's crowd-pleasing landmarks and attractions. Your three-hour guided tour will connect you to downtown attractions such as Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden & Glass, Seattle Centre, Seattle's Waterfront and more!
- Day 6overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
In the morning, you'll head to the Amtrak station and depart Seattle onboard the Coast Starlight as it makes it way south toward San Francisco. The scenery along the Coast Starlight route is unrivalled.
- Day 7overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
You'll arrive in San Francisco in the morning. When you arrive, check in to your hotel and begin using your included hop-on, hop-off to explore this beautiful city. Visit all of San Francisco's great attractions, like Fisherman's Wharf, Downtown, the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and many more.
- Day 8overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Today, you can continue using your hop-on, hop-off and spend time checking out what you may have missed yesterday. In the evening, enjoy your included dinner in Fisherman's Wharf.
- Day 9overnight: San Francisco
Muir Woods and Sausalito
Embark on a half-day trip to the impressive Muir Woods National Monument, the Mediterranean-style village of Sausalito and return back to San Francisco by way of a bay cruise bringing you back to Pier 41 in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf.
- Day 10railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
This morning, travel on your own to the Amtrak station and board the California Zephyr® back to Chicago. This route is said to be one of the most beautiful train trips in all of North America. As you climb through the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains, you may find it hard to disagree. Sit back, relax, and take in the stunning scenery.
- Day 11railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak (en route to Chicago)
You'll wake up on the California Zephyr and take in the gorgeous landscape of the American countryside as the train ventures east to Chicago. There are so many great sights to behold on this ride! Keep your eyes peeled for the Moffat Tunnel, Glenwood Canyons, and Midwest plains.
- Day 12
Your Journey Ends in Chicago
View The Full Map
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2The Empire Builder leaves Chicago, follows the Mississippi River toward Minneapolis, and crosses the Rockies past Glacier National Park on the way to Seattle.
- Day 6The Coast Starlight departs Seattle and travels south along the Pacific Coast toward San Francisco.
- Day 9A half-day trip visits Muir Woods National Monument and the village of Sausalito, returning to Fisherman's Wharf by boat.
- Day 10The California Zephyr climbs through the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains after leaving San Francisco.
- Day 11The California Zephyr passes the Moffat Tunnel and Glenwood Canyon on the way to Chicago.
Included
- Roundtrip Amtrak® from Chicago to Seattle on the Empire Builder®; Seattle to San Francisco on the Coast Starlight®; San Francisco to Chicago onboard the California Zephyr® in Coach accommodations
- 6 nights' hotel accommodations; 5 nights onboard Amtrak
- 1 meal included (1 dinner in San Francisco)
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. Amtrak Vacations includes roundtrip Coach-class travel on the Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle), the Coast Starlight (Seattle to San Francisco) and the California Zephyr (San Francisco back to Chicago).
- Is this trip escorted or independent?
- It's an independent rail vacation. Travellers make their own way to the hotel in each city, and there is no tour manager.
- Which trains are used?
- The Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and California Zephyr, all in Coach class.
- What hotels are used?
- 6 hotel options in each city, including the Palmer House Hilton and Waldorf Astoria in Chicago, the Kimpton Hotel Vintage and Hampton Inn in Seattle, and the Fairmont and InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco; the exact hotel depends on what is booked.
- How many nights are spent onboard the train?
- 5 nights onboard Amtrak, against 6 nights in hotels, across the round trip.
- What is included besides rail and hotels?
- A hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour in Chicago and San Francisco, a Seattle CityPASS and guided city tour, a half-day trip to Muir Woods and Sausalito, and 1 dinner in San Francisco.
