Amtrak Vacations
Glacier National Park Express Roundtrip from New York
14-day New York roundtrip rail trip via Glacier National Park and Seattle
14 daysfrom $3,529
43% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Grand Rail Experience
Independent Amtrak roundtrip around the US on five named trains
Amtrak Vacations runs this independent, 14-day rail vacation that starts and ends in Chicago, connecting Seattle, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Washington, D.C. by train. There is no tour manager: the itinerary repeatedly has travellers make their own way to the Amtrak station between legs. Seven of the thirteen nights are spent onboard Amtrak in Coach seating across five long-distance trains. On day 2, the Empire Builder crosses the northern plains, the Rocky Mountains and passes Glacier National Park on the way to Seattle. On day 8, the Sunset Limited crosses sprawling deserts past mountains and cacti heading into New Orleans, where a guided tour visits the French Quarter, Jackson Square and the bayous. In Washington, D.C., the included Monuments by Moonlight tour shows the major monuments lit up at night. It suits independent, experienced rail travellers who want the full cross-country Amtrak experience rather than a single regional route.
What to know before you look closer
- This is an independent rail vacation, not an escorted tour: travellers repeatedly "travel on their own" to the Amtrak station between legs, and there is no tour manager.
- No meals are included on this itinerary; the included list covers only the rail travel and the hotel nights.
- The evidence lists 30 accommodation options across the cities and tiers on this trip, from the Holiday Inn to the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago, so the exact hotel depends on what is booked.
- All the Amtrak travel, including the seven overnight legs across five different trains, is in Coach class rather than a sleeper cabin.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Your Journey Begins in Chicago
Begin your journey in Chicago. Head to the Amtrak station and board the Empire Builder® to Seattle. Sit back and relax as you head west to begin your around-the-country adventure.
- Day 2overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Wake up and enjoy the amazing views that slip by your window as you continue to make your way west. Today you will be traveling through the great northern plains, the Rocky Mountains, and passing by Glacier National Park.
- Day 3overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Today you will arrive in the shining city, Seattle. Check-in to your hotel and prepare for a fun couple of days in "the Emerald City". Perhaps you want to stroll down to the popular Pike's Place Market, or enjoy the Seattle Waterfront.
- Day 4overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Today you will get to explore Seattle with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour! Travel around to Seattle's top attractions such as the iconic Space Needle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, Pioneer Square, and Pike's Place Market.
- Day 5overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Check-out of your hotel and travel on your own to the Amtrak station to board the famous Coast Starlight. As you head south to Los Angeles you will travel past some of the beautiful peaks of the Cascade Range, lush forests, and fertile valleys.
- Day 6railovernight: Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
As the train makes its way south, enjoy the panoramic views of the Pacific Coast. The Coast Starlight is one of Amtrak's most popular routes as it allows you to see areas of the California coastline not accessible any other way. Tonight, arrive in Los Angeles and check-in to your hotel.
- Day 7overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Los Angeles, CA
Today you will get to enjoy the best of what Los Angeles has to offer. Use your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour to visit such iconic landmarks as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, the Universal Studios, and the Hollywood Sign. Tonight, travel on your own to Los Angeles' Union station to board the Sunset Limited and head east to New Orleans.
- Day 8railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Your trip continues as the Sunset Limited makes its way through the southern parts of the country. Glide through the sprawling deserts, past mountains, and cacti as the train heads towards New Orleans.
- Day 9railovernight: New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
After passing through Texas and Louisiana, the train will arrive in New Orleans. Check-in to your hotel and head to sleep, tomorrow you will get to explore "the Big Easy."
- Day 10overnight: New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Today you will get to experience New Orleans on a guided sightseeing tour. Your tour will take you all around the "City that Care Forgot" to see the French Quarter, historic Jackson Square, past the cemeteries known as the "Cities of the Dead", and along the bayous that make New Orleans famous.
- Day 11railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
This morning check out of your hotel and head over to the Amtrak station to board the Crescent for your trip up to Washington, DC. As the train makes its way up from the South, prepare for a fun time in our Nation's Capital.
- Day 12overnight: Washington, D.C.
Washington, DC
Welcome to Washington, DC! Upon arrival check-in to your hotel and begin exploring Washington. Stroll through one or more of the many Smithsonian museums, stroll over to the Capital Building, and make sure to stop for picture-taking at the White House. Tonight you will enjoy the Monuments by Moonlight tour that will take you to see all of the major U.S. monuments lit up at night.
- Day 13railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Today you will check out of your hotel and board the Capitol Limited to head back to Chicago. As your train makes its way to the Midwest, reflect upon all of the wonderful things you saw and experienced during your Grand Rail Experience!
- Day 14
Your Journey Ends in Chicago
View The Full Map
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2The Empire Builder crosses the northern plains, the Rocky Mountains, and passes Glacier National Park on the way to Seattle.
- Day 5The Coast Starlight departs Seattle past the peaks of the Cascade Range, lush forests and fertile valleys.
- Day 6The Coast Starlight gives panoramic views of the Pacific Coast along the California coastline on the way into Los Angeles.
- Day 8The Sunset Limited crosses sprawling deserts, past mountains and cacti, on the way to New Orleans.
- Day 12The included Monuments by Moonlight tour in Washington, D.C. shows the major U.S. monuments lit up at night.
Included
- Roundtrip Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Chicago to Seattle; Seattle to Los Angeles; Los Angeles to New Orleans; New Orleans to Washington, DC; and Washington DC to Chicago onboard the Empire Builder®, Coast Starlight®, Sunset Limited®, Crescent®, and Capitol Limited®
- 6 nights' hotel accommodations; 7 nights' onboard Amtrak
Also sold by
The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.
- Railbookersfrom $3,249
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. Amtrak Vacations includes roundtrip Coach-class travel on the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited, Crescent and Capitol Limited, from Chicago all the way around and back.
- Is this trip escorted or independent?
- It's an independent rail vacation. Travellers travel on their own to the Amtrak station between legs, and there is no tour manager.
- Which trains are used?
- The Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle), Coast Starlight (Seattle to Los Angeles), Sunset Limited (Los Angeles to New Orleans), Crescent (New Orleans to Washington, D.C.) and Capitol Limited (Washington, D.C. to Chicago).
- What hotels are used?
- 30 accommodation options across the cities and tiers, for example the Palmer House Hilton or Waldorf Astoria in Chicago, and the Hampton Inn or Hyatt Place in Seattle; the exact hotel depends on what is booked.
- How many nights are spent onboard the train?
- 7 nights onboard Amtrak, against 6 nights in hotels, across the round trip.
- What is included besides rail and hotels?
- Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours in Seattle and Los Angeles, a guided sightseeing tour of New Orleans, and the Monuments by Moonlight tour in Washington, D.C.
