Amtrak Vacations
Great American - Southern Trail
Los Angeles to New York rail trip across the American South
17 daysfrom $2,339
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Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Grand Rail Experience with Glacier National Park
Independent Amtrak roundtrip with a 3-night Glacier National Park stop
Amtrak Vacations runs this independent, 17-day rail vacation that starts and ends in Chicago, with a 3-night stopover in Glacier National Park before continuing to Seattle, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Washington, D.C. There is no tour manager: travellers repeatedly travel on their own to the Amtrak station between legs. On day 2, the Empire Builder arrives at Glacier National Park, home to two mountain ranges and 130 lakes, with a short walk to the historic Glacier Park Lodge. On day 3, the Big Sky Circle Tour drives over Maria's Pass and along the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, with wildlife at Goat Lick. Seven of the sixteen nights are spent onboard Amtrak across five long-distance trains, including the Coast Starlight down the Pacific Coast and the Sunset Limited through the southern deserts to New Orleans. It suits independent, experienced rail travellers who want the full cross-country Amtrak route with extra time in a major national park along the way.
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.
- The Big Sky Circle Tour of Glacier National Park is seasonal and "does not run until late-June," per the operator's own highlights.
- The evidence lists 31 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
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Begin your journey in Chicago. Head to the Amtrak station and board the Empire Builder® to Glacier National Park. Sit back and relax as you head west to begin your around-the-country adventure.
- Day 2overnight: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, MT
Welcome to Glacier National Park, home to two different mountain ranges, 130 lakes, 1,000 species of plants, and 16,000 square miles of protected land. Enjoy the mountain air during your short walk to the iconic Glacier Park Lodge, where you can settle in for a good night's rest.
- Day 3overnight: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, MT
Today, you will continue exploring Glacier National Park on the Big Sky Circle tour. Drive over the breathtaking Maria's Pass. Enjoy the local wildlife at Goat Lick. Venture along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, a windy-mountain thoroughfare that spans 50 miles through the park. After your tour, you'll return to Glacier Park Lodge for your final night's stay.
- Day 4overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Explore the serene sights of Glacier National Park on a scenic boat cruise of Two Medicine Valley. Enjoy a relaxing cruise while listening to the Blackfoot Indian folklore surrounding this gorgeous area. Later on this evening, board Amtrak and continue west to Seattle.
- Day 5overnight: 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 6overnight: 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 7overnight: 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 8railovernight: 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 9overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
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 10railovernight: 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 11railovernight: 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 12overnight: 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 13railovernight: 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 14overnight: 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 15overnight: Washington, D.C.
Washington, DC
Enjoy another day of touring Washington, D.C.
- Day 16railovernight: 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 17
Your Journey Ends in Chicago
View The Full Map
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2Arrival in Glacier National Park, home to two mountain ranges and 130 lakes, with a short walk to the historic Glacier Park Lodge.
- Day 3The Big Sky Circle Tour drives over Maria's Pass and along the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, with wildlife viewing at Goat Lick.
- Day 4A boat cruise of Two Medicine Valley includes Blackfoot Indian folklore about the area.
- Day 10The Sunset Limited crosses sprawling deserts, past mountains and cacti, on the way to New Orleans.
- Day 14The 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 Glacier National Park and Glacier National Park 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®
- 9 nights' hotel accommodations; 7 nights' onboard Amtrak
- 4 meals included (2 breakfasts and 2 dinners)
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 via Glacier National Park 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 Glacier National Park 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?
- 31 accommodation options across the cities and tiers, including the Glacier Park Lodge in Glacier National Park and a range from the Holiday Inn to the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago; the exact hotel depends on what is booked.
- When does the Glacier National Park touring run?
- The Big Sky Circle Tour is seasonal and does not run until late June; the Two Medicine Valley boat cruise is also seasonal.
- What is included besides rail and hotels?
- 4 meals (2 breakfasts, 2 dinners), the Big Sky Circle Tour and Two Medicine Valley boat cruise in Glacier National Park, hop-on, hop-off tours in Seattle and Los Angeles, a New Orleans city tour, and the Monuments by Moonlight tour in Washington, D.C.
