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Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. The same itinerary is still sold by another operator, listed under Also sold by below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of the USA

Cross-country rail and coach journey from San Francisco to New York City

Illustration of Grand Tour of the USA

Vacations By Rail's Grand Tour of the USA is a 17-day cross-country escorted journey spanning San Francisco to New York City. A Tour Manager travels with the group, overseeing hotel stays, rail travel, and guided excursions at major destinations. The itinerary balances two-night stays in major cities like Las Vegas, Chicago and New York with day trips and coach transfers to natural wonders. Highlights include a self-guided tour of Alcatraz, a coach visit to Yosemite National Park viewing Half Dome and El Capitan, riding the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim, and boarding the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through mountain canyons. Two nights are spent in coach-seat sleeper berths aboard Amtrak's California Zephyr crossing the Rocky Mountains and the Lake Shore Limited skimming Lake Erie. This tour suits first-time rail travellers seeking a structured introduction to American trains, repeat rail travellers wanting overnight sleeper experiences and heritage railways, and couples who prefer a managed itinerary with some free time to explore on their own.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of $5,499 USD covers the package; international and domestic flights and airport transfers are not included
  • Hotel accommodation is described as three and four-star; specific property substitutions are not flagged in the evidence
  • Only five breakfasts are included across 17 days; most lunches and dinners are not included or are at leisure

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: San Francisco

    Welcome to the City by the Bay

    Arrive in San Francisco and make your own way to the four-star hotel on Fisherman's Wharf, base for the next two nights. Rest of the day free; evening free to dine independently.

  2. Day 2overnight: San Francisco

    Getting to know San Francisco

    Guided tour taking in the Golden Gate Bridge, then a cruise to Alcatraz Island for a self-guided tour of the former prison. Rest of the day free to explore Chinatown, Little Italy or ride a heritage streetcar.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Merced

    Exploring Yosemite National Park

    Early transfer by coach to Oakland station, Amtrak train to Merced, then coach to El Portal and a guided tour of Yosemite National Park's Half Dome, El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls. Return to Merced.

  4. Day 4overnight: Las Vegas

    Welcome to Las Vegas

    Amtrak service to Bakersfield, then coach through the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Mojave Desert to Las Vegas. Check into the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Strip for two nights.

  5. Day 5overnight: Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas

    Free day to explore Las Vegas at your own pace, including the Fountains of Bellagio, the Luxor Pyramid and the Strip's casinos and restaurants.

  6. Day 6overnight: Flagstaff

    To Flagstaff via the Hoover Dam

    Depart Las Vegas, stopping at the Hoover Dam viewing point, then along Route 66 into Arizona to Flagstaff. Two nights at the Little America Hotel.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Flagstaff

    Route 66 and the Grand Canyon Railway

    Drive along Route 66 to Williams, Arizona, then board the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim for free time at the Grand Canyon before returning to Flagstaff by coach.

  8. Day 8overnight: Durango

    Monument Valley and Gooseneck State Park

    Coach through Navajo country to Monument Valley, then Gooseneck State Park and Bluff Fort Historic Site, arriving in Durango late afternoon.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Grand Junction

    A trip on the Durango and Silverton Railroad

    Board the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through canyons to the mining town of Silverton, then coach to Grand Junction.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10overnight: train (California Zephyr)

    An overnight journey on Amtrak's California Zephyr

    Board Amtrak's California Zephyr at Grand Junction for an overnight journey through Colorado's Rocky Mountains and wine region toward Nebraska.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11overnight: Chicago

    Arriving in the great city of Chicago

    Continue aboard the California Zephyr through Iowa and across the Mississippi River, arriving at Chicago's Union Station this afternoon; transfer to hotel in River North.

  12. Day 12overnight: Chicago

    Chicago Architecture Cruise

    Cruise along the Chicago River viewing the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower and Willis Tower. Afternoon and evening at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast

  13. Day 13

    A free day in Chicago

    Free day in Chicago at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast

  14. Day 14railovernight: Niagara Falls

    The tremendous Niagara Falls

    Arrive by train into Buffalo (overnight Lake Shore Limited from Chicago), transfer by coach to hotel on the American side of Niagara Falls; visit Niagara Falls State Park.

  15. Day 15railovernight: New York City

    Arriving in the metropolis of New York City

    Coach to Buffalo, then train east via Albany along the Hudson River into New York's Penn Station; transfer to hotel in Times Square.

    Meals: Breakfast

  16. Day 16overnight: New York City

    Exploring New York, New York

    Guided tour including a harbor cruise past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Theater District and the World Trade Center site.

  17. Day 17

    Tour conclusion

    Tour concludes; check out of the Times Square hotel and travel home at leisure.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Guided tour of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and self-guided tour of Alcatraz Island
  • Day 3Coach journey through Yosemite National Park viewing Half Dome, El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls
  • Day 7Ride the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim
  • Day 9Board the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through canyons to the mining town of Silverton
  • Day 10Overnight journey on Amtrak's California Zephyr through Colorado's Rocky Mountains

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 14 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • 1 night in coach seat sleeper aboard the California Zephyr
  • 1 night in coach seat sleeper aboard the Lake Shore Limited
  • Coach Seat Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
  • 5 Breakfasts
  • All tour excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The tour includes two nights in coach-seat sleeper cars on Amtrak trains, plus all rail travel on the California Zephyr, Lake Shore Limited, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Grand Canyon Railway. All other coach and rail transport is included.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager from the beginning to the end of the tour.
Which trains are featured?
The tour includes Amtrak's California Zephyr (Grand Junction to Chicago), Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited (Chicago to Buffalo), the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (Durango to Silverton), and the Grand Canyon Railway (Williams to Grand Canyon South Rim).
What are the hotels like?
Hotels are three and four-star properties. They include Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, Fairfield Inn & Suites in Chicago, and New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
How much walking is involved?
The operator rates this tour Mobility Rating 2, involving guided city tours, walking in parks, and self-guided exploration of attractions like Alcatraz and the Grand Canyon. Most days include both structured activities and free time.
What meals are included?
Five breakfasts are included throughout the 17 days. Lunch and dinner are at leisure on most days, except where noted in the itinerary.

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