How much does it cost?

From £6,950 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $9,388 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes, the tour includes 27 train rides across the itinerary, including the Grand Canyon Railway, the Durango & Silverton, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the Royal Gorge Scenic Railroad, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, and the Georgetown Loop Railroad, though most inter-city travel is by road.

Is it escorted or independent?

Escorted, with an experienced Tour Manager throughout.

What is not included?

This is a 'Ground Only' price with no flights; visas, optional activities, souvenirs, laundry, most meals, and additional hotel services such as the minibar or spa are also excluded.

What hotels are included?

Fourteen hotels across the route, ranging from the 5-star Kimpton Alton Hotel in San Francisco to a mix of 3- and 4-star hotels including Circus Circus Reno, the Capitol Reef Resort in Torrey, and Best Western properties in Moab, Durango, and Alamosa.

The listed departure is in October 2026.

What meals are included?

13 breakfasts, 14 lunches, and 2 evening meals across the 20 nights; other meals are not included.

Railtrail Tours · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of the Western States 2026

Twenty-one-day rail tour of Western US national parks and railroads

Railtrail Tours operates this 21-day, 20-night escorted tour of the American West, starting in San Francisco and ending in Denver, Colorado, across six states. A Tour Manager leads the group through 18 national and state parks and onto 27 train rides, beginning with San Francisco's cable cars and the narrow-gauge Roaring Camp steam excursion, then Amtrak's California Zephyr over Donner Pass to Reno. The middle days cross Death Valley, the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim, Bryce Canyon, Arches, and Monument Valley by road, before a run of named heritage railroads: the Durango & Silverton through the Animas River Canyon, the steam-hauled Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad over Cumbres Summit, the Royal Gorge Scenic Railroad, and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to its 14,115-foot summit. Hotels range from a 5-star stay in San Francisco to a run of 3-star motels along the route. This is a ground-only price with flights booked separately, suited to repeat rail travellers who want a packed, wide-ranging tour rather than a single-region trip.

What to know before you look closer

This is a 'Ground Only' price with no flights included; the tour starts in San Francisco and ends in Denver, so travelers must arrange their own flights to and from those cities.
Only 13 breakfasts, 14 lunches, and 2 evening meals are included across the 20 nights; most dinners are left for travelers to arrange independently.
The single traveler supplement is £1,220, on top of the £6,950 per-person price.
The Kanab hotel is not named in the itinerary, unlike every other overnight stop on the tour.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: San Francisco
Arrive San Francisco
Flight to San Francisco with private taxi transfer to the 5-star Kimpton Alton Hotel at Fisherman's Wharf. In the evening, a tour of San Francisco by cable car.
Day 2railovernight: San Francisco
Cable Cars, Muni Museum and Roaring Camp
Ride the San Francisco Cable Cars and visit the Muni Cable Car Museum at the Cable Car Barn & Powerhouse. Travel south to Felton for the Roaring Camp and Big Trees narrow-gauge steam excursion through redwood groves to Bear Mountain summit and back. Ride a Cal Train commuter service to San Bruno, then drive north via the Golden Gate National Recreation Area for views of the Golden Gate Bridge before a Welcome to San Francisco Dinner.
Day 3railovernight: Sacramento
Walnut Creek, Western Railway Museum and Sacramento
Private operating session at the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society's HO scale layout, then the Western Railway Museum near Rio Vista for a chartered interurban ride on the old Sacramento Northern Railroad. Visit the California State Railroad Museum and Old Sacramento before checking into the 3-star Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown.
Day 4railovernight: Reno
Gold Rush Country and the California Zephyr to Reno
Visit the Nevada County Narrow-Gauge Railroad Museum with a charter railcar ride and workshop tour, then board Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr at Colfax for a spectacular ride over the High Sierra and Donner Pass to Reno. Check in at the 4-star Circus Circus Reno.
Day 5railovernight: Reno
Virginia City, Lake Tahoe and Donner Pass
Visit Virginia City and the Virginia & Truckee Railroad workshops, then ride the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad from Virginia City to Gold Hill and back. Drive along Lake Tahoe's eastern shore, picnic near Donner Pass at Norden, and visit the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in the Feather River Canyon with a chartered train around the museum grounds. Second night in Reno.
Day 6railovernight: Lone Pine
Carson City, Bodie and Mono Lake to Lone Pine
Visit the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, picnic at the Bodie State Historic Park ghost town, walk the Tufa Towers at Mono Lake, and visit the Laws Railroad Museum near Bishop, California, before lodging at the 3-star Best Western Frontier Motel in Lone Pine.
Day 7overnight: Williams
Death Valley, Hoover Dam and Route 66 to Williams
Travel through the Mojave Desert and Death Valley National Park, pass through Las Vegas, view Hoover Dam, and follow Route 66 and the BNSF mainline through Arizona with photo stops, before checking in at the 3-star Quality Inn Grand Canyon in Williams.
Day 8railovernight: Sedona
Grand Canyon Railway to Sedona
Ride the Grand Canyon Railway (Luxury Dome Car Class, with drinks and snacks included) from Williams to the Grand Canyon's south rim for around 4 hours of exploring, then travel to Sedona for a two-night stay at the 3-star Greentree Inn Sedona-Oak-Creek.
Day 9railovernight: Sedona
Verde Canyon Railroad and Jerome
Optional four-hour round trip on the Verde Canyon Railroad from Clarkdale to Perkinsville (included in the tour fare, advance notice required), then explore the mining ghost town of Jerome and Jerome State Historic Park.
Day 10overnight: Kanab
Vermillion Cliffs to Kanab
Travel north through Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff, cross the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, follow the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument into Utah, and arrive in Kanab, 'The Little Hollywood'.
Day 11overnight: Torrey
Bryce Canyon and Grand Staircase-Escalante to Torrey
Morning at Bryce Canyon National Park to see the Hoodoos, picnic lunch, then cross the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to Torrey, checking in at the 4-star Capitol Reef Resort.
Day 12overnight: Moab
Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley and Canyonlands to Moab
Visit Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley State Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and the Grand Viewpoint Overlook in Canyonlands National Park, before checking in at the 3-star Best Western Plus Greenwell Motel in Moab.
Day 13railovernight: Moab
Castleton, Fisher Towers and Arches National Park
Scenic drive along the Colorado River past Castleton and Fisher Towers to the ghost town of Cisco, watching the westbound Rocky Mountaineer train pass on the former Denver and Rio Grande Western line, then visit Arches National Park before a second night in Moab.
Day 14overnight: Monument Valley
Goosenecks and Monument Valley
Travel south via Bluff to Goosenecks State Park above the San Juan River, past the Mexican Hat rock formation, and into Monument Valley Tribal Park in the Navajo Nation, checking in at the classic 3-star View Hotel.
Day 15overnight: Durango
Galloping Goose Museum and Mesa Verde to Durango
Sunrise over Monument Valley, then visit the Galloping Goose Historical Society's Museum in Dolores and Mesa Verde National Park's Ancestral Pueblo sites, before checking in at the 3-star Best Western Rio Grande Hotel in Durango.
Day 16railovernight: Durango
Durango & Silverton Railroad
Visit the Durango & Silverton Railroad Museum and ride the historic Durango & Silverton steam railroad 90 miles round trip through the Animas River Canyon to Silverton and back.
Day 17railovernight: Alamosa
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad to Alamosa
Board the steam-hauled Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, New Mexico, climbing to Cumbres Summit (10,022 feet) and along Toltec Gorge to Antonito, Colorado, then transfer to the 3-star Best Western Alamosa Inn.
Day 18railovernight: Colorado Springs
Royal Gorge Scenic Railroad to Colorado Springs
Visit the former Rio Grande Scenic Railroad depot in Alamosa, Sand Dunes National Park, and ride the Royal Gorge Scenic Railroad lunch train through the Royal Gorge from Canon City, before checking in at the 3-star Quality Inn Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.
Day 19railovernight: Golden
Pikes Peak Cog Railway and Colorado Railroad Museum
Visit Garden of the Gods, then ride the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak. Explore Manitou Springs before travelling to Golden and checking in at the 3-star Table Mountain Inn.
Day 20railovernight: Golden
Georgetown Loop Railroad and Colorado Railroad Museum
Explore the historic mining town of Georgetown, ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad excursion train to Silver Plume and back, then visit the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden with a chartered ride on a Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose railcar. Farewell Dinner at the hotel.
Day 21rail
Denver Union Station and departure
Light rail ride on the RTD from Golden to downtown Denver, visiting the historic Denver Union Station and the Forney Museum of Transportation, before transfer to Denver International Airport for flights home.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Amtrak's California Zephyr climbs over the High Sierra and Donner Pass from Colfax to Reno.
Day 8The Grand Canyon Railway's Luxury Dome Car carries the group from Williams to the Grand Canyon's south rim, with drinks and snacks included.
Day 16The Durango & Silverton steam railroad runs a 90-mile round trip through the Animas River Canyon to Silverton.
Day 17The steam-hauled Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad climbs to Cumbres Summit at 10,022 feet and along Toltec Gorge.
Day 19The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway climbs to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak.

Included

20 nights accommodation plus 13 breakfasts, 14 lunches, and 2 evening meals
All travel and excursions as per itinerary
Services of experienced Tour Manager

Not included

Visas
Optional activities, souvenirs, laundry etc.
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Additional hotel services (e.g. minibar, spa)

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £6,950 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $9,388 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes, the tour includes 27 train rides across the itinerary, including the Grand Canyon Railway, the Durango & Silverton, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the Royal Gorge Scenic Railroad, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, and the Georgetown Loop Railroad, though most inter-city travel is by road.
Is it escorted or independent?: Escorted, with an experienced Tour Manager throughout.
What is not included?: This is a 'Ground Only' price with no flights; visas, optional activities, souvenirs, laundry, most meals, and additional hotel services such as the minibar or spa are also excluded.
What hotels are included?: Fourteen hotels across the route, ranging from the 5-star Kimpton Alton Hotel in San Francisco to a mix of 3- and 4-star hotels including Circus Circus Reno, the Capitol Reef Resort in Torrey, and Best Western properties in Moab, Durango, and Alamosa.
When does it run?: The listed departure is in October 2026.
What meals are included?: 13 breakfasts, 14 lunches, and 2 evening meals across the 20 nights; other meals are not included.