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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Great Parks of the Southwest featuring the Grand Canyon

10-day escorted rail and coach journey through five Southwest national parks

Illustration of Great Parks of the Southwest featuring the Grand Canyon

Vacations By Rail operates this 10-day escorted tour through five national parks of the Southwest, combining two classic American train rides with guided park touring and a stay at the Grand Canyon. The journey begins in Chicago aboard Amtrak's California Zephyr, traveling overnight through the Rocky Mountains to Grand Junction, Colorado. From there, a Tour Manager guides the group through Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Grand Canyon national parks by motorcoach, interspersed with two to three nights at base hotels in Moab, Kanab, and on the South Rim. Day 3 includes a Colorado River jetboat ride in Moab. Day 8 offers a free afternoon to explore the Grand Canyon's South Rim using the park's shuttle buses. The tour concludes with a 90-minute journey aboard the Grand Canyon Railway from the South Rim to Williams, Arizona, before returning to Flagstaff. This itinerary suits travelers seeking guided comfort with access to famous Southwest geology and classic rail experiences, without the logistics of independent planning.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour includes one overnight on the California Zephyr; an optional upgrade to private sleeping accommodations with meals is available at additional cost
  • Flights to Chicago and from Flagstaff or Phoenix are not included; airport transfers are not included
  • The Colorado River jetboat ride is subject to water levels
  • Mobility Rating 3 indicates this tour involves sustained walking and climbing across multiple national parks; those with mobility concerns should confirm specific trail difficulty with the operator before booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: train (California Zephyr)

    Depart Chicago on the California Zephyr

    Board Amtrak's California Zephyr at Chicago Union Station for the overnight journey west toward Iowa and Nebraska. Travelers may join from San Francisco or intermediate points and meet the Tour Manager on Day 2.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Moab, UT

    Travel to Moab, UT

    Scenic views of the Rocky Mountains from the train's Sightseer Lounge; arrive Grand Junction, CO, then continue by deluxe motorcoach to Moab, UT.

  3. Day 3overnight: Moab, UT

    Arches National Park/Colorado River Jetboat Ride

    Guided tour of Arches National Park's sandstone arches and formations, followed by a jetboat ride down the Colorado River (subject to water levels).

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Torrey, UT

    Capitol Reef National Park

    Motorcoach to Torrey, UT, with a Visitor Center stop and viewpoints of Capitol Reef National Park's Navajo Sandstone formations and ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  5. Day 5overnight: Kanab, UT

    Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument/Bryce Canyon National Park

    Stop at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument's Ranger Station, then a guided tour of Bryce Canyon National Park's hoodoos, continuing to Kanab ("Little Hollywood").

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Kanab, UT

    Zion National Park

    Enter Zion National Park via the Mount Carmel Tunnel for a guided tram tour of Utah's first national park.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Grand Canyon, AZ

    Glen Canyon/Desert View Drive

    Visit Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Lake Powell, lunch in Page, AZ, then check into the Maswik Lodge in Grand Canyon Village and drive the scenic Desert View Drive along the South Rim.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  8. Day 8overnight: Grand Canyon, AZ

    Grand Canyon at Leisure

    Free day using the park's complimentary shuttle buses to explore the South Rim, including Ranger Talks, trail walks or Hermit's Rest viewpoint.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9railovernight: Flagstaff, AZ

    Grand Canyon National Park/Grand Canyon Railway

    Morning at Mather Point and South Rim trails, then a 90-minute ride aboard the Grand Canyon Railway to Williams, AZ, continuing by motorcoach to Flagstaff for a farewell dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  10. Day 10

    Tour Conclusion

    Tour concludes after breakfast; group transfer available to Flagstaff Airport (flights after 10:00 a.m.) or Phoenix Airport (flights after 1:00 p.m.).

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Amtrak's California Zephyr at Chicago Union Station for an overnight journey west, watching the Rocky Mountains from the Sightseer Lounge
  • Day 3Guided tour of Arches National Park's red-rock formations followed by a jetboat ride down the Colorado River
  • Day 6Enter Zion National Park via the Mount Carmel Tunnel and ride the guided tram tour through Utah's oldest national park
  • Day 8Free day at the Grand Canyon South Rim using the park's complimentary shuttle buses and Ranger Talks
  • Day 990-minute ride on the Grand Canyon Railway from the South Rim to Williams, Arizona

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 8 nights, including 2 nights in Moab and 2 nights at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
  • Rail travel on Amtrak (1 night on train)
  • Scenic rail journey
  • Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
  • 12 meals
  • Meals on the train when upgrading to private sleeping accommodations
  • National Park Entrance Fees: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Arches National Parks touring
  • Jetboat ride on the Colorado River

Not included

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

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. The tour includes one night aboard Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago to Grand Junction, and a 90-minute ride on the Grand Canyon Railway from the South Rim to Williams. An optional upgrade to private sleeping accommodations on the California Zephyr with meals is available.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. A Tour Manager from Vacations By Rail accompanies the group from start to finish.
Which national parks are included?
Guided touring is included at Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Grand Canyon national parks. All five parks' entrance fees are covered.
What meals are included?
The tour includes 12 meals: breakfasts and select lunches and dinners throughout the 10 days. Specific meal dates and times are listed in the day-by-day itinerary.
How much walking is involved?
The operator rates this tour Mobility Rating 3, indicating moderate to demanding activity across national parks. Confirm specific trail difficulty and your fitness level with the operator before booking.
Can I join from Denver or San Francisco?
Yes. Travelers may join from San Francisco or intermediate California Zephyr stations and meet the Tour Manager on Day 2. Denver join points (for the Sept 28 departure) require overnighting at a hotel before boarding the train.

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