Amtrak Vacations
Old West Rail Journey
Southwest rail trip: Los Angeles to Santa Fe via Grand Canyon
12 daysfrom $2,059
42% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Highlights of America Eastbound
Independent cross-country rail trip, Los Angeles to Washington DC
Amtrak Vacations runs this independent, 12-day rail journey from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., the eastbound companion to its coast to coast trip. After 2 nights in Los Angeles with a hop-on, hop-off pass covering Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory, the Southwest Chief carries travelers overnight to the Grand Canyon Railway Depot in Williams, Arizona, for a guided tour of the South Rim and a night at the canyon before returning to Williams. A second overnight leg on the Southwest Chief crosses Arizona's mountains, New Mexico's desert vistas, and the Colorado countryside to Chicago, where an architecture river tour and the Willis Tower Skydeck fill 2 days, before a final overnight run on the Capitol Limited to Washington, D.C. There, a hop-on, hop-off tour visits Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall. This suits travelers who want a genuine cross-country rail experience with real overnight travel bookending guided and independent sightseeing.
What to know before you look closer
- Grand Canyon National Park and Williams, Arizona are each just one night, so that stretch of the trip moves quickly compared with the two-night stays in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington.
- The evidence lists no specific departure dates; confirm current availability and pricing with Amtrak Vacations.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Los Angeles
Your Journey Begins in Los Angeles
Welcome to Los Angeles! Check in for a two-night stay. Get acquainted with the city on your own terms with your included Hop-On, Hop-Off pass. Popular stops include Santa Monica Pier, Sunset Strip, and Rodeo Drive.
- Day 2overnight: Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Immerse yourself in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, exploring the Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre. Head to the Griffith Observatory for views of the cityscape and the Hollywood sign.
- Day 3railovernight: onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Enjoy the sunny skies of Los Angeles before heading to the train station in the afternoon to begin your cross-country journey.
- Day 4railovernight: Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Arrive at the Grand Canyon Railway Depot in Williams, Arizona, with an included breakfast at a local restaurant. Board the historic Grand Canyon Railway train for a scenic journey to the South Rim, with a guided tour of the canyon's viewpoints and its geological and cultural significance. Check in to your hotel for one night.
- Day 5railovernight: Williams
Williams, Arizona
Spend the day exploring Grand Canyon National Park before boarding the Grand Canyon Railway train back to Williams, Arizona. Enjoy an included dinner in Williams before retiring for the night.
- Day 6overnight: onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Board the Southwest Chief, which offers a scenic route through Arizona's mountains, New Mexico's desert vistas, and the Colorado countryside, en route to Chicago.
- Day 7overnight: Chicago
Chicago
Arrive in Chicago and check in for a two-night stay. Enjoy an Architecture River Tour, a fantastic introduction to the city's architectural heritage.
- Day 8overnight: Chicago
Chicago
Explore Millennium Park and the Cloud Gate sculpture ("The Bean"), then the Art Institute of Chicago, including Grant Wood's "American Gothic." In the evening, indulge in Chicago's famous deep-dish pizza.
- Day 9overnight: onboard Amtrak
Explore Chicago Then Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Head to Skydeck Chicago for views from the 103rd floor of Willis Tower. In the afternoon, board the Capitol Limited at Union Station, bound for Washington, DC.
- Day 10overnight: Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Arrive in DC and check in for a two-night stay. Explore the National Mall or the Smithsonian museums. In the evening, enjoy a guided tour of the capital's illuminated monuments.
- Day 11overnight: Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Start with a hop-on-hop-off tour bus including a visit to Arlington National Cemetery (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, John F. Kennedy's grave), the National Mall, and Smithsonian museums. Conclude with dinner in Georgetown.
- Day 12
Your Journey Ends in Washington, DC
Check out of your hotel after breakfast this morning and continue with your travels.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2Griffith Observatory for views of the cityscape and the Hollywood Sign, after exploring the Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre.
- Day 4The historic Grand Canyon Railway train carries travelers to the South Rim for a guided tour of the canyon's viewpoints.
- Day 6The Southwest Chief crosses Arizona's mountains, New Mexico's desert vistas, and the Colorado countryside en route to Chicago.
- Day 11A hop-on, hop-off tour of Washington, DC visits Arlington National Cemetery, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and John F. Kennedy's grave.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon to Chicago on the Southwest Chief®; Chicago to Washington, DC on the Capitol Limited® in Coach accommodations
- 8 nights hotel accommodations; 3 nights onboard Amtrak®
- 2 meals included (1 breakfast, 1 dinner)
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. Amtrak Vacations includes one-way Coach travel on the Southwest Chief (Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon to Chicago) and the Capitol Limited (Chicago to Washington, DC), plus a roundtrip on the Grand Canyon Railway.
- Is this trip escorted or independent?
- It's an independent rail vacation, using sightseeing passes plus a guided tour at the Grand Canyon.
- Are there overnight trains?
- Yes. 3 nights are spent onboard Amtrak, on days 3, 6 and 9.
- What hotels are used?
- The Regent Santa Monica in Los Angeles (2 nights), a hotel in Grand Canyon National Park (1 night), the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams (1 night), the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, in Chicago (2 nights), and the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC (2 nights).
- What meals are included?
- 2 meals: 1 breakfast and 1 dinner.
- How much walking is involved?
- Hop-on, hop-off city tours in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, an architecture river tour in Chicago, and a guided tour of Grand Canyon viewpoints from the South Rim; no hikes or high-altitude activity are described.
