Amtrak Vacations
Coast to the Canyon Roundtrip from Seattle
Amtrak roundtrip from Seattle to the Grand Canyon via Los Angeles
8 daysfrom $1,419
63% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent vacation
Los Angeles, Death Valley, and the Grand Canyon Railway
Eight-day road trip and rail excursion, LA to the Grand Canyon
Amtrak Vacations packages this eight-day independent vacation from Los Angeles, combining a self-drive rental car with a single rail excursion on the Grand Canyon Railway. Day 1 begins with a car rental pickup in Los Angeles and time to explore Santa Monica, Venice, or the Hollywood sign at Griffith Park. From there travelers drive to Death Valley National Park for two nights, with a day at leisure to see Dante's View, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and Zabriskie Point. The route continues to Williams, Arizona, the old Route 66 gateway to the Grand Canyon, where day 5 includes an included breakfast before boarding the Grand Canyon Railway for a guided tour of the South Rim. After a second night near the canyon, the train returns to Williams before the rental car carries travelers back to Los Angeles. With only one or two nights in most stops, the pace moves quickly between destinations. The trip suits independent travelers who want to combine a Southwest road trip with one classic rail experience rather than a fully train-based itinerary.
What to know before you look closer
- Most of this trip is self-driven: the included 7-day rental car covers the Los Angeles to Death Valley to Williams route and the return to Los Angeles, while the Grand Canyon Railway covers only the Williams to Grand Canyon segment on days 5 and 6.
- Hotels are offered as a list of options in each city, including six in Los Angeles alone (ranging from a Holiday Inn Express to the Regent Santa Monica) and two in Death Valley, so the exact property depends on what is booked.
- Only 2 meals (1 breakfast, 1 dinner) are included across the 8 days; the rest are on your own.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Los Angeles
Your Journey Begins in Los Angeles
Welcome to Los Angeles! Pick up your car rental today and begin exploring this vast city. Take a drive to the beach and visit Santa Monica and Venice, or drive to Griffith Park and see the famous Hollywood sign and enjoy views of the Hollywood basin.
- Day 2overnight: Death Valley
Death Valley
Today, make your way to Death Valley National Park, the largest U.S National Park outside of Alaska.
- Day 3overnight: Death Valley
Death Valley
Today is at your leisure to explore all Death Valley has to offer. Top places to check out include Dante's View which offers one of the best overall perspectives of Death Valley, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Twenty Mule Canyon, and Zabriskie Point.
- Day 4overnight: Williams
Williams
Make your way to Williams, Arizona today, the gateway to the Grand Canyon. This evening check out the quaint downtown of this old Route 66 town.
- Day 5railovernight: Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
This morning your hearty breakfast is included before you board the Grand Canyon Railway to the Grand Canyon. Upon arriving you will enjoy a guided tour of the Canyon's South Rim. Make sure you bring a camera to take pictures of the majestic beauty that unfold right before your eyes.
- Day 6railovernight: Williams
Williams
Continue exploring the Grand Canyon this morning, perhaps you want to take a short hike long one of the many trails. This afternoon board the Grand Canyon Railway back to Williams.
- Day 7overnight: Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Today, take your time road tripping back to Los Angeles.
- Day 8
Your Journey Ends in Los Angeles
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 3A day at leisure in Death Valley includes Dante's View, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Twenty Mule Canyon, and Zabriskie Point.
- Day 5Boards the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to the Grand Canyon and takes a guided tour of the South Rim.
- Day 6Continues exploring the Grand Canyon, with the option of a short hike along one of the park's trails, before riding the Grand Canyon Railway back to Williams.
- Day 1Explores Santa Monica, Venice, or Griffith Park and the Hollywood sign after picking up the rental car in Los Angeles.
Included
- 7 nights hotel accommodations
- 7-day midsize car rental
- 2 meals included (1 breakfast, 1 dinner)
Questions travellers ask
- Is rail travel included?
- Yes, but only for one segment: a roundtrip ride on the Grand Canyon Railway in Coach accommodations between Williams, Arizona, and the Grand Canyon's South Rim, on days 5 and 6. The rest of the trip is covered by an included 7-day midsize car rental.
- Is this trip guided or independent?
- It is an independent vacation. A guided tour of the Grand Canyon's South Rim is included on day 5, but the driving days and city time are self-guided.
- What hotels are included?
- The evidence lists hotel options rather than a fixed hotel per night: six choices in Los Angeles, two in Death Valley (The Inn at Death Valley and The Ranch at Death Valley), the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, and Yavapai Lodge at the Grand Canyon.
- How much walking or hiking is involved?
- The itinerary includes city walking in Los Angeles, a guided South Rim tour at the Grand Canyon, and mentions the option of a short hike along one of the park's trails.
- What is included?
- 7 nights' hotel accommodations, a 7-day midsize car rental, and 2 meals (1 breakfast, 1 dinner).
- Which train do I ride?
- The Grand Canyon Railway, in Coach accommodations, roundtrip between Williams and the Grand Canyon.
