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Vacations By Rail · Independent vacation

New Orleans Express

Five-day Chicago to New Orleans via Amtrak City of New Orleans train

Illustration of New Orleans Express

Vacations By Rail's New Orleans Express pairs two American cities in five days of independent travel. You start with one night in Chicago, where the package includes an architecture tour along the Chicago River and free time to explore the city at your own pace. On day two, you board Amtrak's City of New Orleans at Union Station in the evening, settling in for an overnight journey through the Mississippi Delta. The train carries you 1,800 miles across five states, arriving mid-afternoon on day three in New Orleans. You spend the next two nights in the centrally located Hotel Monteleone, with one day featuring a hands-on cooking demonstration and lunch at the New Orleans School of Cooking where you learn the story of Cajun and Creole cuisine. Optional tours in both cities, from jazz performances to swamp boat rides, let you customize your free time. This trip suits independent explorers comfortable making their own way to hotels and arranging transfers, as well as first-time rail travellers seeking an accessible overnight train experience paired with city culture and food.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is independent travel with no accompanying tour manager; you arrange your own transfers from Chicago airport to hotel and from hotel to Union Station
  • Only lunch is included; other meals are your responsibility
  • The from-price of $895 USD does not include flights or airport transfers

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Chicago

    Chicago

    Arrive in Chicago and transfer independently to the centrally-located hotel; optional Hop-On/Hop-Off sightseeing tour available.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Train (City of New Orleans)

    Train to New Orleans

    Architecture tour on the Chicago River, free time in the city, then board Amtrak's City of New Orleans at Union Station in the evening.

  3. Day 3railovernight: New Orleans

    New Orleans

    Relax aboard the train through the Mississippi Delta, arriving mid-afternoon; transfer to the centrally-located hotel with the rest of the day free.

  4. Day 4overnight: New Orleans

    New Orleans Sightseeing

    Cooking demonstration at the New Orleans School of Cooking, with optional Jazz Tour, Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour or Hop-On/Hop-Off tour available.

    Meals: Lunch

  5. Day 5

    Tour Conclusion

    Tour ends upon hotel check-out; option to add nights or make the tour round-trip back to Chicago.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board Amtrak's City of New Orleans at Chicago's Union Station in the evening for an overnight journey through five states to New Orleans
  • Day 3Watch the Mississippi Delta landscape pass as the train arrives mid-afternoon in New Orleans
  • Day 4Cooking demonstration at the New Orleans School of Cooking with lunch, plus optional Jazz Tour or Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 3 nights
  • Transportation aboard Amtrak City of New Orleans - 1 night on Train
  • 1 Meal

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance (not included but can be arranged)
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, one night aboard Amtrak's City of New Orleans from Chicago to New Orleans is included, along with three nights of hotel accommodations and one meal.
Is this an escorted or independent trip?
Vacations By Rail operates this as independent travel with no tour manager. You transfer yourself to hotels and arrange your own sightseeing, though a cooking demonstration and architecture tour are included.
Which Amtrak train does this use?
The City of New Orleans, which travels 1,800 miles from Chicago through five states to New Orleans. You board at Union Station in Chicago in the evening of day 2 and arrive mid-afternoon on day 3.
What are the hotels?
Palmer House Hilton in Chicago for one night and Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans for two nights.
What meals are included?
Lunch on day 4 during the cooking demonstration at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Other meals are not included.
How much walking should I expect?
You will walk the Chicago River for an architecture tour and explore both cities on foot during free time. Optional boat and walking tours are available in both cities.

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