Amtrak Vacations
Glacier National Park, Seattle, and San Francisco
Cross-country rail journey linking Chicago, Glacier, Seattle, and San Francisco
11 daysfrom $3,209
36% rail
Amtrak Vacations
San Francisco to San Diego - Californias Golden Coast
An 11-day multi-city rail journey down California's coast
Amtrak Vacations operates this 11-day, 10-night rail journey down the California coast, starting in San Francisco and ending in San Diego, with stops in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. The first four days are based in San Francisco, with a hop-on, hop-off city tour, a guided day trip to Yosemite National Park that includes hiking along mountain trails, and a guided excursion across the Golden Gate Bridge into Napa and Sonoma wine country for tastings. From there, Amtrak carries travelers down the coast to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and finally San Diego, each city adding its own hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. It suits travelers who want an independent, self-paced multi-city trip with rail travel included between stops, rather than a single fixed itinerary, and who are comfortable choosing their own hotel from the 23 accommodation options on offer.
What to know before you look closer
- This package offers 23 accommodation options across different cities and comfort tiers, from properties such as the Fairmont San Francisco and the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco to the Harbor View Inn in Santa Barbara; the specific hotel you get depends on the tier and city you choose.
- Only 1 dinner is included across the 10 nights of the trip; other meals are on your own.
- The operator does not list current departure dates in the evidence available to us; confirm availability with Amtrak Vacations before booking.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: San Francisco
Your Journey Begins in San Francisco
Welcome to San Francisco! Upon arrival, check into your hotel and begin to explore the city.
- Day 2overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Take an exhilarating hop-on, hop-off tour of San Francisco! This excursion gives you the opportunity to see the most popular landmarks of this amazing city. You can hop off at any of the stops to explore any site at your own pace. Visit popular districts like, Chinatown, North Beach, Union Square, the Civic Center, and more! Dinner is included this evening.
- Day 3overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Today, board a sightseeing tour that will bring you out to the beautifully scenic Yosemite National Park! Your fully guided tour will take you out of the city to travel along the Merced River and into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range to the famous Yosemite Park. Enjoy sights of the tall redwoods, hike along the mountain trails, and snap pictures of the rushing waterfalls. You will truly enjoy a full day of sightseeing.
- Day 4overnight: San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Enjoy a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and through the tranquil hills surrounding Sonoma Valley as you take in the beauty of the countless family wineries along the old El Camino Real. Then, you'll venture into the heart of Napa Valley, where your next stops feature up to three vineyards for tours and tastings.
- Day 5overnight: Santa Barbara
San Francisco to Santa Barbara
This morning you will board Amtrak for a wonderfully scenic journey down to Santa Barbara. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and relax for the night.
- Day 6overnight: Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Today you can enjoy the wonderful beach-side city of Santa Barbara! A hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour will escort you around to visit the beautiful beaches that make this area of California so iconic and special. The tour will also stop off at the local zoo, the famous Old Mission in Santa Barbara, and the harbor.
- Day 7overnight: Los Angeles
Santa Barbara to Los Angeles
Today you will depart Santa Barbara and continue to Los Angeles. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and begin to explore the city with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. Your guided tour will highlight the best of Los Angeles' many attractions such as Rodeo Drive, the Kodak Theatre, Paramount Studios, and the Santa Monica Pier.
- Day 8overnight: Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Continue to explore Hollywood today on your tour. With stops at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Sign, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you can truly take in what makes Los Angeles so exciting.
- Day 9railovernight: San Diego
Los Angeles to San Diego
Travel to the Amtrak station and board the train to San Diego. Relax on the Pacific Surfliner as you continue your journey south along the Pacific Ocean coastline. Upon arrival, check-in to your hotel and begin to experience "America's Finest City" on your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour.
- Day 10overnight: San Diego
San Diego, CA
Today you will continue to explore San Diego aboard your sightseeing tour. Your fully narrated tour will dazzle you with a fascinating mix of trivia and humorous stories as you discover the historic Gaslamp District, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Seaport Village, and Balboa Park.
- Day 11
Your Journey Ends in San Diego
Your Journey Ends in San Diego.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 3A fully guided tour travels along the Merced River into the Sierra Nevada foothills to Yosemite National Park, passing redwoods, mountain trails, and waterfalls.
- Day 4The tour crosses the Golden Gate Bridge into Sonoma Valley and on to Napa Valley for tours and tastings at up to three vineyards.
- Day 5Travelers board Amtrak for the scenic rail journey from San Francisco south to Santa Barbara on the Coast Starlight or San Joaquin.
- Day 9The Pacific Surfliner carries travelers from Los Angeles to San Diego along the Pacific Ocean coastline.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from San Francisco to Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to San Diego on the Coast Starlight® OR San Joaquin and the Pacific Surfliner®
- 10 nights' hotel accommodations
- 1 meal (1 dinner)
Questions travellers ask
- Is rail travel included in the price?
- Yes. The package includes Amtrak travel in Coach class from San Francisco to Santa Barbara to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight or San Joaquin, then Los Angeles to San Diego on the Pacific Surfliner.
- Which trains are used?
- The Coast Starlight or San Joaquin between San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles, and the Pacific Surfliner between Los Angeles and San Diego.
- What hotels are used?
- The package offers 23 accommodation options across cities and tiers, including hotels such as the Fairmont San Francisco, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, and the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort; the exact hotel depends on the tier and city selected.
- Is this trip guided or independent?
- Each city includes a self-paced hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour, while the Yosemite National Park and Napa and Sonoma excursions are fully guided.
- How much walking or hiking is involved?
- Day 3's Yosemite excursion includes hiking along mountain trails; the rest of the trip involves typical city walking on the hop-on, hop-off tours.
- What is not included?
- Only 1 dinner is included across the 10 nights; other meals are on your own.
