Amtrak Vacations
Great American - Rails to the West
New York to Las Vegas rail trip via Chicago and Grand Canyon
13 daysfrom $2,109
23% rail
Amtrak Vacations
Scenic America by Rail with Glacier National Park
13-day rail trip, New York City to Seattle via Glacier National Park
Amtrak Vacations runs this 13-day, 12-night rail journey from New York City to Seattle, with three nights at Glacier National Park along the way. The trip opens with two nights in New York City using an included CityPASS for sights such as the Empire State Building and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, then the Lake Shore Limited carries travelers overnight to Chicago for two more days of sightseeing with a Chicago CityPASS. A second overnight train, the Empire Builder, reaches East Glacier, where three nights include the Big Sky Circle Tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road past Logan Pass and Goat Lick, plus a boat cruise on Two Medicine Valley's lake. The Empire Builder continues on to Seattle for a final two nights, including a narrated sightseeing cruise with views of Mount Rainier and a hop-on, hop-off city tour. It suits travelers who want national park time built into a cross-country rail itinerary rather than city stops alone.
What to know before you look closer
- Hotels are listed as multiple named choices per city, from budget properties like a Holiday Inn Express to upscale hotels like the Waldorf Astoria, so which hotel you get depends on what is booked.
- Only 6 meals are included across the 13 days, 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners.
- The three overnight train segments are in Coach class seating, not private sleeper cabins, based on the class listed for the Lake Shore Limited and the Empire Builder.
- The Big Sky Circle Tour and the Two Medicine Valley boat cruise, the two main touring days in Glacier National Park, are both listed as seasonal; confirm they run during your travel dates.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: New York City
Your Journey Begins in New York City
Welcome to New York City! After checking into your hotel and getting settled in, step out into the city and begin getting to know why visitors from around the world flock here in the millions each year! Use your included CityPASS and experience the Empire State Building, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Top of the Rock, and so much more!
- Day 2overnight: New York City
New York City, NY
Use your included hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of the city to visit all the most popular neighborhoods, landmarks and attractions. Explore for as much or as little as you'd like! Enjoy the guided commentary along the way and learn all about New York City.
- Day 3railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Board your direct Lake Shore Limited train from New York City's Penn Station to Chicago. The nearly 1,000-mile route traverses through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. One thing is for sure, you're guaranteed to see some epic landscapes along the way.
- Day 4overnight: Chicago
Chicago, IL
When you arrive in Chicago, maximize your sightseeing time by using your included hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. You can even start using your CityPass to visit the Shedd Aquarium, SkyDeck Chicago, and so much more!
- Day 5overnight: Chicago
Chicago, IL
On your second day in the bustling city is all yours to discover its crowd-pleasing attractions and hidden gems at your leisure. Shop along the Magnificent Mile, enjoy local cuisine, or check out any interesting points of interest you didn't get a chance to yesterday.
- Day 6railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
The most fascinating way to get to Glacier National Park is onboard an Amtrak train. Today you'll board your train in Chicago for the overnight journey to East Glacier!
- Day 7overnight: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, MT
Glacier National Park, also known as the Crown of the Continent, is filled with awe-inspiring landscapes. Featuring mountain peaks, gorgeous valleys, glacial lakes, vast forests, meadows of wildflowers, thundering waterfalls, and twinkling stars at night, it's clear why this national park is one of the most visited in North America. Check into your hotel upon arrival and get settled for an exciting day of exploring tomorrow.
- Day 8overnight: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, MT
Today you begin your exploration of Glacier National Park's unparalleled mountain beauty. Your Big Sky Circle Tour picks you up from the hotel and carries you off through the park. As your guide drives through mountains along Going-to-the-Sun Road, past majestic points of interest such as Logan Pass and Goat Lick, you are provided a wonderfully narrated experience. You'll learn about the history, geology, plants, and wildlife of the park as well as the history and folklore of the native Blackfoot and Flathead tribes that once called this land home.
- Day 9overnight: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, MT
No trip to Glacier National Park would be complete without a chance to experience one of its pristine mountain lakes. Today you are transported to Two Medicine Valley, deep within the national park, for a sightseeing boat cruise. Marvel at the natural beauty of the valley, the lake, and keep your eyes open for the wildlife that frequent the shoreline.
- Day 10railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Glacier National Park, located in northern Montana, is not too far from Seattle, meaning the city is easy to get to onboard an Amtrak train. Along the way, enjoy the rugged landscapes and big, open skies, especially as you ride toward Western Washington.
- Day 11overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Discover the Emerald City from a different perspective on your included narrated sightseeing cruise! See the Seattle skyline, seasonal wildlife, and surrounding landscapes such as Mount Rainier. Back on dry land, continue exploring the city at your leisure, grab some local cuisine, and visit all the places you may not see on your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour tomorrow.
- Day 12overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Use your included hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour today! You also have admissions to the famous Space Needle and a visit to the famous Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit. During your city tour of Seattle, you will get to visit all the top attractions, like Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, Seattle's Waterfront, and Pier 66 to name a few.
- Day 13
Your Journey Ends in Seattle
Your Journey Ends in Seattle.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 7Glacier National Park, called the Crown of the Continent, greets arriving travelers with mountain peaks, glacial lakes, and wildflower meadows.
- Day 8The Big Sky Circle Tour drives Going-to-the-Sun Road past Logan Pass and Goat Lick with narrated commentary on the park's history and geology.
- Day 9A sightseeing boat cruise crosses Two Medicine Valley's lake, deep in the park, with a chance to spot wildlife along the shoreline.
- Day 11A narrated sightseeing cruise in Seattle takes in the skyline and views of Mount Rainier.
- Day 12Seattle's Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit are the highlights of the final full day in the city.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from New York City to Chicago; Chicago to East Glacier; East Glacier to Seattle on the Lake Shore Limited® and Empire Builder®
- 9 nights' hotel accommodations
- 6 meals (3 breakfasts and 3 dinners)
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included?
- Yes. One-way Amtrak Coach travel from New York City to Seattle on the Lake Shore Limited and the Empire Builder is included, with 3 nights spent onboard.
- Which trains are used?
- The Lake Shore Limited (New York City to Chicago) and the Empire Builder (Chicago to East Glacier to Seattle), both in Coach class.
- What is included at Glacier National Park?
- The Big Sky Circle Tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road and a Two Medicine Valley boat cruise, both listed as seasonal.
- What hotels are used?
- A range of hotels across New York, Chicago, Glacier National Park and Seattle; several options are listed per city, so confirm which one is booked.
- How many meals are included?
- 6 meals across the 13 days: 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners.
- How much walking is involved?
- Sightseeing uses hop-on, hop-off passes and guided tours such as the Big Sky Circle Tour; no hikes or high-altitude activity are described.
