Amtrak Vacations
Coast to Coast - Southern Rails
12-day Southern rail crossing from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles
12 daysfrom $1,769
42% rail
Amtrak Vacations
Southern Rail Experience
Round trip Amtrak rail loop from Chicago to Seattle, LA, New Orleans
Amtrak Vacations runs the Southern Rail Experience, a 12-day, 11-night round trip that starts and ends in Chicago, connecting Seattle, Los Angeles and New Orleans by Coach class rail. The Empire Builder carries travelers west overnight past the Gassman Coulee Trestle, Montana's Big Sky Country and Glacier National Park, before two days in Seattle with a hop-on, hop-off tour of sights like the Space Needle and Pike's Place Market. The Coast Starlight then climbs the Cascade Mountain Range and follows the Pacific coastline into Los Angeles, where another hop-on, hop-off tour covers Hollywood. Overnight on the Sunset Limited, the route crosses desert country into New Orleans for a two night stay and a guided tour through the Garden District, French Quarter and Jackson Square, before the City of New Orleans returns to Chicago. Six of the eleven nights are spent onboard the train in Coach seating. The description calls it suited to both first-time train travelers and rail enthusiasts.
What to know before you look closer
- Each city offers 6 different hotel options across a wide range of standards, for example the Regent Santa Monica or the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, so your actual hotel depends on what's booked.
- All four trains, including the overnight Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited and City of New Orleans legs, are listed in Coach class, so the six nights spent onboard are in reclining coach seats rather than a private sleeper cabin.
- The evidence does not list any meals as included, so travelers should plan to cover meals throughout the trip, including the nights spent onboard the train.
- The evidence does not list specific departure dates; confirm current availability and pricing with Amtrak Vacations.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Your Journey Begins in Chicago
Begin your journey in Chicago. Head to the Amtrak station and board the Empire Builder to Seattle. Sit back and relax as you head west to begin your around-the-country adventure.
- Day 2overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Wake up and enjoy the amazing views that slip by your window as you continue to make your way west. Today you will be traveling through the Gassman Coulee Tressel, through Big Sky Country, and passing by Glacier National Park. Be sure to bring a camera, as Amtrak is one of the best ways to enjoy America's beautiful scenery.
- Day 3overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Today you will arrive in the shining city, Seattle. Check-in to your hotel and prepare for a fun couple of days in "the Emerald City". Perhaps you want to stroll down to the popular Space Needle, or head down to the Pike's Market. There is plenty to do and see in Seattle.
- Day 4overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Today you will get to explore Seattle with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour! Travel around to Seattle's top attractions such as the Woodland Park Zoo, Pioneer Square, and the Seattle Waterfront. With the ability to get on and off the tour at your own leisure, there is no telling how much you will get to see and experience during your stay in Seattle.
- Day 5overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Check-out of your hotel and travel on your own to the Amtrak station to board the famous Coast Starlight. As you head south to Los Angeles you will travel past some of the shining peaks of the snow-capped Cascade Mountain Range.
- Day 6railovernight: Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
As the train makes its way south, enjoy the panoramic views of the Pacific Coast. The Coast Starlight is one of Amtrak's most popular routes as it allows you to see areas of the Pacific coastline not visible any other way. Tonight, arrive in Los Angeles and check-in to your hotel.
- Day 7overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Today you will get to enjoy the best of what Los Angeles has to offer. Use your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour to visit such iconic landmarks as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, the Universal Studios, and the Hollywood Sign. Tonight, travel on your own to Los Angeles Union station to board the Sunset Limited to head east to New Orleans.
- Day 8railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Your trip continues as the Sunset Limited makes its way through the southern parts of the country. Glide through the sprawling deserts, past mountains, and cacti as the train heads towards New Orleans.
- Day 9railovernight: New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
After passing through Texas and Louisiana, the train will arrive in New Orleans. Check-in to your hotel and head to sleep, tomorrow you will get to experience "the City that Care Forgot".
- Day 10overnight: New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Today you will get to explore New Orleans on a guided sightseeing tour. Your tour will take you all around the "Big Easy" to see the Bayou St. John, the exclusive Garden District (home to the many Kings and Queens of Mardi Gras), through the famous French Quarter, and past historic Jackson Square.
- Day 11railovernight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Today you will check out of your hotel and board the City of New Orleans to head back to Chicago. As your train makes its way to the Midwest, reflect upon all of the wonderful things you experienced during your Southern Rail Experience!
- Day 12
Your Journey Ends in Chicago
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2The Empire Builder passes the Gassman Coulee Trestle, crosses Montana's Big Sky Country, and skirts Glacier National Park.
- Day 5The Coast Starlight departs Seattle and climbs through the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range.
- Day 6The Coast Starlight follows the Pacific coastline into Los Angeles, one of the few ways to see this stretch of coast.
- Day 8The Sunset Limited crosses desert country dotted with cacti on its way from Los Angeles to New Orleans.
- Day 10A guided sightseeing tour of New Orleans visits Bayou St. John, the Garden District, the French Quarter and Jackson Square.
Included
- Roundtrip Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Chicago to Seattle; Seattle to Los Angeles; Los Angeles to New Orleans; and New Orleans to Chicago on the Empire Builder®, Coast Starlight®, Sunset Limited®, and City of New Orleans®
- 5 nights' hotel accommodations; 6 nights' onboard Amtrak®
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes, roundtrip Amtrak Coach class travel on the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited and City of New Orleans, connecting Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and New Orleans.
- Do I sleep on the train?
- Yes, six of the eleven nights are spent onboard Amtrak in Coach class seating rather than a private sleeper cabin, on top of five nights in hotels in Seattle, Los Angeles and New Orleans.
- Which trains are used?
- The Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited and City of New Orleans, all in Coach class.
- What hotels are used?
- Six hotel options in each city, for example the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle or Crowne Plaza Seattle-Downtown in Seattle, and the Regent Santa Monica or DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown in Los Angeles.
- Is this trip escorted or independent?
- It combines onboard rail travel with hop-on, hop-off tours in Seattle and Los Angeles and a guided sightseeing tour in New Orleans; travelers make their own way to the station for the Coast Starlight and Sunset Limited legs.
- What is not included?
- The evidence lists no meals as included; travelers should plan to cover their own meals throughout the trip.
