Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation

USA and Canada Rail Experience

Independent rail loop from Chicago to Seattle, Vancouver and Toronto

USA and Canada Rail Experience, a rail journey with Amtrak Vacations

Amtrak Vacations runs this independent, 11-day rail loop starting and ending in Chicago, crossing to Seattle, Vancouver and Toronto along the way. Two nights aboard the Empire Builder open the trip, tracing the Missouri River, the plains of North Dakota and Glacier National Park before reaching Seattle, where the afternoon is left free to explore. The Cascades train then crosses the border into Vancouver for two nights, with an included hop-on, hop-off tour of Stanley Park and Granville Island's Public Market. From Vancouver, VIA Rail's the Canadian carries travelers east for four nights, through the Canadian Rockies, lake country and prairie fields, arriving in Toronto for a night of sightseeing that includes the Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma and the CN Tower. The trip closes with an overnight Lake Shore Limited ride back to Chicago. It suits travelers who want the train itself, rather than time in any one city, to be the center of the trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is an independent trip: beyond the two included city tours, in Vancouver and Toronto, travelers manage their own time, including the Seattle layover.
  • Hotels are chosen from a list of options in each city (for example the Fairmont Pacific Rim or Hampton Inn & Suites in Vancouver), so which property you get depends on what you book.
  • The evidence gives no current departure dates; confirm availability and pricing with Amtrak Vacations before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Welcome to Chicago! This afternoon make your way to Chicago's Union Station to board Amtrak's famous Empire Builder, traveling along the Lewis and Clark trail. Relax in the observation car taking in the Missouri River, North Dakota plains, and Glacier National Park.

  2. Day 2overnight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

  3. Day 3railovernight: Vancouver

    Seattle to Vancouver

    Arrive in Seattle's Kings Street Station. The afternoon is at your leisure to explore Seattle. In the evening, board Amtrak's Cascades train and travel through the Pacific Northwest across the Canadian border into Downtown Vancouver.

  4. Day 4overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver, BC

    Explore Vancouver at your leisure with your included hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour, visiting Gastown, the Totem Poles in Stanley Park, and Granville Island's Public Market.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    Continue your sightseeing of Vancouver during the day. Later, travel to the VIA Rail station and board the Canadian to continue your trip heading eastbound to Toronto, taking in the Canadian Rockies, lake country and prairie fields.

  6. Day 9overnight: Toronto

    Toronto, ON

    Arrive in Toronto! Visit popular sites such as the Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto Harbourfront, Eaton Centre and Chinatown. Admission to the CN Tower is also included today.

  7. Day 10railovernight: Onboard Amtrak

    Overnight Onboard Amtrak

    Continue exploring Toronto during the day and in the evening take a private transfer to the Amtrak station in Buffalo, NY. Board the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago for your final train ride.

  8. Day 11

    Your Journey Ends in Chicago

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Amtrak's Empire Builder departs Chicago's Union Station, with observation car views of the Missouri River, North Dakota plains and Glacier National Park.
  • Day 3In the evening, the Cascades train crosses the Canadian border into downtown Vancouver.
  • Day 5VIA Rail's the Canadian departs Vancouver, taking in the Canadian Rockies, lake country and prairie fields on the way to Toronto.
  • Day 9Arrival in Toronto includes visits to the Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, the Hockey Hall of Fame and CN Tower admission.

Included

  • 3 nights' hotel accommodations; 3 nights aboard Amtrak®; 4 nights aboard VIA Rail®
  • One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Chicago to Seattle; Seattle to Vancouver; Buffalo to Chicago on the Empire Builder®; Cascades® and Lake Shore Limited®
  • One-way VIA Rail in Economy from Vancouver to Toronto on The Canadian®
  • One-way transfer from the hotel in Toronto to the train station in Buffalo

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Amtrak's Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle), Cascades (Seattle to Vancouver) and Lake Shore Limited (Buffalo to Chicago) in Coach, plus VIA Rail's the Canadian (Vancouver to Toronto) in Economy.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
Independent; hop-on, hop-off tours are included in Vancouver and Toronto, but there's no escort between stops.
How many nights are on the train?
7 of the 10 nights: 3 aboard Amtrak and 4 aboard VIA Rail's the Canadian.
What hotels are used?
A choice of hotels in Vancouver and Toronto, for example the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver or Hilton Toronto.
How much walking is involved?
Hop-on, hop-off tours plus the Vancouver Lookout and CN Tower; no hikes or high-altitude activity are described.

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