Amtrak Vacations
Grand Canyon to Yosemite Roundtrip from Chicago
Roundtrip rail trip from Chicago to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite
11 daysfrom $1,939
45% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Western Rail Experience Roundtrip from San Francisco
San Francisco roundtrip Amtrak loop through Seattle, Chicago, and Los Angeles
Amtrak Vacations runs this 11-day, 10-night independent rail loop from San Francisco to Seattle, Chicago, and Los Angeles and back, in Coach class throughout. The trip opens with an overnight ride north past the snow-capped Cascade Mountains to Seattle, where a fully-guided tour covers the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and historic Pioneer Square. The Empire Builder then carries travelers east past mountain ranges, the North Dakota plains, and the Missouri River to Chicago, where a hop-on, hop-off tour covers Navy Pier and Millennium Park. The Southwest Chief continues the loop through the desert Southwest to Los Angeles, with its own hop-on, hop-off tour of the Hollywood sign and Rodeo Drive, before the Coast Starlight's final leg follows the Pacific coastline back to San Francisco. Five nights are spent onboard the train and five in hotels chosen from about 18 accommodation options. This suits travelers who want one Amtrak loop covering several major American cities.
What to know before you look closer
- Hotel accommodations are chosen from about 18 options across the 4 cities and price tiers, so the exact hotel depends on what is selected at booking.
- No meals are listed as included in this package; the stated inclusions are hotel nights, rail fares, and city sightseeing tours.
- All rail segments, including the overnight legs, are booked in Coach class rather than a private sleeper cabin.
- The San Francisco to Seattle train segment is not named in the evidence, unlike the trip's other three legs (Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, and Coast Starlight).
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Begin your journey in San Francisco! Board Amtrak and enjoy your overnight trip to Seattle. Enjoy the sights as you pass the snow-capped Cascade Mountains on your trip north.
- Day 2overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Welcome to Seattle! This evening you will arrive in "The Emerald City", travel to your hotel and check in for your two-night stay. Prepare for a fun day of sightseeing tomorrow.
- Day 3overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Today you will experience the best of what Seattle has to offer on a sightseeing tour of the city. Your fully-guided tour will take you to such iconic Seattle sights as the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and historic Pioneer Square! Make sure you bring a camera to capture all that you will see in Seattle.
- Day 4railovernight: Onboard Amtrak (Empire Builder)
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
This afternoon you will board the Empire Builder for your trip east to Chicago. Marvel at the sights as the train passes by beautiful mountain ranges, the plains of North Dakota, and the ranging Missouri River as it makes its way towards Chicago.
- Day 6overnight: Chicago
Chicago, IL
Today you will arrive in Chicago, "The Windy City"! Check in to your hotel and have a free night to experience Chicago on your own.
- Day 7overnight: Chicago
Chicago, IL
Continue to experience Chicago today on your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. The tour will take you all around Chicago to visit such important areas as Navy Pier, Millennium Park, or the John Handcock Observatory. With the ability to hop and off the tour whenever you want, there is no saying how much you will do and see in Chicago.
- Day 8railovernight: Onboard Amtrak (Southwest Chief)
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
This afternoon board Amtrak's Southwest Chief for your trip on to west. Sit back and relax as the train makes its way through America's heartland, traveling past deserts and forests and into California.
- Day 10overnight: Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Welcome to Los Angeles, the "City of Angels!" Upon arrival check-in to your hotel and begin to explore the city. Your hop-on, hop-off tour will take you to such popular Los Angeles spots as the Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive and the Walk of Fame.
- Day 11rail
Your Journey Ends in San Francisco
Today you will board the Coast Starlight route for your return trip to San Francisco. Enjoy the beautiful coastal views of the Pacific Ocean as you journey north. As the train makes its way up the coast, reflect upon the wonderful trip you had.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1The overnight ride north from San Francisco passes the snow-capped Cascade Mountains on the way to Seattle.
- Day 4The Empire Builder's eastbound run passes mountain ranges, the North Dakota plains, and the Missouri River on the way to Chicago.
- Day 8The Southwest Chief crosses the desert Southwest and forests on the return leg to Los Angeles.
- Day 11The Coast Starlight's final leg follows the Pacific coastline back to San Francisco.
Included
- Roundtrip Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from San Francisco to Seattle; Seattle to Chicago; Chicago to Los Angeles; and Los Angeles to San Francisco
- 5 nights' hotel accommodations; 5 nights' Amtrak accommodations
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. Roundtrip Coach fares are included for the full San Francisco to Seattle to Chicago to Los Angeles and back loop.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- It is billed as an independent rail vacation. The Seattle tour is fully guided; the Chicago and Los Angeles tours are hop-on, hop-off.
- Which trains are used?
- The Empire Builder (Seattle to Chicago), Southwest Chief (Chicago to Los Angeles), and Coast Starlight (Los Angeles to San Francisco) are named; the San Francisco to Seattle segment is not named in the evidence.
- What hotels are used?
- About 18 accommodation options across San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
- Are meals included?
- No meals are listed as included in this package.
