Amtrak Vacations

Yellowstone in the Winter

Off-season 5-day Yellowstone trip from Salt Lake City for winter wildlife

Yellowstone in the Winter, a rail journey with Amtrak Vacations

Amtrak Vacations built Yellowstone in the Winter around the quieter months at Yellowstone National Park, running November through March. The 5-day, 4-night trip starts in Salt Lake City and ends inside the park at West Yellowstone, with a roundtrip transfer covering the drive between the two. Once in the park, an included sightseeing tour, the Old Faithful Explorer Tour in winter months, takes travelers past the geothermal features that the operator says stand out most starkly against snow and ice. The highlights named are wildlife spotting, including wolves in Lamar Valley, and the low winter crowds compared to peak season. The operator does not publish a day-by-day breakdown of the four hotel nights between the two stops, and the $1,169 per-person starting price does not include rail travel to Salt Lake City, which is booked separately.

What to know before you look closer

  • The $1,169 per-person starting price covers the hotel nights, tour, and transfers only; rail travel is not included and is booked separately, per the operator's own listing.
  • Amtrak Vacations publishes no day-by-day itinerary for this package; the split of the 4 hotel nights between Salt Lake City and West Yellowstone is not stated.
  • The included park tour is seasonal: the Old Faithful Explorer Tour replaces the Lower Loop Tour in winter, so the specific sights visited depend on when you travel.

Included

  • Sightseeing tour of Yellowstone National Park (seasonal; Old Faithful Explorer Tour substituted during winter months for the Lower Loop Tour)
  • Roundtrip transfer from Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone
  • 4 nights hotel accommodations

Not included

  • Rail (listed pricing does not include rail)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
No. Rail is explicitly listed as not included in the priced package; the trip covers transfers, hotel nights, and a park tour.
When does this trip run?
It's built around winter travel, November through March, when the operator says Yellowstone has far fewer visitors than peak season.
What's included?
4 nights of hotel accommodations, a roundtrip transfer between Salt Lake City and West Yellowstone, and a sightseeing tour of the park.
What will I see?
The named highlights are wildlife spotting, including wolves in Lamar Valley, and the winter contrast between steaming geysers, hot springs, and snow-covered ground.
How much does it cost?
From $1,169 USD per person, about $234 per day, not including rail.

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