Amtrak Vacations
Grand National Parks of the Southwest
8-day round-trip rail journey from Chicago to Utah's Mighty 5 parks
8 daysfrom $1,499
25% rail
Amtrak Vacations
Yellowstone National Park Discovery Roundtrip from San Francisco
8-day roundtrip from San Francisco to Yellowstone via Salt Lake City
Amtrak Vacations runs this 8-day, 7-night roundtrip from San Francisco, riding the California Zephyr to Salt Lake City before continuing to Yellowstone National Park by motorcoach. The outbound night is spent onboard the train, followed by a day exploring Salt Lake City, then a scenic drive through mountainous countryside to Yellowstone, where two nights are followed by a full day of sightseeing at Firehole Canyon, Old Faithful Geyser, Isa Lake on the Continental Divide, and Mud Volcano, with bison, grizzly bears, and wolves possible along the way. The return leg retraces the route to Salt Lake City, with a free evening downtown before boarding the California Zephyr again for the overnight ride back to San Francisco. A choice of eleven hotels, from the Hampton Inn to the boutique Kimpton Hotel Monaco and historic lodges inside the park, lets travelers set their own comfort level. The operator's day-by-day breakdown in the evidence available covers the first six days of the trip.
What to know before you look closer
- The published day-by-day itinerary in the evidence available covers days 1 through 6 of this 8-day, 7-night package; the operator's listed duration runs two days longer than the itinerary steps we have, so exactly how the final days unfold isn't fully clear from this listing alone.
- The 11 hotels listed, from the Hampton Inn Salt Lake City-Downtown to the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, plus lodges and cabins inside Yellowstone, are accommodation options; which one you get depends on the tier and city selected at booking.
- The Salt Lake City to Yellowstone leg, and the return, is covered by motorcoach, not rail; the California Zephyr covers only the San Francisco to Salt Lake City portion of the route.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Board Amtrak's California Zephyr for your scenic trip east.
- Day 2overnight: Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Welcome to Salt Lake City! Check-in to your hotel and prepare for a day of exploration. Salt Lake City offers year-round outdoor recreation, numerous theater groups and art galleries.
- Day 3overnight: Yellowstone National Park
Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park
Begin your journey to Yellowstone National Park by motorcoach, winding through mountainous countryside with a rest stop for snacks. Check-in to your hotel upon arrival in the afternoon.
- Day 4overnight: Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Enjoy the beauty and wonder of Yellowstone National Park, including Firehole Canyon, Old Faithful Geyser, Isa Lake on the Continental Divide, Mud Volcano and more. Watch for bison, grizzly bears and wolves.
- Day 5overnight: Salt Lake City
Yellowstone National Park to Salt Lake City
Leave Yellowstone National Park and head back to Salt Lake City, "The Crossroads of the West," with a rest stop en route. Arrive in Salt Lake City in the afternoon and check in to your hotel to drop off luggage. The evening is free to walk downtown and sample local restaurants and shops, then board Amtrak that night for the trip back west on the California Zephyr.
- Day 6
Your Journey Ends in San Francisco
Trip concludes in San Francisco.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1The trip begins by boarding Amtrak's California Zephyr in San Francisco for the overnight ride east toward Salt Lake City.
- Day 3A motorcoach carries travelers from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park, winding through mountainous countryside with a rest stop along the way.
- Day 4A full day in Yellowstone National Park takes in Firehole Canyon, Old Faithful Geyser, Isa Lake on the Continental Divide, and Mud Volcano, with bison, grizzly bears, and wolves possible.
- Day 5After returning to Salt Lake City in the afternoon, the evening is free to walk downtown before boarding the California Zephyr that night for the overnight ride back west.
Included
- 2 nights' hotel accommodations in Salt Lake City
- 3 nights' hotel accommodations in West Yellowstone
- 2 nights onboard Amtrak roundtrip from San Francisco to Salt Lake City on the California Zephyr
- Sightseeing city tour of Salt Lake City
- Sightseeing tour of Yellowstone's Lower Loop
- Sightseeing tour of Yellowstone's Upper Loop
- Roundtrip transfers between Salt Lake City and West Yellowstone
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included?
- Yes, 2 nights onboard Amtrak's California Zephyr roundtrip between San Francisco and Salt Lake City are included; the Salt Lake City to Yellowstone leg is by motorcoach.
- Which train is used?
- The California Zephyr, in Coach class, for the San Francisco to Salt Lake City roundtrip.
- What hotels are included?
- A choice of 11 hotels across Salt Lake City, such as the Peery Salt Lake City Downtown, Hilton Salt Lake City Center, and Kimpton Hotel Monaco, and inside Yellowstone, such as Old Faithful Inn, Lake Lodge Cabins, and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins.
- What will I see in Yellowstone?
- Firehole Canyon, Old Faithful Geyser, Isa Lake on the Continental Divide, and Mud Volcano, with a chance to spot bison, grizzly bears, and wolves.
- How much does it cost?
- From $1,399 USD per person, about $175 per day.
- How much walking is involved?
- The Yellowstone day and Salt Lake City tour are guided sightseeing with stops; no hikes are described in the itinerary.
