Plan a national park vacation via Amtrak
Railroads and national parks have a long and intertwined history. In fact, it was the drive to increase rail passengers that first introduced visitors to some of our most magnificent national parks.
Today, trains still deliver passengers to several national parks. Take a look at some of the places you can visit via Amtrak and its mighty trains:
- Peaks to Pacific By Rail (10 Days / 9 Nights)--From Denver to San Francisco with 2 nights in Yellowstone National Park.
- Amtrak's San Joaquin runs multiple times daily between the San Francisco Bay Area and Bakersfield, where Thruway motorcoaches connect you to great Southern California destinations. For instance, you can visit Yosemite National Park by catching the San Joaquin to Merced, where you then board a motorcoach for a scenic ride into Yosemite National Park.
- Grand Canyon Discovery By Rail (10 Days / 9 Nights)--From Chicago to Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, via Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and Grand Canyon Railway.
- The Northern Border & Pacific Northwest by Rail (11 Days / 10 Nights--The long-distance train, The Empire Builder, boards in Chicago and takes the northern route to the West Coast, through Glacier National Park.
If you're looking for a different way to see one of America's national parks, consider looking back to American park beginnings and choose an old mode of travel. Especially, if you like touring and leaving the details to someone else, riding the rails might be a perfect change of pace.
You might also be interested in other articles in the Rails to Parks series:
Amtrak & National Parks--Trails & Rails, National Train Day
Grand Canyon Railway--free rides for 50s in 2009
Learn about: 2009 National Train Day