A 13-Day Train Tour That Hits 5 National Parks? Here’s What You Should Know Before You Book

Five national parks. One train trip. Thirteen days.

That's the pitch from Vacations by Rail, and honestly? It sounds incredible. But before you hand over your credit card, there are a few things the brochure won't tell you.

Let me break it all down.

Where the Trip Actually Starts

The journey kicks off at Chicago's Union Station, where you board Amtrak's Empire Builder train. You'll take an overnight train to your first stop: Glacier National Park in Montana.

From there, the route moves through Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and eventually wraps up in Utah with visits to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

That's a lot of ground to cover. And yes, it's as impressive as it sounds.

What You'll Actually See at Each Park

Here's where it gets fun.

At Glacier, you get two full days to take in more than 25 glaciers, 130 lakes, and 200 waterfalls. One of the highlights is a vintage open-air Red Jammer bus tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road. It crosses the Continental Divide, and it's the kind of view that makes you forget your phone exists.

Yellowstone gives you Old Faithful, Hayden Valley, the Upper and Lower Falls, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It's a lot to see in two days, but the guided tours help move things along.

At Grand Teton, you'll do a float trip on the Snake River. Bison, elk, and moose have been spotted from the water. No guarantees, but your odds are pretty solid.

The trip wraps up in Utah with visits to Arches, Canyonlands, and Dead Horse Point State Park. Red rocks, natural arches, and sunsets that photographers would sell a kidney for.

This Is a Highlight Tour, Not a Deep Exploration

Let's be real about expectations.

Yellowstone alone could fill a week. Arches has timed entry requirements during peak season. With just one to two days per park, you're getting the greatest hits, not the full album.

That's not a bad thing. For a lot of travelers, this is exactly what they want. You see five parks without having to plan a single hotel booking or figure out how to drive from Montana to Utah.

Just know going in that you won't hike every trail or see every geyser. You're getting a sampler platter, not a full meal.

About That “Luxury” Train

The trip is marketed as a luxurious experience, and parts of it genuinely are.

But the Amtrak Empire Builder is a regular Amtrak train, not a Rocky Mountaineer-style luxury rail experience. Most passengers stay in roomettes or bedrooms. They're comfortable but compact. Think “cozy” not “five-star hotel on wheels.”

Food for sleeper car passengers is included, but it's simple dining car meals. Solid, not spectacular.

Coach seats are technically an option, but for a 13-day trip, that's a tough ask on your back.

You'll Spend a Lot of Time on a Bus

Here's something the article doesn't spell out: once you leave the train, most travel between and within the parks happens by motorcoach.

The upside? No parking stress. No navigation. Someone else handles all of it.

The downside? Less flexibility. If you want to spend an extra hour at a trailhead, you can't exactly tell the bus to wait.

For travelers who like structure, this is a feature. For travelers who like to wander, it might feel limiting.

The Price Tag Has Some Fine Print

The trip starts at $6,495 per person, based on double occupancy.

But here's the thing — that's the floor, not the ceiling.

Prices go up with better train accommodations, solo travel (single supplements aren't cheap), and peak season departures. Flights to and from Chicago aren't included either.

A more realistic number for many travelers lands somewhere between $7,500 and $10,000 per person once everything is factored in.

That's not a dealbreaker. It's just good to know before you start doing the math.

What's Actually Included

For what you're paying, the package covers a lot.

All rail travel is included, along with 12 nights of hotel accommodations. That breaks down to one night on the Empire Builder, three nights at Glacier Park Lodge or Grouse Mountain Lodge, and two nights in Yellowstone. You also get guided excursions, national park entrance fees, and several meals.

The logistics alone would take weeks to coordinate on your own. So yes, there's real value in that price tag.

Is This Trip Right for You?

This tour is a great fit if you hate driving long distances, love having someone else handle the details, and want to see as much as possible without renting a car in five different states.

It's less ideal if you want flexibility, plan to hike seriously, or were expecting something closer to a luxury rail experience.

One More Thing About Wildlife

The Grand Teton float trip mentions possible bison, elk, and moose sightings. And you really might see them!

But wildlife doesn't run on a schedule. Early morning and dusk are the best windows, and tour buses tend to move during daylight hours. Go in with an open mind, and any sighting will feel like a bonus instead of a guarantee.

How to Book

Trips for 2026 start at $6,495 per person. Check the Vacations by Rail website for current schedules, departure dates, and pricing. Dates matter more than you might think. Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier can still be closed early in the season, and Utah parks get extremely hot in peak summer months.

Pick your dates wisely and you'll have a much better trip.