In conjunction with the U.S. National Park Service, Amtrak offers a number of opportunities to explore the state parks of the Southwest. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Muir Woods are a few of the options. Various parks and packages are available, depending on your budget and preferences. Tours vary in length from one to 10 days. Lodging options include camping and luxury hotels, and trips of varying lengths are also available. There are also discounts available for children, students and AAA members. This program is a seasonal one, so the offers are only available at certain times of the year. Some tours are booked directly through Amtrak, while others are handled by separate companies working in conjunction with Amtrak or the U.S. National Park Service.
In partnership with Amtrak, Key Holidays offers three packages to tour scenic Yosemite, ranging from a single day to three days. All trips include your entrance fee to the park, a guided tour of Yosemite on a scenic tram, a mini bus shuttle to the valley, a tram tour and plenty of photographic vistas. The perks of a longer stay include lodging at the upscale Yosemite Lodge and opportunities for more outdoor activities. Prices vary, depending on your departure point.
Departing from Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco, this three-day trip includes a tour through the Sierra Nevada mountains and a Sequoia shuttle tour through the Giant Forest Route. As of November 2010 prices start at $369 for an adult, but the final bill depends on your departure city. If you leave from the San Francisco Bay area, for example, your ticket would be $85 more expensive. This tour is also offered by Key Holidays in conjunction with Amtrak.
Starting in Denver and ending in San Francisco, this unescorted, 10-day tour includes Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Muir Woods National Park in California. Like other tours, this one has a seasonal schedule that runs from May to October. However, there is a year-round package available that does not include Yellowstone. As of November 2010, tickets and tours begin at $1,649 per person and can be purchased directly through Amtrak.
The Southwest Chief, which runs daily from Chicago to Los Angeles, is part of the packaged deal that includes a scenic tour of the Grand Canyon. The train includes sleeping and dining accommodations and a sightseer lounge car. At Williams Junction in Arizona, you can transfer from Williams Depot and enjoy a panoramic ride on the historic Grand Canyon Railway to the edge of the canyon. There are varying options for this package that start at $630 per person as of November 2010.
