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Yellowstone & Yosemite
Yellowstone National Park
Chicago Bean, Millennium Park
California Zephyr, USA
Salt Lake City, Utah
Yellowstone National Park
Waterfall in Yellowstone National Park
Salt Lake City, Utah
Amtrak Superliner, USA
Golden Gate Bridge Sunset, America, San Francisco
Yosemite National Park, USA
Cable Car in San Francisco

California Zephyr & National Parks

11 day Rail Holiday – from £2399

With flights from £2999

Sit back and enjoy a scenic rail journey from Chicago to the Pacific Coast, stopping to explore two of America’s most spectacular National Parks.

Highlights:
  • Ride the California Zephyr, America’s most scenic rail journey
  • Visit the Great Salt Lake in northern Utah
  • Catch Yellowstone’s ‘Old Faithful’ Geyser erupt into life
  • Explore Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 in San Francisco
  • Gaze up at Yosemite’s Half Dome and El Capitan

Your Itinerary

Expand All

This itinerary is customisable. Just let us know if you would like to add extra nights, activities or destinations.

Chicago Bean, Millennium Park

Day 1 to 2 – Welcome to Chicago

Welcome to Chicago! Make your way from the airport to your hotel, where you can relax…

Welcome to Chicago! Make your way from the airport to your hotel, where you can relax after your flight, or head out to explore the ‘Windy City’.

To help you get around, you’ll have a 48 hour Chicago Hop-on Hop-off Bus Pass. There are 11 stops including Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Willis Tower and the Adler Planetarium. For retail therapy, take a stroll down the Magnificent Mile, and in the evening, check out Chicago’s famous music scene at one of the city’s many blues clubs. On Day 2 enjoy your included dinner at a popular restaurant in Chicago. 

    Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown Wolf Point or similar

    Dinner (Day 2)
Chicago Bean, Millennium Park
California Zephyr, USA

Day 3 – Chicago to Salt Lake City

Make your way to Chicago’s Union Station and board the Amtrak train to Salt Lake City….

Make your way to Chicago’s Union Station and board the Amtrak train to Salt Lake City. Enjoy America’s majestic landscapes as you travel on the California Zephyr through the Great Plains. Experienced travellers say this train route is one of the most beautiful in all of North America. Sit back and relax as you climb through the heart of the Rockies en route to Utah.

    Overnight on board the train

California Zephyr, USA
Salt Lake City, Utah

Day 4 – Salt Lake City

Continue to take in the stunning views of Utah’s Wasatach Mountains as you complete your train…

Continue to take in the stunning views of Utah’s Wasatach Mountains as you complete your train journey to Salt Lake City. Upon your arrival, make your way to your hotel for a relaxing evening before a busy day tomorrow.

    Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown or similar

Salt Lake City, Utah
Yellowstone National Park

Day 5 – Yellowstone National Park

Early this morning, catch the shuttle service to West Yellowstone. Yellowstone is widely held to…

Early this morning, catch the shuttle service to West Yellowstone. Yellowstone is widely held to be the first National Park in the world and is home to the most impressive geothermal features in North America. The sights here are simply stunning and will not disappoint. After you arrive in the early evening, you can settle into your hotel for a good night’s sleep. You have a full day of sightseeing ahead of you tomorrow!

    Holiday Inn West Yellowstone or similar

Yellowstone National Park
Waterfall in Yellowstone National Park

Day 6 – Yellowstone National Park

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of West Yellowstone’s lower loop. Highlights include Old Faithful Geyser, the…

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of West Yellowstone’s lower loop. Highlights include Old Faithful Geyser, the Old Faithful Inn, Isa Lake on the Continental Divide and many more stunning landmarks. After your tour, you will have time to grab lunch on your own at the Old Faithful Village.

    Holiday Inn West Yellowstone or similar

Waterfall in Yellowstone National Park
Salt Lake City, Utah

Day 7 – Salt Lake City

Today, take a leisurely journey back to Salt Lake City aboard the shuttle. Then, the evening

Today, take a leisurely journey back to Salt Lake City aboard the shuttle. Then, the evening is yours to spend enjoying this fascinating city.

    Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown or similar

Salt Lake City, Utah
Amtrak Superliner, USA

Day 8 – Salt Lake City to San Francisco

Today, enjoy a guided sightseeing city tour of Salt Lake City. You’ll see the magnificent…

Today, enjoy a guided sightseeing city tour of Salt Lake City. You’ll see the magnificent Salt Lake Mormon Temple and get to hear the renowned Tabernacle Organ. You’ll also visit Pioneer Park, Brigham Young’s Territorial Governor’s Mansion, and, of course, the Great Salt Lake! Later in the day, make your way to the railway station and Amtrak board the train to Emeryville Station in sunny California.

    Overnight on board the train

Amtrak Superliner, USA
Golden Gate Bridge Sunset, America, San Francisco

Day 9 – San Francisco

Upon your arrival at Emeryville Station, transfer on the shuttle to San Francisco. After you…

Upon your arrival at Emeryville Station, transfer on the shuttle to San Francisco. After you check into your hotel, the evening is yours to start exploring the ‘City by the Bay’. Take a stroll along Fisherman’s Wharf, breathe in the fresh ocean air, and sample the delicious local cuisine, like fresh seafood and crusty sourdough bread.

    Holiday Inn Express Union Square or similar

Golden Gate Bridge Sunset, America, San Francisco
Yosemite National Park, USA

Day 10 – Yosemite National Park (Day Tour)

Enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of San Francisco as you cross over the Bay Bridge…

Enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of San Francisco as you cross over the Bay Bridge at sunrise on your way to Yosemite National Park this morning. The rest of your drive to Yosemite will offer stunning scenery as well, including the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains and lush Central Valley. Once you arrive in Yosemite National Park, you will have 2.5 hours to follow the many hiking trails, or shop in Yosemite Village. Tonight you should arrive back at your hotel just in time for a spectacular San Francisco sunset.

    Holiday Inn Express Union Square or similar

Yosemite National Park, USA
Cable Car in San Francisco

Day 11 – Farewell from San Francisco

Your Yellowstone and Yosemite rail holiday ends today. Make your way to the airport for your…

Your Yellowstone and Yosemite rail holiday ends today. Make your way to the airport for your flight home, or on to your next destination!

Cable Car in San Francisco

Your Itinerary

This itinerary is customisable. Just let us know if you would like to add extra nights, activities or destinations.

Day 1 to 2

|

Welcome to Chicago

Welcome to Chicago! Make your way from the airport to your hotel, where you can relax after your flight, or head out to explore the ‘Windy City’.

To help you get around, you’ll have a 48 hour Chicago Hop-on Hop-off Bus Pass. There are 11 stops including Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Willis Tower and the Adler Planetarium. For retail therapy, take a stroll down the Magnificent Mile, and in the evening, check out Chicago’s famous music scene at one of the city’s many blues clubs. On Day 2 enjoy your included dinner at a popular restaurant in Chicago. 

    Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown Wolf Point or similar

    Dinner (Day 2)
Chicago Bean, Millennium Park

Day 3

|

Chicago to Salt Lake City

Make your way to Chicago’s Union Station and board the Amtrak train to Salt Lake City. Enjoy America’s majestic landscapes as you travel on the California Zephyr through the Great Plains. Experienced travellers say this train route is one of the most beautiful in all of North America. Sit back and relax as you climb through the heart of the Rockies en route to Utah.

    Overnight on board the train

California Zephyr, USA

Day 4

|

Salt Lake City

Continue to take in the stunning views of Utah’s Wasatach Mountains as you complete your train journey to Salt Lake City. Upon your arrival, make your way to your hotel for a relaxing evening before a busy day tomorrow.

    Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown or similar

Salt Lake City, Utah

Day 5

|

Yellowstone National Park

Early this morning, catch the shuttle service to West Yellowstone. Yellowstone is widely held to be the first National Park in the world and is home to the most impressive geothermal features in North America. The sights here are simply stunning and will not disappoint. After you arrive in the early evening, you can settle into your hotel for a good night’s sleep. You have a full day of sightseeing ahead of you tomorrow!

    Holiday Inn West Yellowstone or similar

Yellowstone National Park

Day 6

|

Yellowstone National Park

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of West Yellowstone’s lower loop. Highlights include Old Faithful Geyser, the Old Faithful Inn, Isa Lake on the Continental Divide and many more stunning landmarks. After your tour, you will have time to grab lunch on your own at the Old Faithful Village.

    Holiday Inn West Yellowstone or similar

Waterfall in Yellowstone National Park

Day 7

|

Salt Lake City

Today, take a leisurely journey back to Salt Lake City aboard the shuttle. Then, the evening is yours to spend enjoying this fascinating city.

    Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown or similar

Salt Lake City, Utah

Day 8

|

Salt Lake City to San Francisco

Today, enjoy a guided sightseeing city tour of Salt Lake City. You’ll see the magnificent Salt Lake Mormon Temple and get to hear the renowned Tabernacle Organ. You’ll also visit Pioneer Park, Brigham Young’s Territorial Governor’s Mansion, and, of course, the Great Salt Lake! Later in the day, make your way to the railway station and Amtrak board the train to Emeryville Station in sunny California.

    Overnight on board the train

Amtrak Superliner, USA

Day 9

|

San Francisco

Upon your arrival at Emeryville Station, transfer on the shuttle to San Francisco. After you check into your hotel, the evening is yours to start exploring the ‘City by the Bay’. Take a stroll along Fisherman’s Wharf, breathe in the fresh ocean air, and sample the delicious local cuisine, like fresh seafood and crusty sourdough bread.

    Holiday Inn Express Union Square or similar

Golden Gate Bridge Sunset, America, San Francisco

Day 10

|

Yosemite National Park (Day Tour)

Enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of San Francisco as you cross over the Bay Bridge at sunrise on your way to Yosemite National Park this morning. The rest of your drive to Yosemite will offer stunning scenery as well, including the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains and lush Central Valley. Once you arrive in Yosemite National Park, you will have 2.5 hours to follow the many hiking trails, or shop in Yosemite Village. Tonight you should arrive back at your hotel just in time for a spectacular San Francisco sunset.

    Holiday Inn Express Union Square or similar

Yosemite National Park, USA

Day 11

|

Farewell from San Francisco

Your Yellowstone and Yosemite rail holiday ends today. Make your way to the airport for your flight home, or on to your next destination!

Cable Car in San Francisco

This Rail Holiday Includes

8 nights hotel accommodation
2 nights onboard the train
1 dinner
Excursions and activities as detailed in the itinerary

Flights & More

Ask your FREEDOM Consultant to include Economy, Premium or Business Class flights for a complete ABTA and ATOL protected package.

They can also add extra nights and experiences in places you choose, to create the exact holiday you are looking for. Popular options include:

  • An upgrade to a Roomette or a Bedroom
  • Extra nights in Chicago, San Francisco or Yellowstone National Park

Next Step

Please get in touch with our America Experts to start planning your holiday. You’ll have a single point of contact from your first enquiry through booking.

California Zephyr & National Parks

11 day Rail Holiday – from £2399

With flights from £2999

Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a double or twin room and include meals where shown. Seasonal variations may apply. Hotel and room facilities vary and may be subject to additional fees. Some hotels require payment of local city taxes on arrival. Amtrak travel is for Coach Accommodations unless otherwise stated.
Yellowstone to Yosemite by Rail

Map

Yellowstone to Yosemite Map

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