Skip the Traffic: See America’s National Parks by Train This Summer

Summer is prime time for America’s national parks, when alpine passes open, lakes sparkle, and wildflowers carpet the meadows. But instead of battling traffic on the highway, consider a more relaxed approach: let Amtrak do the driving.

Several Amtrak routes drop passengers right at the doorstep of major parks—or within a short shuttle ride. Two options exist for planning: go independent by booking a simple train ticket to a gateway town, or let Amtrak Vacations handle the logistics with packages that include shuttles, hotels, and guided tours.

Here are four standout rail adventures:

**Grand Canyon National Park via the Southwest Chief** The Southwest Chief rolls from Chicago to Los Angeles, crossing New Mexico and Arizona. From the Sightseer Lounge’s glass dome, you’ll see the Painted Desert, Sedona’s red cliffs, and Raton Pass. Disembark in Flagstaff, hop a shuttle to Williams, and board the historic Grand Canyon Railway for a two-hour ride to the South Rim. Expect cowboy entertainment and even a mock train robbery along the way.

**Channel Islands National Park on the Pacific Surfliner** This coastal route runs 350 miles from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, hugging the shoreline. Get off in Oxnard, grab a ride to the harbor, and take a ferry to the Channel Islands—five rugged, often-overlooked gems rising from the Pacific.

**Rocky Mountain and Yosemite on the California Zephyr** Amtrak Vacations’ six-day “Essential Rocky Mountains to Yosemite” tour starts in Denver with a day in Rocky Mountain National Park, then boards the Zephyr for an overnight trip to San Francisco. The train winds through Ruby Canyon, past the Book Cliffs, and over Soldier Summit. Book a Superliner Roomette for a bed, meals, and sunrise crossing of the Bay Bridge. From San Francisco, you’ll shuttle to Yosemite.

**Glacier and Mount Rainier on the Empire Builder** This cross-country journey from Chicago rolls through the Midwest, then Montana’s big sky country. Stop at Glacier National Park for a tour, then continue to Seattle via Marias Pass and the Cascade Tunnel. From Seattle, head to Mount Rainier National Park. For peak wildflower displays, travel late July to mid-August, when meadows explode with lupine and paintbrush.