Road trips get all the glory when it comes to visiting national parks, but the trains bring romance back to the journey. Instead of the white lines on the highway, the Rockies spread out the window. There’s the charm of Red Rock Canyon walking past the seats and stepping straight from the platform into the historic lodge. The Amtrak route has cut to the edge of the country’s most iconic landscape, from snow-capped peaks in Glacier National Park to the cactus forests in Saguaro National Park.
Amtrak counts 20 national parks and monuments within an hour of train and bus stations. You can make the most of these lines with the USA Rail Pass ($499). This will provide 10 segments that will be used within 30 days of 10 coach trips across 500 destinations (passes are valid for 120 days after purchase).
So, dream of ramming through the canyons of West Virginia, or watch the stars in Texas’ darkest sky, pack your bags and ride.
1. Empire Builder’s Glacier National Park
Amtrak’s Empire Builders will take you straight to the glacier. The line stops not only at the slightest staircase from the park entrance and East Glacier (from midspring to midway falls) where the lodge of the historic glacial park greets travelers straight from the platform, but also at the slightest staircase from the park entrance. Opening year-round, Whitefish Station is a full-service stop with a car rental and a shuttle.
It comes in the summer when the famous driving roads begin to fully begin (usually from early July until the third Monday of October), turning past glacial valleys and alpine meadows. Vehicles at peak times ($2 on Recreation.gov in addition to admission fees) require timed reservations. Or cruise the road with a red “Jammer” bus Tours, or highline trails for stepping into the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail, Cedar Trail, or Highline Trail, will earn you the chance to spy on mountain goats patrol the Ridgeline over a sparkling turquoise lake.
I’ll stay here: Glacier Park Lodge (stairs from the truck) or Belton Chalet in West Glacier. For more upscale comfort, the Whitefish Lake Lodge, which takes you on a short shuttle, offers spa luxury.
2. Rocky Mountain National Park in Zephyr, California
Lagendary for the Rocky Mountain views opens the door just 20 minutes from the west entrance to Rocky Mountain at Granby Stop. Most visitors will notice the busy East Side, but Granby drops you to the quiet west, where there is still a moose glaze and night. From there, it’s a straight shot to the Cowneyche Valley and Trail Ridge Road, a park highway that is over 12,000 feet.
In autumn, the Aspens will spin the gold and the Elk Bagles will run through the valley. This time of year is shoulder season, so crowds tend to be light. Spring is the perfect time to see baby animals. Summer brings hiking weather, wild flowers and marmots sunbathing on lichen rocks.
I’ll stay hereRustic chic cabins and full-service spas, or Grand Lake Lodge’s Devil Thumb Ranch, historic perch overlooking the lake
3. Arches National Park in Zephyr, California
You are 52 miles from Moab when Zephyr pauses in Green River, Utah. Adventure hub in Arches National Park. Pre-book a Moab Express ($180 for up to 3 riders) shuttle to arrive in town. There, Red Rock Mesa rises behind the brewery and gear shops, and the trailhead is only minutes away.
Spring and autumn are sweet places. On calm days, cool nights, there is perfect light in the stone arches. To hike into the delicate arches of sunrise, wander through sections of windows, or tackle Devil’s Garden, the arches of the landscape stretch the sky incredibly thin. Summer burns the desert in triple digits, but dawn hikes and Sunset Stargazes allow you to experience all the magic of the desert without burnt temperatures during the day.
I’ll stay here: Hoodoo Moab for modern comfort, or full desert dream at Ulm Moab, gorgeous tent with starry deck
4. Southwest Chief + Grand Canyon Railway Grand Canyon National Park
The Southwest Chief will bring you to Flagstaff, who can take buses or taxis to Williams, Arizona. From there, the Grand Canyon Railway completes a style of journey. Vintage trains ramble through the pine forests and high deserts and pull up on the South Rim. When you arrive by train with a Wild West musician and a costumed “thief” you feel like you are stepping into the golden age of the canyon.
By taking the first train of the day, you can go to the park late into the morning, walk along the rim trails, ride a free park shuttle, and enjoy some of the most incredible views in the world. Spring and fall bring a crisp air and less crowds, but in winter, snow falls on the cliffs.
I’ll stay here: Elt Bar Hotel, Lodge’s famed Rimside Lodge, or the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, stay overnight easily before or after a ride
5. New River Valley National Park in Cardinal
The Amtrak Cardinal is one of the most scenic trains in the country passing through West Virginia’s New River Valley. It stops at Prince, a historic brick station, 30 minutes’ walk from the Canyon Rim Visitor Centre. The service runs three days a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), but at the right time, you step into the wild Appalachia.
In autumn, the days of gorgeous leaves and bridges burning, depicting Daredevils based on the bridge 876 feet above the river. Summer brings the rafting season. This burns a trip through the Lower New Class IV Rapids.
I’ll stay here: There is a deluxe cabin and sunset deck, or a golf course and spa, just minutes from the park.
6. Sagaro National Park in Sunset Limited
Tucson is the gateway to Saguaro, while Sunset Limited in Amtrak falls downtown. From there, you will find a quick drive to both sides of the park. Located in the eastern Rincon Mountain District. There, Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive (where bicycles are permitted) passes through the towering giants, or pass the desert westwards through the Tucson Mountain area.
Come in the 60s and 70s, or the sunny spring days when Sagaros crown with creamy white flowers in autumn and winter. Short trails like Valley View watch the big sunset, while long hikes at Rincons allow you to pass through desert springs and mountain peaks. Sagaro’s silhouette against the fiery sky at dusk is unforgettable.
I’ll stay here: Tank Verde Ranch, Luxury Man’s Ranch adjacent to Sagaro East, or 5-star stay near JW Marriott Tucson Star Pass Resort & Spa, Saguaro West
7. Crater Lake National Park on the starlight on the coast
The starlight on the coast stops in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and is the country’s deepest water pool, about 45 minutes from Crater Lake. From there you can take a trolley tour of Rim Drive, which loops past Rock Formations Wizard Island, Pewmis Castle and Phantom Ship oversights.
July to September is the peak season when boat tours surround the caldera (hanging in 2026 and 2027 for infrastructure improvements). Early fall comes in winter as cool temperatures and crowds decrease or ranger-led snowshoes follow the edge of the ice blue lake. Regardless of the season, the views are completely unrealistic.
I’ll stay hereFor resort style comfort, running through the Crater Lake Lodge, which is perched on the rim itself, or Klamath Falls Y resort
8. Indiana Dunes National Park in Wolverine
Amtrak’s Wolverine Line zips you from Chicago to New Buffalo, Michigan in just over an hour. From there you will find a 12-mile ride back to Indiana. There, the 15-mile Indiana Dunes National Park spreads out along the south shore of Lake Michigan, with gentle curling dunes, hardwood forests and soft beach shifts.
Come in the spring when migratory warblers fill the trees and trilliums bloom along the Heron Rookery Trail. By summer, swimmers will be scattered over views of West Beach and the lake, giving them a smell of sunscreen and sand dunes. Autumn brings a more quiet kind of beauty: Golden Leaf Trail, cool Lake Breeze, Cowlesbog Trail leaf crunch, 4.7 miles wandering the marsh, and the savanna ends with wind-splashed shoreline.
I’ll stay here: For information on the amazing spa tub and steakhouse 5 minutes’ walk from the park, book Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa in Michigan, Indiana. Do you prefer the atmosphere of craft beer and bonfire? The Brewery Lodge & Supper Club offers both, hidden on 42 wooded acres just outside the town.
9. Hot Springs National Park in Texas Eagle
Head on a Texas Eagle to Malvern, Arkansas, and the gateway to the park where you’re most likely to spoil yourself. From there, a 30-minute drive to Hot Springs National Park, steaming Art Deco baths beside the forested Ridgeline, reverberating through the lobby bars.
Full Vintage Spa Ritual: Start with mineral soaking, steam cabinets and massage back staff. Or head to the Quapo Bas for a thermal pool or facial. During the soaking, they wander towards the Arlington lawn. There, the park’s largest natural hot springs emerge from a brick path, a hillside near the magnificent promenade. You can then strap it into your hiking boots and enjoy the sunset trail. The Sunset Trail is a path that rises 10 miles to Music Mountain, the highest point of the park.
I’ll stay here: Hotel Hale, a bathhouse in 1892, stayed in a boutique with bathtubs in every room.
10. Channel Islands National Park, Pacific Surfliner
Roll the Pacific Surfliner to Ventura, California. There, the moment you disembark, you will notice a salty sensation. From there, you’ll be taking a quick taxi to the Channel Islands Port, and then finishing this stay and boarding an hour-long ferry to one of the most visited national parks in the country. These islands have no roads or shops. Some islands don’t even have easy water to drink. Immerse yourself in sea cliffs and quiet coves, based on an endemic fox the size of a house cat.
The calm seas are typical of summer and autumn. So these seasons are prime time for sea kayaks passing through volcanic caves and snorkeling with Garibaldi (a sheltered local fish) in the kelp forests of Santa Cruz Island. Do you prefer dry land? You can hike up to Potato Harbor for views of the turquoise waters bathed in the rocks below and the sea lion cliff top. The ferry will return late in the afternoon, but if you stay overnight, you will trade the glow of the mainland for a star blanket.
I’ll stay here: Sink your teeth into adventures at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach for front row sunset views on the mainland, several walks from the train platform, or backcountry camp on Santa Rosa Island.
