America’s national parks shine in the summertime, with spectacular mountain passes thawed for the season, sparkling lakes and glittering beaches at the peak of their allure, and blankets of wildflowers exploding into bloom.
Everyone knows the national park road trip is an American classic—but it’s also possible to experience the magic of the parks by rail, no car required. Amtrak has several routes that stop directly in cities that are gateways to some of the most popular national parks in the US.
There are two main ways to plan a summer national park trip with Amtrak. If you want to explore the parks independently, all you need to do is figure out your route: it might be as simple as hopping aboard a train for a few hours and hopping off at a station that’s mere steps from the entrance to a park. For travelers who want additional logistics like shuttles and overnight hotel stays arranged for them, Amtrak Vacations (Amtrak’s official tour operator and travel booking partner) offers both customizable and pre-planned packages—especially useful for linking together national parks that are farther away from the route.
Naturally, Amtrak routes that bring you up close and personal with national park land are some of the most scenic train rides in the US. Most long-distance Amtrak trains feature Sightseer Lounges with floor-to-ceiling glass domed windows, perfect for taking in the soaring desert canyons, rugged mountain ranges, and towering river gorges, all from the comfort of your seat. If a train trip is calling your name this summer, these are some of the best Amtrak routes for a national park adventure.
Courtesy Amtrak
Grand Canyon National Park aboard the Southwest Chief
One of the best ways to appreciate the otherworldly natural formations of the American Southwest is a ride aboard Amtrak’s Southwest Chief train. The long-haul route begins in Chicago and crosses a total of eight states, but the most scenic portions of the route begin as the train crosses into New Mexico and Arizona before terminating in Los Angeles. Passengers are treated to rare desert vistas that aren’t visible from surrounding interstates as the train glides by vast ranches, undulating mountains, and scenic pueblos. Expect stunning views of the Painted Desert, the Red Cliffs of Sedona, Raton Pass in Southern Colorado’s Sangre Cristo Mountains. In Northern New Mexico, the Southwest Chief crosses Apache Canyon, a unique passage that’s only a few feet wider than the train itself. Soak up the scenery from the Sightseer Lounge Car, the train’s double-decker, glass-domed observation car with special seats that swivel toward the panoramic views.