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Glacier National Park Escape - Chicago Roundtrip

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3.8 stars(10 reviews)
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Travel across the Northern Prairies aboard Amtrak's storied Empire Builder en route to much-loved Glacier National Park.

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
5 days From $1,199 per person
Travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary

2023 Tour code: RM-GPER-23

About the tour

Your two-night stay is in the heart of the unspoiled natural attractions and stunning beauty Glacier National Park. Wondrous displays of nature, historic lodges, and sightseeing through the forests and valleys of this complex ecosystem are highlights of your stay before returning by train to Chicago.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Amtrak's Empire Builder: Chicago to Glacier

Board Amtrak's Empire Builder at Chicago's historic Union Station early this afternoon. Settle into your onboard accommodations and prepare for the iconic train's 2:15 pm departure. Chat with fellow travelers, read, or listen to music as the train begins its storied journey northwest following a trail once taken by America's pioneers. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Dinner (Sleeping Car passengers only)
Day 2 - Arrival in East Glacier Park

You have all day to relax aboard the train. Make sure to visit the Sightseer Lounge car for impressive views of the passing scenery. Arrive in East Glacier Park at 6:45 pm. Glacier National Park spans more than 1.2 million acres of lakes and waterfalls, dramatic peaks and breathtaking ice-carved terrain. Overnight Glacier Park Lodge.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Sleeping Car passengers only)
Day 3 - Glacier National Park Sightseeing

Today's comprehensive sightseeing excursion begins with a drive over Marias Pass followed by fauna-spotting at Goat Lick and a visit to the Izaak Walton Inn. Continue through rich forests to Lake McDonald Lodge followed by a journey along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in the Red Jammer Buses and into the St. Mary Valley. Overnight Glacier Park Lodge.

*Subject to change based on seasonal road closures

Day 4 - Return to Chicago

Transfer on your own to the Amtrak station to board the 9:30 am Empire Builder eastbound to Chicago. Spend the day recounting your adventures in one of America's most popular National Park's with your traveling companions and take note of the Northern Prairies through which you're currently traveling. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Lunch, Dinner (Sleeping Car passengers only)
Day 5 - Return to Chicago

The train rolls through Minnesota, Wisconsin and into the Windy City for a 3:55 pm arrival at Union Station, where your Glacier Park Escape comes to an end. You may wish to extend your stay with a post-night hotel stay in the cosmopolitan City by the Lake.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch (Sleeping Car passengers only)

Additional information

Pricing Plans

Amtrak accommodations are available in Coach class, Roomette, and Bedroom.

Coach accommodations include a reclining seat with leg rest.

Roomette accommodations include a private cabin featuring two comfortable seats beside a picture window during the day, converting to an upper and lower berth at night.

Bedroom accommodations feature a sofa and chair by day, and upper and lower berth by night. Bedroom accommodations also include a sink and self-enclosed toilet and shower.
All travelers have access to the Sightseer Lounge. 

Roomette and Bedroom accommodations include all meals aboard the train. Sleeping car passengers aboard the  Southwest Chief enjoy meals in the train's Dining car. New contemporary and fresh dining choices replace traditional dining car service on the  Capitol Limited. Sleeping car passengers may elect to have a chilled prepared meal selection delivered to your Roomette or Bedroom or enjoy meals in a private cafe or lounge car. 

This vacation can be booked online for departures from the following Amtrak stations: Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Milwaukee, and St. Paul/Minneapolis. For other departure cities, please select the Chicago location, and a rail specialist will contact you within 48 hours with a package customized with a departure from your most convenient Amtrak station.

Please note
Recommended Airport
Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Glacier Park Lodge, East Glacier Park

Glacier Park Lodge, East Glacier Park

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Train

Amtrak's Empire Builder

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Reviews

3.8 stars3.8 / 5 · 10 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (3)
  2. 4 stars
    (5)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

PHILLIP MARK SCHIEBEL

1 stars

Submitted 14 Aug 2022

Letter to follow

Collected by Trustpilot

WILLIAM MCALISTER

2 stars

Submitted 30 Jul 2022

The destination was great but the train trip was miserable. Though the staff were very accommodating the airconditoning barely worked on the train for both legs of the trip.

Collected by Trustpilot

Sharla

4 stars

Submitted 16 Aug 2019

The trip was a new experience for us! We traveled overnight on Amtrak for the first time and enjoyed our first visit the Glacier National park. Overall, it was a good trip.

Collected by Vacations By Rail

Elizabeth H & Keith V, Corning, NY

4 stars

Submitted 12 Nov 2018

Fabulous way to travel and see country. Many delays did not change this, as sleeping car attendants made it very fun! Forces you to relax and people on train are a different bunch than in airports. Only wish a train was closer to our home!

Collected by Vacations By Rail

William H, Fort Worth, TX

4 stars

Submitted 28 Oct 2018

The trip exceeded our expectations

Collected by Vacations By Rail

Loretta P, Dunkirk, NY

5 stars

Submitted 26 Oct 2018

It was a great trip and the 8 hour tour was wonderful. We were amazed at the new Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago

Collected by Vacations By Rail

Show all 10 reviews
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