Tweet
Visiting National Parks by Train – Central and Western U.S.
In most cases, the obvious difference between train travel to eastern and western locales is the distance involved. While an Amtrak trek can certainly avoid some major traffic hassles in the big cities, a longer train trip across the wide open spaces in the West requires a different mind-set for travel. If you've got the time, enjoy the chance to view the passing scenery, and are comfortable with the more relaxed pace inherent in train travel, one of these trips may be for you.
A quick search of the Internet will turn up plenty of companies that specialize in complete packages for travel by train, so the following information is focused on independent travelers who prefer to make their own arrangements.
Here's a quick recap of tips for using the Amtrak website:
Start with the home page, where you can simply begin typing the name of a departure and destination city in the "From" and "To" fields. Enter the first few letters of the town correctly, and the rest of the name will be completed for you—if the town has Amtrak service. You'll also find a link to an alphabetical list of locations served, along with the three-letter station codes on that page. Note that some large cities include more than one station.
If you have a high speed Internet connection, the Interactive Route Atlas allows you to "search for stations and routes alphabetically, by state or by region. Each station and route shown on the map link to more information, including stations served, addresses, hours of operation and other details."
Ready to ponder a trip or two? Here are a few options for park-bound travelers.
Yosemite National Park (California) is one of the easiest major parks to visit by train—and without a car. Amtrak serves a station in Merced, California via their San Joaquin train; from Merced they offer a "Thruway Bus" connection between the train station and Mariposa, El Portal and Yosemite Valley.
The Thruway Bus option is available to a number of cities and towns in California; the service offers "direct train/bus transfers at train stations" and "coordinated fares and ticketing." Those fares must be purchased in advance as part of your rail trip. You'll find additional information about this option at this link.
Once in the park, you can use the free park shuttle to reach major destinations in Yosemite. Check on the shuttle schedules before making a trip, since they vary seasonally. The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System also provides bus transportation between the park and Merced.
Glacier National Park (Montana). Glacier's connection to railroad travel dates to the earliest days of the park, when the Great Northern Railroad had an active role in promoting the park and building hotels and other visitor facilities. Today, you can ride Amtrak's Empire Builder, which make the run between Chicago and Seattle. The train skirts the southern boundary of the park, with stops at both East Glacier Park and West Glacier.
The Belton Chalet at West Glacier was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1910 and offers a lodging option with a railroad history. The same is true of other hotels in the park now operated by the park concessioner, Glacier Park, Inc. The Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier is located near the Amtrak station.
Although the lack of a vehicle can make getting around in the park a bit difficult, options include tours in the classic Red Jammer buses during the summer. The tours can be arranged at the Belton Chalet and concessioner-operated hotels in the park. Glacier operates a free shuttle along the justly famous Going-to-the-Sun Road from about July 1 to early September, and it makes a stop at a limited number of lodging locations in the West Glacier area and the St. Mary area on the east side of the park. Check this link on the park website to see if the shuttle would meet your needs for in-park transportation. If you elect to rent a car after arriving in the area by train, you'll find a wide variety of lodging options in the area.
Roughly halfway between the East Glacier Park and West Glacier stations, the train also makes a flag stop (on demand only) at Essex, Montana, home of the Izaak Walton Inn. Serious train buffs may enjoy a stay at this historic railroad hotel.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...western-us4920
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten.../1237405732511
A quick search of the Internet will turn up plenty of companies that specialize in complete packages for travel by train, so the following information is focused on independent travelers who prefer to make their own arrangements.
Here's a quick recap of tips for using the Amtrak website:
Start with the home page, where you can simply begin typing the name of a departure and destination city in the "From" and "To" fields. Enter the first few letters of the town correctly, and the rest of the name will be completed for you—if the town has Amtrak service. You'll also find a link to an alphabetical list of locations served, along with the three-letter station codes on that page. Note that some large cities include more than one station.
If you have a high speed Internet connection, the Interactive Route Atlas allows you to "search for stations and routes alphabetically, by state or by region. Each station and route shown on the map link to more information, including stations served, addresses, hours of operation and other details."
Ready to ponder a trip or two? Here are a few options for park-bound travelers.
Yosemite National Park (California) is one of the easiest major parks to visit by train—and without a car. Amtrak serves a station in Merced, California via their San Joaquin train; from Merced they offer a "Thruway Bus" connection between the train station and Mariposa, El Portal and Yosemite Valley.
The Thruway Bus option is available to a number of cities and towns in California; the service offers "direct train/bus transfers at train stations" and "coordinated fares and ticketing." Those fares must be purchased in advance as part of your rail trip. You'll find additional information about this option at this link.
Once in the park, you can use the free park shuttle to reach major destinations in Yosemite. Check on the shuttle schedules before making a trip, since they vary seasonally. The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System also provides bus transportation between the park and Merced.
Glacier National Park (Montana). Glacier's connection to railroad travel dates to the earliest days of the park, when the Great Northern Railroad had an active role in promoting the park and building hotels and other visitor facilities. Today, you can ride Amtrak's Empire Builder, which make the run between Chicago and Seattle. The train skirts the southern boundary of the park, with stops at both East Glacier Park and West Glacier.
The Belton Chalet at West Glacier was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1910 and offers a lodging option with a railroad history. The same is true of other hotels in the park now operated by the park concessioner, Glacier Park, Inc. The Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier is located near the Amtrak station.
Although the lack of a vehicle can make getting around in the park a bit difficult, options include tours in the classic Red Jammer buses during the summer. The tours can be arranged at the Belton Chalet and concessioner-operated hotels in the park. Glacier operates a free shuttle along the justly famous Going-to-the-Sun Road from about July 1 to early September, and it makes a stop at a limited number of lodging locations in the West Glacier area and the St. Mary area on the east side of the park. Check this link on the park website to see if the shuttle would meet your needs for in-park transportation. If you elect to rent a car after arriving in the area by train, you'll find a wide variety of lodging options in the area.
Roughly halfway between the East Glacier Park and West Glacier stations, the train also makes a flag stop (on demand only) at Essex, Montana, home of the Izaak Walton Inn. Serious train buffs may enjoy a stay at this historic railroad hotel.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...western-us4920
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten.../1237405732511