Winter in NYC has been so brutal this year that many New Yorkers (including us) have been Googling warm weather escapes like crazy.
Anything to escape the frigid temperatures, piling snow banks, and below-freezing wind chills.
But right now, one of the biggest travel companies in the country is quietly offering an escape hatch that we honestly can’t stop thinking about.
Amtrak is currently knocking $600 off one of its most ambitious rail vacations ever: a 16-day, roundtrip train journey from New York City that hits the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Glacier National Park in one sweeping loop across the country.
And let’s get this straight: this isn’t just any old flash sale on a random hotel stay, it’s a full, coast-to-coast rail adventure that strings together some of the most scenic train routes in America, with national parks, guided tours, hotels, and overnight sleeper segments built in.
The journey kicks off right here at home at Penn Station, and here are all the details so you can also at least consider it!
The route: NYC → Chicago → The Great West
As mentioned, the beginning and your end point of course starts at New York City’s beautifully new-ish Penn Station, before embarking on an overnight trip on the Lake Shore Limited, whisking you from the Hudson River Valley through the Great Lakes to Chicago.
From there, you’ll board the Southwest Chief to head deep into the heart of the American Southwest!
What’s included in the 16-day loop:
- Grand Canyon National Park: Take the historic Grand Canyon Railway right to the South Rim. Here you’ll enjoy a breakfast from Fred Harvey Restaurant and a guided motorcoach tour throughout the park with insane views!
- Yosemite National Park: A guided tour through California’s agricultural heartland into the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- Glacier National Park: Experience the “Switzerland of North America” via the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road, with a three nights of stay, a boat cruise on Two Medicine Valley, and guided tours of the park.
- The cities: Multi-day stops in San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago are baked into the itinerary so you can also explore some major U.S. cities along the way too!
Life onboard the train
A big part of why this trip works is how the train time is treated, and how it’s essentially baked into the overall excursion.
Yes, there will be over nights on trains, and that’s kind of the whole beauty of it.
Some of the onboard perks include:
- Wide seats with no middle seat misery
- Observation cars on scenic routes
- Café and dining cars on long segments
- Power outlets and Wi-Fi where available
Plus, on select Amtrak trains that are even optional sleeper cabins where meals are included.
That means there’s beds (up to five different options actually), in-room showers, and so much more. It’s more than what you might imagine for a train.
How to actually get the $600 off deal right now
Amtrak Vacations is currently running a limited-time promotion where you can save up to $600 per couple on any National Park vacation of 15 nights or more.
Since this specific New York round-trip is a 16-day affair, it qualifies for the maximum discount!
You can secure the deal by calling Amtrak Vacations directly (1-800-268-7252) or booking through their website.
Keep in mind that the deal expires on February 28, 2026!