Explore National Parks by Rail travel: A Different Perspective for Road Trippers
Riding the Rails Through America's Best Idea
Avoiding the parking pandemonium and long lines at the entrance gates of the most popular U.S. national parks? Hop on a train! For park enthusiasts who'd rather skip the wheel, locomotives offer a stress-free ride along a narrow track, leaving traffic woes behind. These trains often provide views of landscapes seldom accessible by car.
What's more, there's a sentimental allure to riding the rails—an escape from the modern-day hustle culture that many find irresistible. In fact, in 2024, a whopping 32.8 million individuals hopped on Amtrak, the country's national train system.
"It's about embracing a digital detox and simply unwinding," says Sojourner White, a seasoned train travel expert and educator.
So, grab your comfy shoes and prepare to explore these iconic parks on the rails!
Glacier National Park, Montana
Nestled amidst the Rocky Mountains in northern Montana, Glacier National Park boasts some of the nation's most striking alpine landscapes, complete with jagged peaks, deep valleys, rare rainforests, and, of course, glaciers. Despite the park's astounding beauty, visiting can be challenging, with over three million annual visitors flocking to the "Crown of the Continent" to travel the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road. Enter the park by train, and you can bypass the competition for coveted vehicle reservations.
Trains have been whisking tourists to Glacier National Park since 1892, with the Great Northern Railway playing a significant role in the park's designation in 1910. Modern-day travelers can easily hop on a train, then take a shuttle to enter the park without a vehicle reservation.
Getting there and around: The Empire Builder, Amtrak's daily route traveling between Chicago and Seattle, stops at several spots. Guests can catch a lodge van connecting to the park's East Side Shuttle and St. Mary Visitor Center from East Glacier Park Station, while a similar shuttle system links visitors at the West Glacier Park Station to the Apgar Visitor Center. The park's complimentary shuttles take tourists along Going-to-the-Sun road, the only east-west traversable route in the park. Local tour companies like Red Bus Tours and Sun Tours will also collect passengers.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Boasting a breathtaking 1.2 million acres, Grand Canyon National Park features rugged trails, river rafting, and a variety of climates. It attracts nearly five million visitors each year, with most streaming through the park's South Rim entrance. Overwhelmed by the two-hour waits at the gates? The answer comes aboard the Grand Canyon Railway's train—an impressive 65-mile journey connecting visitors to the canyon since 1901.
Getting there and around: Hitch a ride on Amtrak's Southwest Chief as it stops daily between Los Angeles and Chicago. By making a quick 45-minute drive from Flagstaff to Williams, travelers can bypass the park's entrance lines and hop aboard the train at the Grand Canyon Railway station. Inside the park, the park's shuttles provide convenient access to the trailheads and vistas along the rim's 7-mile circuit.
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park's stunning landscapes that inspired Ansel Adams' photography deserve every tourist's attention. Yet, the journey to the Sierra Nevada foothills can be a bumpy ride, with heavy traffic increasing as the elevation does. Worry not—Yosemite offers one of the country's most exceptional park shuttle services in the form of a combined rail-and-bus ticket. Even the congestion at the park gates can't hold you back from taking in El Capitan's grandeur or spending a night under the stars in Tuolumne Meadows.
Getting there and around: Amtrak's San Joaquins run daily from San Francisco, Sacramento, or Los Angeles, dropping passengers off at Merced, California. From there, hop on the park's YARTS bus line for a seamless journey. Your train ticket even includes the bus and park entrance.
New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
Having gained national park status in 2020, New River Gorge National Park rapidly attracted visitors looking for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in the eastern United States. With hiking, rock climbing, and river rafting opportunities aplenty, the park's ties to the railway run deep; historic stations like Thurmond still stand within sight of the train's path.
Getting there and around: Catch Amtrak's Cardinal three times a week between Washington D.C. and Chicago, stopping at the park's small towns of Thurmond, Hinton, and Prince. Local whitewater outfitters run previously scheduled shuttles to pick up visitors.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Though not as popular as some of its elder siblings, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is quietly becoming one of the most beloved parks in the country. Only an hour outside of Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, it offers a day-tripper's delight, with waterfalls, dense forests, sandstone outcroppings, and placid wetlands that make visitors feel isolated from the nearby bustling cities.
The park's Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail is its backbone, serving hikers and bikers who marvel at the trail's juxtaposition of historic river locks and remnants of industrial mills amidst the revitalized forest. For those who'd rather take a scenic ride on the non-profit railway, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) carries visitors in vintage railcars from the 1940s to 1960s along the path.
Getting there and around: Take Amtrak's Floridian daily from Miami, Chicago, or San Francisco to Cleveland. From there, the CVSR operates eight stations throughout the park and welcomes bikes.
Denali National Park, Alaska
The Alaska Railroad connects Anchorage to North America's highest peak, Denali National Park, in less than a day's ride from Anchorage. Enjoy unbeatable views of the protected wilderness en route to Fairbanks, Alaska, with domed observation cars ensuring no angle goes unseen.
Denali National Park restricts vehicles on the park's single 90-mile road year-round to protect the subarctic wilderness. Instead, visitors rely on park shuttle buses to journey into the backcountry, stopping for a hike or a glimpse of the often-hidden mountain. Opt for an air tour at Talkeetna if you're eager for a closer view.
Getting there and around: The Alaska Railroad runs daily routes, including the Denali Star, from May through September. For an added perk, travel south from Anchorage on the Coastal Classic to reach the port of Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the continent's largest ice fields.
Want to learn more about park visits, shuttle systems, and parking reservations? Consult these expert sources:
- Glacier: Mountain Shuttle MT, National Park Service Glacier site, Recreation.gov for vehicle reservations
- Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon Railway, NPS Grand Canyon
- Yosemite: Amtrak, YARTS, Yosemite National Park official site
- New River Gorge: Local transit providers, NPS New River Gorge
- Cuyahoga Valley: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, NPS CVNP
- Denali: Alaska Railroad, Denali National Park official site
These resources provide schedules, ticketing, shuttle routes, park entry, and parking reservation details to help plan your park adventure with ease. Happy travels!
