National Parks You Can Reach By Amtrak

Above, Amtrak's Southwest Chief arrives at Gallup (New Mexico) Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before last month's train trip to California aboard Amtrak's Southwest Chief, my experience with trains were mainly on trains in Japan (including the famous bullet trains) and tourist attraction trains (such as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad).

Forbes has an article on Amtrak trains that will allow passengers to reach six national parks.

They begin their article with:

As we continue to face international travel restrictions, American travelers are eager to get out and rediscover the natural beauty available domestically, particularly in the U.S. National Parks.  

According to MMGY Travel Intelligence Travel Intentions Pulse Survey, 45% of American travelers say they are likely to visit a national or state park in the next six months. 

With this in mind, here are several National Parks that can be reached via Amtrak, which serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states and three Canadian provinces, and offers private rooms, ideal for travelers seeking safety, space, and privacy. 

Available in a variety of sizes to accommodate solo travelers, couples, and families, the private rooms allow travelers to enjoy safety and privacy, with seats that can be converted into beds, complimentary WiFi, charging outlets, and an expansive window to enjoy views. Amtrak has also enhanced its cleaning protocols at the station and onboard. 

Train passengers don’t have to worry about bag limits and can bring their bike, rod and reel, or camping gear on board, fully prepared for whatever journey awaits.  

Several national parks are easily accessible by Amtrak’s long-distance routes. A full list can be viewed here. 

Above, a nighttime stop at Flagstaff Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Southwest Chief will get people to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The stop for the Grand Canyon is Flagstaff.

According to the article on the Grand Canyon train:

The Flagstaff, AZ stop provides shuttle service to the Grand Canyon, as well as Thruway bus connections to the Grand Canyon Railway, allowing passengers to easily cross this one-mile deep, 277-mile long and 18-mile wide natural wonder.

To see the spotlighted national parks Amtrak will get you to, go here.