Explore North America with these 11 Scenic Train Vacations (2025)
The Hogwarts Express. The Polar Express. Thomas the tank engine. These fictional train journeys often spark children’s imaginations and inspire them to dream of a train vacation. While real-life train travel won’t take you to magic school, Amtrak vacations and other scenic rail trips across North America can be just as enchanting, offering the opportunity to enjoy scenic views and savor meals without the stress of driving. Here are my picks for this year’s best family train vacations in the United States and Canada.
INTERNATIONAL RAIL HOLIDAYS: 8 Scenic Train Trips Around the World for Families
1. First passage of the Rocky Mountaineers towards the west
The Rocky Mountaineers’ first pass to the West is a perfect vacation for families with teens, tweens or multi-generational groups. This luxurious two-day train journey connects Vancouver, British Columbia, and Banff, Alberta, crossing the Continental Divide. Along the scenic drive, you’ll admire spectacular canyons, mountain passes and the iconic spiral tunnels. It is the only holiday passenger train service along the historic rail route that first connected Eastern and Western Canada.
2. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad offers several routes through the Smokies. The Tuckasegee River Tour travels 16 miles from Bryson City to Dillsboro, North Carolina, passing lush valleys and movie film locations. The fugitive. The Nantahala Gorge Tour offers a 22-mile route along the Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers, crossing Fontana Lake in the gorge. Enhance your trip with add-on adventure packages, including whitewater rafting, zipline tours, and mountain hikes.
3. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is a breathtaking 351-mile journey along the Southern California coast, showcasing ocean views, beaches, mountains and wineries. Starting in San Diego, the train heads north to San Luis Obispo, passing nearly two dozen towns along the way. Passengers can descend into Anaheim for Disneyland or explore the glamor of Hollywood in Los Angeles. The final stretch features historic missions between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
4. Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express
Known for its spectacular fall foliage, Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express runs from New York’s Penn Station across the Hudson River Valley to Burlington, Vermont. Notable stops include Croton-Harmon, near the Halloween haven of Sleepy Hollow; Saratoga Springs, home to the nation’s oldest racetrack; and Rutland, Vermont, with access to Killington and Pico Mountain for skiing or hiking the Vermont Long Trail.
5. Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway has been transporting passengers from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim since 1901. After boarding at the historic Williams Depot, you’ll arrive near the iconic El Tovar Hotel, just steps from the canyon rim. Throughout the 65-mile journey, you’ll admire the region’s high desert plains and ponderosa pine forests, watch a Wild West shootout, and enjoy lively onboard entertainment. The round trip takes approximately eight hours, including a four-hour stopover on the South Shore, with overnight options before returning to Williams.
6. Rocky Mountaineer of the Red Rock Rockies
From the Rockies to Red Rocks is a two-day train trip from Denver, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, known for its hot springs and outdoor recreation. Travel along the Colorado River to enjoy a variety of landscapes, including views of mountains, desert cliffs, and rock formations. The rail line’s SilverLeaf service features panoramic glass-domed carriages, local cuisine and storytelling. Vacation packages may also include stops in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas.
7. Amtrak’s automatic train
Skip the rental car with Amtrak’s Auto Train, which will transport your family and vehicle nearly 900 miles from Lorton, Virginia, to Sanford, Florida, near Disney World and Universal Orlando. The 17-hour overnight trip offers two-level Superliner sleeping cars, including family rooms for two adults and two children. Private room reservations include free dinner and breakfast, making travel comfortable, convenient and relatively stress-free.
8. Amtrak’s California Zephyr
One of the first overnight train journeys in the United States, Amtrak’s California Zephyr is an epic 2,400-mile journey from Chicago to Emeryville, California, near San Francisco, spanning three days and two nights (although you can board at any of 30 stations along the line). itinerary). This Amtrak vacation takes in stunning scenery, including Colorado’s Gore, Byers and Glenwood Canyons; and offers breathtaking views of America’s heartland. Travelers in private rooms receive free meals in the formal dining car.
9. Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad stretches nearly 500 miles from Seward to Fairbanks, featuring stunning scenery and wildlife year-round. Passengers can choose between Adventure Class service and Gold Star Dome service. Both offer picture windows, but Gold Star includes glass domed ceilings, an outdoor viewing deck, and dining and beverage options. An onboard guide highlights the history, scenery and wildlife along the way, making it an unforgettable way to explore Alaska’s natural wonders.
10. Canadian VIA Rail
Cross Canada’s vast landscape aboard the Canadian, the transcontinental railway operated by VIA Rail linking Toronto to Vancouver. The end-to-end train journey takes almost four days in total. VIA Rail’s Prestige Class service offers a large sleeper cabin, a private bathroom with shower and sumptuous meals in the dining car. Not ready to splurge on Prestige? Train holidays with the Sleeper Plus Class Experience also offer access to a private cabin and dining car.
11. White Pass and Yukon Route
The White Pass and Yukon Route, built during Alaska’s Yukon Gold Rush in 1898, climbs 3,000 feet over 20 miles of breathtaking scenery. Departing from Skagway, this historic narrow-gauge railroad offers excursions such as the 40-mile White Pass Summit Route, showcasing glaciers, waterfalls and landmarks such as Bridal Veil Falls and Dead Horse Gulch. For a longer adventure, travel to Carcross, Yukon Territory, for an exciting 120-mile round trip (passport required) with guides sharing history and wildlife sightings.
More from FamilyVacationist:
