As protected wilderness areas, the national parks in the United States are vast and remote. But that doesn’t mean the only way to experience them is by car.
After all, by the late 1800s and early 1900s, railroads were already bringing visitors to areas that would eventually become national parks, along historic routes such as the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway.
While most of these journeys no longer exist, you can still reach a handful of national parks by train, or get close enough to connect by other ground transportation. Amtrak and regional rail operators offer unique vantage points and front-row views of magnificent landscapes in places such as Montana, Arizona, Alaska, and beyond.
So instead of spending your vacation behind the wheel—especially with gas prices these days—here’s where you can hop a ride.
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Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park covers over a million acres, so many visitors rent a car to explore. But you don’t have to.
Amtrak’s Empire Builder train travels between Chicago and Seattle, stopping at Glacier National Park in Montana along the way. There are three stops people usually choose from when arriving this way: Whitefish, East Glacier, and West Glacier.
When visiting car-free, I think the best option is to disembark at East Glacier. From there, Glacier Park Lodge, built in 1913, is located right across the street from the train station. You can then book tours to explore the park or get around using the park’s shuttle system, which also runs along the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, though it operates only seasonally in the summer.
Grand Canyon National Park
There are two trains that can bring you to Grand Canyon National Park. The first handles the initial leg of the journey. That’s the Amtrak Southwest Chief train, which stops in Flagstaff. From there, you can take the Amtrak Connector bus to Williams.
Williams is where you can then catch the historic Grand Canyon Railway.
The Grand Canyon Railway has been transporting travelers from Williams to the Grand Canyon since 1901, and the 65-mile ride is part of the fun, with onboard entertainment (think cowboys and even a train-robbery reenactment).
The train leaves Williams daily at 9:30 a.m. (except in November and December when it leaves at 8:30 a.m.) and arrives at the Grand Canyon Depot at the South Rim at 11:45 a.m. The return train leaves at 3:30 p.m. and gets back to Williams at 5:45 p.m. (except in November and December, when it’s an hour earlier), giving day-trippers more than 3 hours to explore the Visitor’s Center, Hopi House, or hike a small part of the Rim Trail, which are all within walking distance from the train depot.
Alternatively, stay the night at one of the lodges in the village, including El Tovar Hotel, a designated National Historic Landmark. To venture further, shuttle buses can take you from the village to other parts of the South Rim.
Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park includes five islands off the coast of California. While the park itself isn’t reachable by train, you can take a train to the ferry at Oxnard Harbor.
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight both take passengers to Oxnard, dropping them off at a train station about a 12-minute Uber ride away. And the ride there will certainly be enjoyable, as these routes are among the most scenic train rides in the country. Plus, this way you won’t have to rent a car just to park it at the harbor for days on end.
Once you arrive, you can catch the Island Packers ferry to one of the Channel Islands for a day trip or to camp overnight. The Channel Islands are uninhabited, so you’ll need to bring all the necessities (only two of the islands have a drinking water supply). You can explore the sea caves on a guided kayak tour from Santa Cruz Island. Just remember to book the ferry ahead of time. The last ferry of the day back to the mainland tends to get sold out quickly.
Denali National Park
The Denali Star train from the city of Anchorage to Denali National Park is one of the most scenic train routes in the United States.
Operated by the Alaska Railroad, the train takes about 7 hours to get to the Denali station, but the journey is filled with breathtaking sights of the Alaskan wilderness, rivers, and the namesake peak itself. Book the GoldStar service to travel in cars with glass-dome ceilings for the best views.
Many hotels inside Denali National Park offer shuttle service from the train station, including Denali Bluffs Hotel. You can then arrange for tours of the park from the hotel. There are also shuttle buses that take visitors to different parts of the park, including trailheads, the visitor center, and the sled dog kennels.
Yosemite National Park
While there’s no train that takes you directly to Yosemite National Park, you can still get there by taking the Amtrak Gold Runner to Merced in Central California. From Merced, reach Yosemite National Park via the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) bus. YARTS drops travelers off at Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village, both of which offer overnight accommodations.
You can then get around the park itself using the shuttle system (it’s one of our top tips for visiting Yosemite National Park and avoiding congestion and crowds). The shuttle is especially great for first-time visitors, as it takes you to some of the park’s biggest attractions, like Yosemite Falls and El Capitan Meadow, which gives you a great view of the famous granite formation.
The Shortcut
Pick your Glacier stop carefully: Of the three stations near the park, one puts you right across the street from a lodge built in 1913.
Pay up for the dome car in Alaska: The 7-hour ride to Denali is the main event, and the glass-ceiling cars are where you’ll want to spend it.
Book the Channel Islands ferry early: The last boat back to the mainland sells out first, and most of the islands have no drinking water, so pack your own.
Plan on park shuttles once you arrive: Glacier, Yosemite, Denali, and the Grand Canyon all run them, though Glacier’s only runs in summer.
A rental car can be dead weight: On a Channel Islands trip, it would just sit at the harbor while you’re out on the water.
