The Coast to Coast Express is a truly unique 8-day luxury transcontinental trip by private railcars. You’ll travel on the Zephyr and Cardinal Routes from the San Francisco Bay Area to Washington DC on two restored cars from the golden age of rail travel, including a Vista-Dome and a sleeper from the original California Zephyr. All guests will have sleeping car accommodations. Meals aboard the train will be prepared fresh by the chef in the on-board kitchen, and served on fine monogram china on California Zephyr table linens.

Along the way you’ll have a chance to explore Denver and its environs, then see how Independence Day is celebrated here in the Mile-High City. You’ll also have time to explore the Windy City as we lay over for our change of trains and continue your journey to Washington DC.

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Call 877-929-7245 today to book your Coast to Coast Express Eastbound vacation.

• Travel between the San Francisco Bay Area and Washington DC.
• Enjoy a unique opportunity to travel coast-to-coast in the luxury that was the hallmark of train travel in the 40’s and 50’s.
• Travel on Amtrak's California Zephyr and Cardinal.
• Stopovers with sightseeing opportunities in Denver and Chicago.
• Includes all meals enroute, and complimentary bar service.
• All guests have sleeper room accommodations aboard private railcars.

• All meals while traveling aboard the private cars, including full bar service.
• Hotel accommodations in Chicago, and transfer to hotel.

This ‘train within a train’ will consist of Silver Rapids, a roomette bedroom sleeper from the California Zephyr and Silver Solarium, a vista-dome sleeper-lounge-observation car from the California Zephyr. Accommodations aboard the train include roomettes, each sleeping 1 person; bedrooms, accommodating 2 people, and a drawing room, accommodating up to 3 people. Each sleeper is equipped with one or more guest showers.

The combination of cars provides an exceptional amount of public space, and the professional staff will see to it that your on-board experience is an outstanding one.

Day 1: Thursday, July 2: (B, L, D) Amtrak’s California Zephyr originates across the bay from San Francisco in Emeryville, where guests gather to await its appearance with the private cars on the rear. Amid the hustle and bustle of passengers seeking their assigned cars, your professional staff greets the group and assists with luggage. A light breakfast will be served upon departure from Emeryville. Members of the group get acquainted with each other in the dome and lounge as the train meanders along the shore of San Francisco Bay, on its way to Martinez and Sacramento.

Luncheon will be served as you begin the ascent of the Sierras, along the route of the Central Pacific, founded in 1863 as one of the two companies tasked to build the first Transcontinental Railroad. The route over the Sierras takes about 4 hours to complete, and includes breathtaking scenery as the railroad follows a continuous ridge high above the American and Yuba Rivers. After Donner Summit is reached, at approximately 6,900 ft altitude, you emerge high above Donner Lake and begin the descent to the high desert of Nevada along the course of the Truckee and Humboldt Rivers.

Hors d’Oeuvres and Dinner are served as you head east past Reno, Sparks, Fernley, Lovelock, and Winnemucca. Night owls may enjoy a libation in our lounge, while those wishing to retire early will find that their rooms have been made down for the night by our attentive staff. Be sure to set your watches ahead one hour when you retire for the night.

Day 2: Friday, July 3: (B, L, D) In the wee hours of the morning the train was serviced in Salt Lake City, and you continue your journey east through Provo, then on a spectacular climb over the Wasatch, cresting at Soldier Summit. Breakfast buffet will be served between 7 and 9 AM local time, so you may get up at your leisure.

The train follows the Price River Canyon through Castle Gate and the stop at Helper. Continuing eastward the train races across the desert toward Green River, where you reach the lowest altitude you’ll see today as we cross the town’s namesake river, the major tributary of the Colorado River.

You pick up the Colorado River shortly before leaving Utah, and will follow it upstream for more than 200 miles and 5 major canyons. Your stop at Grand Junction, CO provides you with an opportunity to step off the train and to enjoy some fresh Colorado air. The next stop is Glenwood Springs, at the west end of Glenwood Canyon, inspiration for the Vista-Dome concept in 1945. The best place yet to view this stunning canyon is from your seat in the vista-domes, where every seat is a window seat. Don’t forget to look down at the river, too. Glenwood Canyon is a mecca for kayakers and rafters.

You crest the Continental Divide while inside the Moffat Tunnel, which at 6.2 miles is the 4th longest railroad tunnel in North America. At a summit elevation of over 9,200 ft it is the highest railroad tunnel in active service in North America.

After leaving the Moffat Tunnel you begin our crooked descent of the Front Range of the Rockies into Denver. When you pass Plainview you begin to see the lights of the city of Denver far below. You’ll enjoy dinner aboard the train before you arrive at Denver Union Station, where the cars will be removed and held for the return trip. The downtown Denver area is a walker’s delight and an after-dinner stroll completes a delightful day before you return to the train for the night.

Day 3: Saturday, July 4:(B) After breakfast the day is yours to explore Denver. Union Station is situated in the heart of lower downtown, or LoDo, a vibrant area filled with shops, restaurants, and sports venues. Rocky Mountain National Park, the Colorado Railroad Museum, Pikes Peak and numerous other attractions are nearby.

Day 4: Sunday, July 5: (B, D) One last day to explore Denver. Lunch is on your own. Be sure to reboard in time for the evening departure bound for Chicago.

Day 5: Monday, July 6: (B, L) Early birds will awake to find the train departing Omaha and crossing the Missouri River. You then speed across the rolling prairies and cornfields of Iowa, and cross the Mississippi River just before lunch time at Burlington. After lunch you prepare for the mid-afternoon arrival in Chicago, and transfer to your hotel for the night.

Day 6: Tuesday, July 7: (D) This morning is yours to enjoy as you wish. Visit the observation floor of the Sears Tower, or go to the Field Museum, just to name a couple of activities. Just be sure to return to Union Station by 5 PM. The train departs at 5:45 PM sharp! You’ll enjoy an hors d’Oeuvre or two before sitting down to dinner in the dome as you make your way east across Indiana. Just before midnight you arrive Indianapolis.

Day 7: Wednesday, July 8 (B, L) During the wee hours you wend our way to Cincinnati OH, then cross the mighty Ohio River and enter the Bluegrass State. Dawn sees you approaching West Virginia. After departing Huntington, named for Collis P. Huntington, who also had close ties with the C&O, you’re treated to a run through the New River Gorge, one of the most spectacular landscapes east of the Mississippi.

You’ll make a brief stop at the renowned Greenbrier Resort, which has a bunker, now decommissioned, that was to house Congress in the event of a nuclear war. Continuing, you begin your ascent of the Blue Ridge mountains, making a stop at Charlottesville, VA, where Thomas Jefferson built his magnificent Monticello. Afternoon hors d’Oeuvres and a farewell toast are served as you approach Washington Union Station. Dinner is on your own tonight, and there is a great variety of fine establishments in the neighborhoods near Union Station. Should you desire, the railcars will be available to you for overnight lodging.

Day 8: Thursday, July 9 (B) After breakfast, you’ll bid fond farewells to your newfound friends and your transcontinental rail adventure.

   

   

   

 Departure Dates:

• July 2 - 9

 Per Person Rates:*

• Bedroom (Double Occupancy): $4,448
• Roomette (Single Occupancy): $4,448
• Drawing Room (Triple Occupancy): $5,448