Trails & Rails Program

Enrich your travel experience and learn about our nation's natural and cultural sights along your route with a National Park Service guide.

Onboard Heritage Appreciation

Enjoy your time traveling across the country with National Park Service volunteer guides and their traveling show-and-tell programs as they explain regional historic and natural resources related to your journey.

Whether visiting iconic natural treasures like the mighty Mississippi River valley, historic landmarks like the Roosevelt mansion in Hyde Park or cultural attractions like New Orleans Jazz National Park, you can connect to public lands and engage in a better understanding of the need to preserve and protect these special natural and cultural resources.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, railroads have played an active role in developing America's national parks and we are proud to be a part of this partnership that provides a fuel efficient and environmentally friendly way to visit public lands.

Learn more about the Trails & Rails program and see what routes have programs onboard.

Travel Through History

 

2023 Schedule

Train Primary Season Route Segment To/From Participating National Park
Adirondack
Trains 68/69
Weekends, June - November New York City - Albany, NY -Rensselaer, NY Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historical Sites & National Parks of New York Harbor
Saratoga Springs, NY - Westport, NY Saratoga National Historical Park
Capitol Limited
Trains 30/29

Saturdays, May - August

Cumberland, MD - Washington DC Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park
City of New Orleans
Trains 59/58

Wednesday - Saturday, June - November 

Jackson, MS - Hammond, LA Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
Coast Starlight
Trains 11/14

Wednesday - Sunday, April - September

Seattle, WA - Portland, OR Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Weekends, May - September

San Jose, CA - Paso Robles, CA 

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Coast Starlight
Trains 14/11

Thursday - Sunday, March - September

Santa Barbara, CA - San Luis Obispo, CA
Crescent
Trains 19/20
May - September Atlanta, GA /Anniston, AL - Birmingham, AL/New Orleans, LA Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Site
Empire Builder
Trains 8/28 & 7/27

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, May - August

Saint Paul, MN - Columbus, WI Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Empire Builder
Trains 7/8

Departs Seattle Sundays & Thursdays,

Wenatchee Mondays & Fridays,

April - September

Seattle, WA - Wenatchee, WA Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Empire Service
Trains 281/284

Weekends, June - November

New York City - Albany, NY -Rensselaer, NY Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historical Sites & National Parks of New York Harbor
Heartland Flyer
Trains 821/822

Friday & Saturday, May - September

Oklahoma City, OK - Fort Worth - TX Oklahoma City National Memorial
Lincoln Service
Train 302

Weekends, June - August

Springfield, IL - Chicago, IL Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Lincoln Service
Trains 302/201

Daily, May - September

Friday - Sunday, September - October

St. Louis, MO - Springfield IL Gateway Arch National Park
Missouri River Runner
Trains 311/318

Daily, May - September

Friday – Sunday, September - October

St. Louis, MO - Jefferson City, MO Gateway Arch National Park
Northeast Regional
Trains 164/87

Saturday - Sunday, April - November 

Washington DC - New York City National Mall and Memorial Parks
Texas Eagle
Trains 21/421

Weekends, June - August

Springfield, IL - Chicago, IL Lincoln Home National Historic Site