Harry Loop

Glaciers, coastlines, and desert β€” 25 days across 15 states by rail.

Chicago to New Orleans the long way β€” through Glacier, down the Pacific Coast, and across the desert.

25

Days

5,500

Miles

15

States

11

Segments

10 Rail Pass + 1 ticket ($16)

2

Nat'l Parks

Glacier + Saguaro

1

UNESCO

San Antonio Missions
Three Routes
πŸ”οΈ

Empire Builder

Day 1–8
Chicago→Whitefish→East Glacier→Seattle

The northern route. Great Plains at sunset, Montana's impossible scale, Glacier National Park, Cascades into Seattle.

Explore β†’
🌊

Coast Starlight + Cascades

Day 9–14
Seattle→Portland→Santa Barbara→Los Angeles

Down the coast. Volcanoes, wine country, then waking up to the Pacific. The SLO-to-Santa Barbara stretch is the most beautiful rail in America.

Explore β†’
🌡

Sunset Limited

Day 14–25
Los Angeles→Tucson→El Paso→San Antonio→Houston→New Orleans

The southern crossing. Saguaro desert, the Mexican border, Texas heartland, and ending in the jazz capital.

Explore β†’
25-Day Timeline
πŸ”„ Transfer to Coast Starlight
πŸ”„ Transfer to Sunset Limited
Plan This Trip
USA Rail Pass$499
Single ticket (Whitefish→E. Glacier)$16 (Whitefish → East Glacier)
Flights (NYC↔Chicago + NOLβ†’NYC)~$300 (NYC↔Chicago + NOLβ†’NYC)
Red Bus Tour (Glacier NP)$136
Accommodation (~20 nights)$2,000–4,000 (~20 nights)
Total estimate$3,000–5,000
Resources
Empire Builder β†—Coast Starlight β†—Sunset Limited β†—Amtrak Cascades β†—Pacific Surfliner β†—USA Rail Pass β†—Glacier NP β†—Saguaro NP β†—Red Bus Tours β†—