Experience the Parks by Train

Volunteers share stories about national, state, and local parks as well as places of interest along the routes of selected Amtrak trains.

NPS/JUBA

Whether traveling by train along the west coast of the United States or to historic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta or cultural attractions such as Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Amtrak passengers can connect to public lands and engage in a better understanding of the need to preserve and protect these special natural and cultural resources.

We encourage you to download the The NPS App to help plan your visit on Amtrak, to more than 400 National Park Service areas.

National Trails & Rails Operating Schedule 2026

TRAIN	TRAIN #	PRIMARY SEASON	BASE/DESTINATION CITIES	HOST PARK SITE
Northeast Corridor
Empire Service	281/284	June – November: Saturday	New York City, NY – Albany, NY	Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historical Sites & the National Parks of New York Harbor
Adirondack	69/68	June – November:  Saturday	Saratoga Springs, NY – Westport, NY	Saratoga National Historical Park
Northeast Regional/ Silver Meteor	152/87  98/97	April – December: Friday – Sunday	Washington D.C – New York City, NY	National Mall and Memorial Parks
Cardinal	51 / 50	April – December: Saturday and Sunday	Washington D.C thru Alexandria to Charlottesville, VA	National Mall and Memorial Parks in partnership with: George Washington Memorial Parkway
Virginia Service	65 / 124		Washington D.C through Alexandria to Williamsburg, VA
Northeast Regional/ Vermonter	147/ 54	June – October: Saturday	Springfield, MA – Stamford, CT	Springfield Armory National Historic Site
Southern Corridor
TRAIN	TRAIN #	PRIMARY SEASON	BASE/DESTINATION CITIES	HOST PARK SITE
Crescent	19/20	June – September	(Majority of trips) Atlanta GA - Birmingham, AL (A few trips) Atlanta, GA - New Orleans, LA	Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
Cardinal	50/51	January - December Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays	Montgomery, WV - Hinton, WV (one way); Charleston, WV - Clifton Forge, WV (round-trip)	New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Midwest Corridor
TRAIN	TRAIN #	PRIMARY SEASON	BASE/DESTINATION CITIES	HOST PARK SITE
Lincoln Service	302	June – August: Saturday and Sunday	Springfield, IL – Chicago, IL	Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Texas Eagle	21
Heartland Flyer	821/822	May – September: Friday and Saturday	Oklahoma City, OK - Fort Worth, TX	Oklahoma City National Memorial
Missouri River Runner	311/318	May – September: Daily September – October: Friday – Sunday	St. Louis, MO – Jefferson City, MO	Gateway Arch National Park
Lincoln Service	302/318/319		St. Louis, MO – Springfield IL
Texas Eagle	22
Carl Sandburg	381	June – September Saturday	Chicago, IL – Galesburg, IL	Pullman National Historical Park
Southwest Chief	4
Zephyr	6
Pacific Northwest Corridor
TRAIN	TRAIN #	PRIMARY SEASON	BASE/DESTINATION CITIES	HOST PARK SITE
Coast Starlight	11/14	April – September: Daily	Seattle, WA – Portland OR	Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park – Seattle Unit
Empire Builder	7/8	April – September: Departing Seattle Sundays & Thursdays Departing Wenatchee: Mondays & Fridays	Seattle, WA – Wenatchee, WA
Southern California Corridor
TRAIN	TRAIN #	PRIMARY SEASON	BASE/DESTINATION CITIES	HOST PARK SITE
Coast Starlight	14/11	June – September: Saturday	San Jose, CA – Paso Robles, CA	Juan Bautista de Anza National Historical Trail
Coast Starlight	11/14	June – September: Saturday	Santa Barbara, CA – San Luis Obispo, CA

All schedules and infomation provided here is subject to change due to volunteer availability and park capacity to host a Trails&Rails volunteer program.