Route – Diverse America, northbound

An ultra luxurious, exclusive Journey traveling through an intriguing diverse countryside featuring Cajun, space age, Hispanic, cowboy, vibrant cultural and musical, paddlewheel riverboats, and metropolitan America characteristics and ambience at different layover locations where passengers live on board rail cars; there is no moving in and out of hotels. A unique, one of a kind vacation; an outstanding value.

Groups Private Cars Reservations Payment Specials Details Other Routes
New Orleans to Chicago – 11 Days* and 10 Nights
Live on board your luxurious rail Car while visiting
New Orleans – Houston – San Antonio – Fort Worth – St Louis – Chicago
*Or, 9 or 10 days by disembarking 1 or 2 days early, eliminating 1 or 2 days visit to Chicago, with a fare reduction. See Itinerary below.

Departure Dates Fares Fare Comparisons Itinerary

Departure Dates
2025 – Dates coming soon, ask Reservations for details, 817 696-1507
Fares

Per person, double occupancy per bedroom:
Grande Suite $* – Master Suite $*
Single passenger – 175% of double occupancy per person fare
*Or,
a lower fare by disembarking 1 or 2 days early in Chicago; ask Reservations about the fare reduction.

Early confirmed booking/reservation discounts:*
210 or more days before departure 12% – 175 days 9% – 140 days 6%
*Can’t be combined with other discounts unless specifically provided for.
Unconfirmed prices are subject to change without notice.
Confirmed itineraries are subject to change based on Amtrak post Covid-19 schedules, and otherwise.

Payments, cancellations and refunds      Special Offers       Comparable Train Vacation Fares


Experience America’s history and cultural diversity, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes.

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New Orleans is located where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. It has a personality unlike any other and is world-renowned for French Quarter architectural treasures, jazz, blues, zydeco and funk music, unique dialect, Cajun and creole cuisine and vibrant night life along Bourbon Street. The city has been described as the most unique in the United States. Founded in 1718 by French colonists, New Orleans was once the territorial capital of French Louisiana before being traded to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
Houston, the Bayou City, is a vibrant, diverse city and the home of NASA, and Mission Control. It is a culinary and cultural capital of the south and one of the USA’s most exciting cities with world-class museums, attractions and an unparalleled music scene. A special tour of NASA’s space center is a must do. An optional 51 mile road trip tour visits Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico. Galveston was established in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico following its independence from Spain and was the main port for the fledgling Texas Navy during the Texas Revolution of 1836. It later served temporarily as the new national capital of the Republic of Texas. 
San Antonio has a 300-year history that stretches back to Spanish Texas with the establishment of a presidio, town, and five Franciscan missions along the San Antonio River. The Alamo, an 18th-century Spanish mission preserved as a museum, marks the famous 1836 battle for Texan independence from Mexico. Following the San Antonio River, the miles-long River Walk is a landmark pedestrian promenade lined with cafes and shops. There are a wonderful mix of local historical, cultural, destination, shopping, dining and other attractions.
Fort Worth, Cowtown, has grown from a cattle drive stop to a vibrant city but still retains its old west culture including the original stock yards, cattle drives, the world’s largest honky-tonk (Billy Bobs) which is a must play venue for famous country western entertainers, rodeos, the best selection of western wear shopping, and a wide variety of optional activities that let you experience where the west begins and cowboys are remembered.
St Louis, founded in the 1700s by fur traders on the Mississippi River, is a vibrant cultural destination boasting a wide array of museums, music and theatre venues where paddle wheelers ply the river. Its famous for its barbecue restaurants and blues music; historians write that the blues moved up river from the Mississippi Delta and grew in St. Louis.
Chicago on Lake Michigan, is famed for its bold architecture, including skyscrapers like the 1,451-ft. Willis Tower and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. The city is renowned for its museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago with its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, and is known for its vibrant arts scene, numerous cultural attractions, excellent shopping, interesting architecture, Navy Pier and beautiful beaches that stretch along the waterfront. The downtown Millennium Park features a centerpiece 110-ton Cloud Gate sculpture, fascinating Crown Fountain, an outdoor concert venue and Lurie Garden, a ‘secret garden’ and naturalistic place of rest and renewal for humans and wildlife alike.

Journey by Rail Timetable
Day 1 – Sunday – New Orleans
Board after 9:00 am
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts living on your luxurious rail Car while you

Visit New Orleans
Click on Activities, New Orleans for optional things to do
Evening welcome reception, on board, Cajun dining options
Overnight in New Orleans, on board
Day 2 – Monday – New Orleans, Houston
Depart New Orleans early morning, arrive Houston early evening
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts on your luxurious rail Car while you
Visit Houston
Click on Activities, Houston for optional things to do
Overnight in Houston, on board
Day 3 – Tuesday – Houston
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts living on your luxurious rail Car while you
Visit Houston
Hosted tour of
Nasa Space Center;
of alternative tour if desired
Overnight in Houston, on board

Day 4 – Wednesday – Houston, San Antonio
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts living on your luxurious rail Car while you
Visit Houston
Optional road trip to Galveston (45 minute drive)
Depart Houston early evening
White glove evening dinner, en-route on board
Overnight en-route, on board
Day 5 – Thursday – San Antonio
Arrive San Antonio very early morning
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts living on your luxurious rail Car while you 
Visit San Antonio
Click on
Activities, San Antonio for optional things to do
Hosted tour of attractions and off-car restaurant dinner, USA’s authentic Mexican cuisine;
or alternative dining if desired
Overnight in San Antonio, on board
Day 6 – Friday – San Antonio, Fort Worth
Depart San Antonio early morning, arrive Fort Worth early afternoon
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts living on your luxurious rail Car while you 
Visit Fort Worth
Click on
Activities, Fort Worth for optional things to do
Hosted evening at Billy Bob’s Texas, ‘The World’s Largest Honky Tonk’;
or alternative tour if desired

Overnight in Fort Worth, on board

Day 7 – Saturday – Fort Worth
Depart Fort Worth early afternoon
White glove evening dinner, en-route on board
Overnight en route, on Board

Day 8 – Sunday – St Louis
Arrive St Louis early morning
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts living  on your luxurious rail Car while you 
Visit St Louis
Click on Activities, St Louis for optional things to do
Hosted off-car St Louis style barbeque dinner  and St Louis style blues musical experience;
or alternative dining and tour if desired 

Overnight in St Louis, on board
Day 9 – Monday – St Louis, Chicago
Depart St Louis early morning
Arrive Chicago early afternoon
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts living on your luxurious rail Car while you 
Visit Chicago
Click on Activities, Chicago for optional things to do
Overnight in Chicago, on board
Optional – Disembark after arrival in Chicago on Monday instead of Tuesday or Wednesday with an appropriate fare reduction.
Day 10 – Tuesday – Chicago
Optional – Disembark on Monday instead of Tuesday or Wednesday with an appropriate fare reduction.
Enjoy all-inclusive comforts living on your luxurious rail Car while you 

Visit Chicago
Hosted tour of Chicago attractions; or alternative tour if desired
Overnight in Chicago, on board
Optional – Disembark on Tuesday instead of Wednesday with an appropriate fare reduction.
Day 11 – Wednesday – Chicago
Optional – Disembark on Tuesday instead of Wednesday with an appropriate fare reduction.
Disembark by 11:00 am