Experience the Parks by Train

A Trails&Rails VIP showing an object to passengers on Amtrak Coast Starlight
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 2025

Train Name

Season Schedule

Route Location

Host Park Site

Empire Service June - November; Saturday New York City, NY - Hudson, NY Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historical Sites & the National Parks of New York Harbor 
Adirondack June - November; Saturday Saratoga Springs, NY – Westport, NY  Saratoga National Historical Park 
Northeast Regional April - December; Saturday & Sunday Washington D.C - New York City, NY  National Mall and Memorial Parks 
Crescent 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 May - December Montgomery, WV - Hinton, WV (one way) & Charleston, WV - Clifton Forge, WV (round-trip) New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Lincoln Service & Texas Eagle June - August; Saturday & Sunday Springfield, IL- Chicago, IL Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Heartland Flyer May - September; Friday & Saturday Oklahoma City, OK - Fort Worth - TX  Oklahoma City National Memorial 
Lincoln Service
May – August;
Daily &
September – October;
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 
St. Louis, MO – Springfield IL Gateway Arch National Park
Missouri River Runner  May – August;
Daily &
September – October;
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 
St. Louis, MO – Jefferson City, MO Gateway Arch National Park
Empire Builder April – September;  
Departing Seattle Sundays & Thursdays; Departing Wenatchee Mondays & Fridays 
Seattle, WA – Wenatchee, WA  Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park – Seattle Unit 
Coast Starlight April - September; Daily Seattle, WA – Portland OR  Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park – Seattle Unit 
Coast Starlight June - September; Saturday San Jose – Paso Robles Juan Bautista de Anza National Historical Trail 
Coast Starlight June - September; Saturday Santa Barbara – San Luis Obispo  Juan Bautista de Anza National Historical Trail 

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

Last updated: May 19, 2025