I’m planning a trip to Vegas and the Grand Canyon traveling by train in 2025. I’ll be traveling solo. As I’ve started researching, I’ve made some decisions and have questions. Right now my plan is to
1. Take Amtrak from Michigan to Chicago
2. Take Southwest Chief to Vegas, I know the last leg is on a thruway. I’ll be booking a roomette
3. Spend time in Vegas with family, then rent a car and drive to Grand Canyon
4. Board the Southwest Chief in Flagstaff to return to Chicago
5. Take the final train from Chicago to Michigan
First questions:
1. What is the thruway from Kingman AZ to Vegas like? I’ve see references to it bing a bus and a van.
2. Is there a waiting area near the drop off in Vegas? I know it’s at the airport but not sure where.
3. Is it convenient to have someone pick me up there?
4. The train leaves Flagstaff at 4:20am. Ideas on what to do that night? Hang out at the station? Get a hotel room, check out about 2 and find my way in the middle of the night to the train station?
Baggage. I was planning on one 28in piece to check, one regular size, i.e. 20 in carryon, a 2nd smaller carryon that will be attached to the larger one and a personal bag. I’ve just learned my local Amtrak station is unstaffed and doesn’t offer checked baggage.
Questions:
5. How do I get my checked piece to Chicago if my station is unstaffed and doesn’t offer this?
6. What happens to the checked bag when I arrive in Chicago and need to get on the train to my local unstaffed station?
7. Does the checked bag remain checked all the way to Vegas, or do I have to haul it on the thruway?
Lastly, I want to go in April or September. Thoughts on which would be better at the Grand Canyon?
Thanks everyone for your help!
1. Take Amtrak from Michigan to Chicago
2. Take Southwest Chief to Vegas, I know the last leg is on a thruway. I’ll be booking a roomette
3. Spend time in Vegas with family, then rent a car and drive to Grand Canyon
4. Board the Southwest Chief in Flagstaff to return to Chicago
5. Take the final train from Chicago to Michigan
First questions:
1. What is the thruway from Kingman AZ to Vegas like? I’ve see references to it bing a bus and a van.
2. Is there a waiting area near the drop off in Vegas? I know it’s at the airport but not sure where.
3. Is it convenient to have someone pick me up there?
4. The train leaves Flagstaff at 4:20am. Ideas on what to do that night? Hang out at the station? Get a hotel room, check out about 2 and find my way in the middle of the night to the train station?
Baggage. I was planning on one 28in piece to check, one regular size, i.e. 20 in carryon, a 2nd smaller carryon that will be attached to the larger one and a personal bag. I’ve just learned my local Amtrak station is unstaffed and doesn’t offer checked baggage.
Questions:
5. How do I get my checked piece to Chicago if my station is unstaffed and doesn’t offer this?
6. What happens to the checked bag when I arrive in Chicago and need to get on the train to my local unstaffed station?
7. Does the checked bag remain checked all the way to Vegas, or do I have to haul it on the thruway?
Lastly, I want to go in April or September. Thoughts on which would be better at the Grand Canyon?
Thanks everyone for your help!