Ready-made trips

Midwest train trips

Each trip is complete — the cities, the train legs, a place to stay and something worth doing at each stop. Want a different combination? Build your own on the planner.

The Minneapolis–St. Paul skyline from across the Mississippi River at dusk.

MSP → ORD

Minneapolis–St. Paul to Chicago

Minneapolis–St. Paul → Chicago

Down the Borealis and Empire Builder corridor: Minneapolis–St. Paul, a pause at Milwaukee's lakefront, and a Chicago finish.

The Gateway Arch at night, reflected in the Mississippi River.

ORD → STL

Chicago to St. Louis

Chicago → St. Louis

Chicago, St. Louis, and one Amtrak fare between them. Five hours of Illinois farmland on the Lincoln Service. Fly ORD, fly home from STL.

Detroit's Michigan Central Station tower, restored and lit at dusk.

ORD → DTW

Chicago to Detroit

Chicago → Detroit

Chicago, then Detroit. The Wolverine runs three times daily into New Center station, a short hop to Corktown — where the restored Michigan Central, reopened in 2024, is the first thing you go see.

Grand Rapids, Michigan — downtown along the Grand River.

ORD round trip

Chicago to Grand Rapids

Chicago → Grand Rapids → Holland → Chicago

Chicago, then the evening Pere Marquette to Grand Rapids — Beer City and Art City. An optional night in Holland for the Dutch windmill and Saugatuck, then the morning train back to Chicago for your flight home.

Kansas City skyline with Union Station and the WWI Memorial green.

ORD round trip

Chicago to Kansas City

Chicago → Kansas City → Chicago

Chicago, then the Southwest Chief across Illinois and over the Mississippi to Kansas City — Union Station, the National WWI Museum, barbecue and jazz. Back to Chicago on the same train.