Planning Empire Builder Trip

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Pooh2

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We are thinking of doing an Empire Builder trip next May or June.

We have done the Ca Zephyr from CA to Boston and while we enjoyed the long train ride, we'd like to change things up this time.

We would fly from Boston to Portland Oregon (already been to Seattle King Station and the Cascades to Vancouver so wanted a different experience).

Thinking of spending a few days around Portland, then boarding the Empire Builder to Glacier National Park. Would like to get off the train for a few days, then pick it up again.

Looking for interesting other places to get off the train for a few days at a time and sight see along the Empire Builder route.

Trip can be about 11-12 day in total to get from Portland back to Boston.

Any suggestions for stops, places to stay, sights to see, food to eat, would all be welcome!
 
If you come in Thursday thru Sunday and have the time stop at the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation in Portland. Accessible by streetcar or light rail. Steam locomotives SP4449 and SP&S700 live there. Also Powell's Books in Portland, stock up for the train.

Essex Montana, Izzac Walton Inn.

Wisconsin Dells, "House on the Rock" and a bunch of other tourist traps.

If you routed up into Michigan you could do the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.

Have Fun!
 
A wonderful trip you are planning!

My best friend and I did this last October (read about it here https://snvboy.exposure.co/brocation-2015- Portland > Glacier > Minneapolis was the second half of the trip).

In Portland we stayed at the University Place Hotel Portland http://www.uplacehotel.com which had a very good price, is on the light rail line, and a block away from a very large food truck bazzar.

You will definitely need/want a rental car to explore the Glacier area. We based out of the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish https://www.glacierparkinc.com/lodging/grouse-mountain-lodge largely because there are rental car options at the Whitefish Amtrak station.

I would plan on a 24 hour layover in Chicago so you don't stress about making a connection from a late Empire Builder to your train back to Boston. Add more time if you want to explore Chicago, which is a wonderful city. Alternately you could get off the Empire Builder in Milwaukee, and take a Hiawatha to Chicago the next day (or days depending on your Milwaukee plans) to connect back to the East Coast.

If you are looking for more train time, you could route yourself from Chicago to DC on the Capitol Limited, and then Acela up to Boston.

Are you looking for more city time, more hiking/nature time?
 
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A wonderful trip you are planning!

My best friend and I did this last October (read about it here https://snvboy.exposure.co/brocation-2015- Portland > Glacier > Minneapolis was the second half of the trip).

In Portland we stayed at the University Place Hotel Portland http://www.uplacehotel.com which had a very good price, is on the light rail line, and a block away from a very large food truck bazzar.

You will definitely need/want a rental car to explore the Glacier area. We based out of the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish https://www.glacierparkinc.com/lodging/grouse-mountain-lodge largely because there are rental car options at the Whitefish Amtrak station.

I would plan on a 24 hour layover in Chicago so you don't stress about making a connection from a late Empire Builder to your train back to Boston. Add more time if you want to explore Chicago, which is a wonderful city. Alternately you could get off the Empire Builder in Milwaukee, and take a Hiawatha to Chicago the next day (or days depending on your Milwaukee plans) to connect back to the East Coast.

If you are looking for more train time, you could route yourself from Chicago to DC on the Capitol Limited, and then Acela up to Boston.

Are you looking for more city time, more hiking/nature time?

Looking for more nature/outdoors time. I have neurological issues but can do an relatively easy, flat trail on my good days.

Looking forward to reading about your trip this weekend! Thanks for sharing the link!

A 24 hour layover sounds like good planning, we will def do that.

Thanks all for some great ideas to check out and get this planning started!
 

You will definitely need/want a rental car to explore the Glacier area. We based out of the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish https://www.glacierparkinc.com/lodging/grouse-mountain-lodge largely because there are rental car options at the Whitefish Amtrak station.
Above quote is from snvboy, NOT Metra Electric Rider!

I have to disagree with "you will definitely need/want a rental car". It is just not so, but some forward planning is needed. In 2012 we spent three days at the Glacier Park Lodge without a car ['cause you lot drive on the wrong side of the road! Terrifying!] we found the Lodge tour desk to be brilliant. We arrived on number 8, walk to lodge, caught tour to Two Medicine Lake for boat tour, second day did Red Bus Tour across the Going to the Sun Road, third day did some local walks and rested, got back on number 8 the next morning. No problems. Some tours do sell out so it is advisable to plan & book ahead.

Gemuser
 
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I'd suggest June rather than May for Glacier NP. June is "spring" there, and very beautiful. In May, in some years some of the park roads have been closed due to snow cover.
 
I'd suggest June rather than May for Glacier NP. June is "spring" there, and very beautiful. In May, in some years some of the park roads have been closed due to snow cover.
The weather can be quite fickle in Glacier. The last time I was there it was late June and some roads then, including parts of Going-to-the-Sun Road were still closed.
 
Just got news that our first grandchild is due early June, so need to pick a different month.

Is the end of August still busy with families on vacation?

Or would be be better off to go to early September?

Was hoping to go when the daylight is longest but might have to change things up based on other factors.
 
May in Glacier is like late winter in other climes.

June is spring time but it is the wettest month of the year in the Northern Rockies.

July and August are busy in Glacier National Park. Late August vacationing families tend to leave as school opens on most locations so things begin to wind down. September can be a beautiful time to visit but again the weather might be fickle. August through the first week of September are the best times IMO for a visit to Glacier.
 
Our trip was in early October - in fact they shut down most of Going To The Sun Road for the season the day we were leaving.

Pros:

School is out - less congestion in the park

Fall colors - the Larch trees blazing in yellow against a solid green field of evergreens is stunning.

"Low" season at many hotels, etc. - save some money

Cooler weather - easier hiking, better for hot-tubbing

Cons:

"Low" season means hotels & restaurants in the park may be closed

Less daylight (but lower sun in sky makes for stunning afternoon light)

Weather can be iffy - but we had wonderfully warm and sunny weather
 
I second (or third) the August/September recommendation - I was in Yellowstone/Grand Teton in August this year - absolutely perfect day weather and cool nights, Sept. would be a bit cooler (and Glacier being further north a bit cooler still). Both parks, particularly Yellowstone, were crowded to the point of being jam-packed so I would think that September might be a better choice for ease of visiting and no lines/crowds.
 
When moving from Miami to Kauai, we camped in both Yellowstone and Glacier in July and woke up in snow in both places. Being born and raised in the tropics that trip with snow was the thrill of a lifetime.
 
When moving from Miami to Kauai,
Did you do that by Amphicar, Rail Boat or Train Ferry? :)

we camped in both Yellowstone and Glacier in July and woke up in snow in both places. Being born and raised in the tropics that trip with snow was the thrill of a lifetime.
It can definitely get cold in those high elevations, even in July. In Grand Teton, the temperatures dropped like a lead balloon as soon as the sun got behind the peaks.
 
I was just looking at work pictures taken almost exactly two years ago (unless the report was misdated) and there was snow on the ground in Chicago at that point!
 
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