See five million blooming tulips — not brake lights and toll booths — this May 4 and 11 when Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) offer additional service between Chicago and Holland, Mich., for Holland’s annual Tulip Time Festival.
These trains on the daily Pere Marquette route, sponsored by MDOT, will run on two Saturdays during the festival and enable same-day visits to what has been heralded as the nation’s “Best Flower Festival” and “America’s Best Small-Town Festival.” More than 1,000 customers rode Amtrak trains on this route during these weekends last May.
Train 374 will depart from Chicago at 7:05 a.m., Hammond-Whiting, Ind., at 7:29 a.m. (both times Central), St. Joseph at 10:01 a.m., Bangor at 10:37 a.m., and arrive in Holland at 11:28 a.m. (all Michigan times Eastern). Train 375 leaves Holland at 5:50 p.m., Bangor at 6:33 p.m., St. Joseph at 7:11 p.m., Hammond-Whiting at 7:51 p.m. and arrives in Chicago at 8:24 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased via Amtrak.com, our mobile apps, or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL. On Train 374 will be representatives from the Holland Area Visitors Bureau, who can assist with expert local information. Parking at the Amtrak Hammond-Whiting station is free of charge.
Book now for best availability and pricing. Adult fares on the Amtrak MidwestSM trains on those Saturdays range from $26.00-$53.00 each way to and from Holland. Children ages 2-12 are half-fare with each adult. The Pere Marquette also provides daily service from Chicago to Holland for travel during the nine-day festival, and all Pere Marquette trains will stop at Hammond-Whiting on May 4 & 5 and May 11 & 12. The Michigan page on Amtrak.com has more information.
In addition to the millions of tulips, on Saturday, May 4, Tulip Time visitors can experience Tulip City Tours, Windmill Island Gardens, an artisan market, a quilt show, Dutch dance performances, Tall Ship Dockside Tours, and shopping in Downtown Holland. On Saturday, May 11, enjoy the Dutch Marktplaats, the Tall Ship Dockside Tours, Windmill Island Gardens, more shopping, and the Muziekparade, the largest parade of the week.
Information on shuttle services from the Holland station and best ways to get around town on specific dates, along with the times and locations of all events are in this guide, by calling the Holland Area Visitors Bureau at 1-800-506-1299, or by visiting Holland.org.
